Socolow quoted in Press Herald report on ‘fake stories’ TV segment
Michael Socolow, an associate professor of communication and journalism at the University of Maine, spoke with the Portland Press Herald for the article, “Maine TV stations among outlets airing ‘fake stories’ segment scripted by corporate owner.” Portland’s WGME-TV (Channel 13) and WPFO-TV (Channel 23) have been swept up in a national controversy since their corporate parent, Sinclair Broadcasting Group, directed local anchors at its nearly 200 stations across the country to record a scripted promotional segment warning viewers about “fake stories” from competing media outlets, according to the article. Socolow said Sinclair’s move likely had little to do with the Maine audience. “The actual audience for the Sinclair commentaries is not the home viewer,” he said. “The audience is clearly the political consultants in Washington who are buying ads for the 2018 midterms and for the federal regulators who have to approve the takeover of the Tribune stations.” By echoing Trump’s rhetoric about “fake news” and by suggesting they are “fairer” than their competitors, Sinclair is hoping to curry favor with regulators while getting a marketing edge with Republican strategists, according to Socolow. “Just as Fox News calls themselves fair and balanced in order to indict their competition, Sinclair is discussing fake news in order to distinguish themselves in the marketplace,” he said.