ATHENS, GA - Yesterday, NPPA made a statement regarding recent comments and coordinated messaging about the media made by Sinclair Broadcast Group. Today, less than 24 hours after we made that statement, Sinclair informed us that a promised $25,000 donation to our legal advocacy program would not be forthcoming.
We made our statement in the interest of promoting important conversations about journalism ethics, and the work of dedicated and brave journalists across the country and around the world. We were transparent, rational and respectful. We noted our appreciation for Sinclair’s past support of our advocacy efforts. We affirmed the wonderful work that Sinclair employees themselves have done to tell the stories of their communities at the highest level. Many of them are highly-valued NPPA members. In the interest of fairness, we even included a counter statement from a Sinclair executive.
While we are disappointed by this action, NPPA will not be deterred from our commitment to our Code of Ethics, and we will not be deterred from our commitment to advocating for First Amendment, copyright, and other important issues in the year ahead. Our work benefits not only our members, but the journalism community at large and the public served by The Fourth Estate.
The best way to support NPPA’s mission of promoting ethics, free speech and press, copyright protections and the value and importance of visual journalism, is to become a member or make a tax-deductible donation to our advocacy efforts or to our workshops and educational scholarships.
