Press Release
Pappas Telecasting: the next Sinclair
Contact: Timothy Karr, 201-533-8838
Washington – In an unprecedented move, media giant Pappas Telecasting, with TV and radio stations across the nation, is giving $325,000 worth of air time for GOP candidates in many of California’s closest legislative races. Pappas television stations reach over 44 million Americans nationwide; about 15% of the U.S. population.
“This is yet another example of a huge media company abusing the public’s airwaves to advance their own political agenda,” said Free Press executive director Josh Silver. “Pappas is making a bogus claim that the ads are not contributions, that they’re ‘buying’ ad time from themselves. This is nothing but smoke and mirrors to avoid what appears to be a violation of federal laws requiring equal time.”
During the past two weeks, hundreds thousands of citizens mobilized and stopped Sinclair Broadcast Group from airing “Stolen Honor”, a pro-Bush documentary that the company was calling ‘news’ to avoid FEC and FCC rules. “This is not about liberal vs. conservative. We would cry foul just as loudly if a Democrat-leaning conglomerate did this,” said Free Press president Robert McChesney. Free Press is launching a national campaign to stop Pappas at www.freepress.net/pappas .
The $325,000 in airtime targets many of the state's most contentious races, including those of Democratic Sen. Mike Machado and Stockton Mayor Gary Podesto in the 5th Senate District; and Assembly Member Nicole Parra, D-Hanford, who is running for re-election against Dean Gardner.
Pappas' contribution allows campaign advertising to air on seven television and two radio stations, extending from Sacramento to San Diego.
The TV stations are KMPH Fox 26 and KFRE 59, Fresno and Visalia; KTNC in the Sacramento, Stockton, Modesto and San Jose areas; KBFX Fox and KABZ, Bakersfield; KAZA, Los Angeles; and KSWT, El Centro. The radio stations are KMPH 107.5 FM in Fresno and Visalia and KTRB 860 AM in the Stockton-Modesto areas.
Free Press (www.freepress.net) is a national non-partisan organization that seeks to increase informed public participation in media policy and to promote a more competitive, public interest-oriented media system. It was founded by University of Illinois professor, media scholar and author Robert McChesney.
“This is yet another example of a huge media company abusing the public’s airwaves to advance their own political agenda,” said Free Press executive director Josh Silver. “Pappas is making a bogus claim that the ads are not contributions, that they’re ‘buying’ ad time from themselves. This is nothing but smoke and mirrors to avoid what appears to be a violation of federal laws requiring equal time.”
During the past two weeks, hundreds thousands of citizens mobilized and stopped Sinclair Broadcast Group from airing “Stolen Honor”, a pro-Bush documentary that the company was calling ‘news’ to avoid FEC and FCC rules. “This is not about liberal vs. conservative. We would cry foul just as loudly if a Democrat-leaning conglomerate did this,” said Free Press president Robert McChesney. Free Press is launching a national campaign to stop Pappas at www.freepress.net/pappas .
The $325,000 in airtime targets many of the state's most contentious races, including those of Democratic Sen. Mike Machado and Stockton Mayor Gary Podesto in the 5th Senate District; and Assembly Member Nicole Parra, D-Hanford, who is running for re-election against Dean Gardner.
Pappas' contribution allows campaign advertising to air on seven television and two radio stations, extending from Sacramento to San Diego.
The TV stations are KMPH Fox 26 and KFRE 59, Fresno and Visalia; KTNC in the Sacramento, Stockton, Modesto and San Jose areas; KBFX Fox and KABZ, Bakersfield; KAZA, Los Angeles; and KSWT, El Centro. The radio stations are KMPH 107.5 FM in Fresno and Visalia and KTRB 860 AM in the Stockton-Modesto areas.
Free Press (www.freepress.net) is a national non-partisan organization that seeks to increase informed public participation in media policy and to promote a more competitive, public interest-oriented media system. It was founded by University of Illinois professor, media scholar and author Robert McChesney.
