David D. Smith, executive chairman of Sinclair Broadcast Group, has recently acquired The Baltimore Sun, a move that has sparked controversy among the newspaper's staff.
Smith, a lifelong resident of Baltimore, has been a consistent contributor to Republican candidates, according to The Washington Post. His acquisition of the newspaper, the price of which remains undisclosed, has raised eyebrows due to Sinclair's known right-wing leanings.
During a meeting with the Sun's employees, Smith candidly admitted, "Full disclosure, I havent read the newspaper in 40 years. Literally have not read the newspaper. I read the paper maybe four times since I started working on trying to buy this place." His comments were recorded and later obtained by The Washington Post.
Smith, in his address, highlighted Fox45, a Baltimore TV station owned by Sinclair, as an example of successful local news reporting. Despite acknowledging that some might label it a "crazy, right-wing [station]", he dismissed any personal bias, stating, "I dont trust any politicians under any circumstances. I dont trust government under any circumstance."
The Baltimore Sun, known for its liberal editorial stance, has published recent columns expressing concern over climate change and criticizing the busing of illegal immigrants. The newspaper endorsed Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential race and President Joe Biden in 2020. A commentary published in January 2021, titled "BLM protestors are the real American patriots", further illustrates the paper's progressive leanings.
Smith's spokesperson told The Washington Post that Smith "looks forward to having the Baltimore Sun cover important, impactful stories to make a difference in the community" and that he "believes one of the primary purposes of the newspaper is to serve the public interest."
However, the Baltimore Sun Guild, the union representing the newspaper's employees, expressed concern over Smith's remarks, interpreting them as prioritizing "clicks" over "journalistic value." The Sun and Sinclair have yet to respond to requests for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation.
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