I live in Oklahoma City, where Sinclair owns two stations, KOCB and KOKH. Since it's likely that many local progressives don't check dKos daily, I assembled a Sinclair summary from AlterNet, dKos, TPM, and boycottsbg, and sent it out the local progressive mailing lists I'm on, and the contact points for other lists I'm not on.
The letter is after the jump.
Feel free to replace the Oklahoma City contact information with local information for your area and let a thousand flowers bloom.
What is Sinclair Doing?
http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/20151/
Sinclair Broadcasting Group is ordering its stations
"to preempt regular programming just days before the Nov. 2
election to air a film that attacks Sen. John F. Kerry's
activism against the Vietnam War." Sinclair, the country's
largest owner of TV stations, has told its stations to air
"Stolen Honor: Wounds That Never Heal," produced by
Carlton Sherwood, former Washington Times reporter,
Bush administration officialand close friend to
Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge.
The film features "former POWs accusing Kerry - a decorated
Navy veteran turned war protester - of worsening their
ordeal by prolonging the war.
Sinclair is claiming exemption from a law prohibiting
corporations from spending money to influence a federal
election because they say the documentary qualifies
as "newsworthy."
What does this have to do with me?
Sinclair owns both KOCB and KOKH, so this "Swift Boat"-style
movie will be shown here in the metro area.
What can I do about it?
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/week_2004_10_10.php
"I've worked in the media business for 30 years and I
guarantee you that sales is what these local TV stations are
all about. ... So only local advertisers can affect their
decisions.
"Here's how to have an impact on the local Sinclair stations:
Then, write to the sales manager -- not the general manager,
but the sales manager -- and tell him that you're going to
contact all of the local advertisers to register a protest
about the station airing this program. Be specific -- mention
the names of those local advertisers. Then, actually
contact them (if you write or email, cc the sales manager).
These stations make most of their income (around 60%) from
local advertisers and will NOT want to have that income
threatened.
...
"The key is to talk to the sales manager. Tell that person
of your concerns and that you'll be contacting the advertisers
individually to do the same.
"And one other point about tactics and decency, which overlap
in this case. Please don't be rude or hostile. Be firm.
Make clear that you're serious. And make your feelings known.
But remember that the advertiser in question probably didn't
know anything about this until today or maybe yesterday.
... If you start making calls you'll be talking to a lot of
folks who don't even know what's going on with all this and
certainly aren't directly responsible for it.
How do I contact the Sales Managers for KOCB and KOKH?
http://www.kokh25.com/oklahoma_ok/station/sales
To contact Oklahoma City's FOX and The WB sales departments:
Oklahoma City's FOX sales: 405.843.2525
The WB, Oklahoma City sales: 405.478.3434
FOX Local Sales Manager, John Clark
1228 E. Wilshire Blvd
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73111
405.475.9109 (phone)
405.475.9163 (fax)
WB Local Sales Manager, Terry Rodda
1228 E. Wilshire Blvd
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73111
405.475.9165 (phone)
405.478.7705 (fax)
How do I contact KOCB and KOKH's advertisers?
http://www.boycottsbg.com/advertisers/default.aspx?MarketID=124]
Advertiser Phone Numbers
Big Red Sports/Imports 405-364-4400
Carr & Carr Attorneys 800-296-6074, 405-947-4444
Express Credit Auto Sales 405-943-7300
First Cash Advance 1-877-855-8840
Frontier City 405-478-2412
Garrett Law Office, P.C. 405-634-2500, 800-256-9400
Graves Satellite 405-681-0015
Heritage College 405-631-3399
Hudiburg Chevrolet 405-737-6641
J. Ballard Modeling 405-942-8484, 888-815-1608
Jack Barragree, Attorney 405-842-2122, 800-548-4291
Joe Cooper Ford at Yukon 405-354-1111
Mademoiselle Fitness 405-848-1199, 405-686-0051
Mathis Brothers Furniture 405-943-3434
Moore's Roofing and Insulation 405-631-8051, 405-495-1777
Nix & McIntyre, LLP 1-866-917-5200, 405-917-5200
OKC Metro Transit 405-297-2484
Oklahoma Health Academy 405-912-2777
S.O.B. Sales 405-424-3112, 405-236-0873
Tonkawa Indian Casino (580) 628-2624
Tulsa Welding School 800-WELD PRO
Vatterott College OKC (405) 945-0088
Wright Business School 405-681-2300