Common Sense | JANUARY 2024
Welcome to Common Sense, the monthly newsletter-within-a-newsletter from the award-winning Common Sense Entertainment team.
We will, around the end of each month, provide a round-up of stories of interest, some of which will complement the subject matter discussed on the monthly Fit To Speak shows (which will return with Fit To Speak: From The Archives on February 23, a promo of which you can watch here), commentary from CSE Vice President Eugene Obah on topical news items, and exclusive behind-the-scenes info and insight on CSE programming.
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(Soon To Be) No Reason For The Baltimore Sun?
Common Sense Entertainment Vice President Eugene Obah comments on the recent acquisition of the longtime Baltimore market newspaper of record by David D. Smith and Armstrong Williams
Thomas Paine, whose pamphlet bears the name of our company, said in part:
“The most formidable weapon against errors of every kind is Reason.”
Reason should—at least in theory—should be at the core of journalism and in life. But that’s not the case at Sinclair, which, throughout much of the stations that it owns—including FOX45 in Baltimore—practices fear-mongering and a top-down approach to local news.
And the state of local news could get worse as Sinclair Chairman David D. Smith bought The Baltimore Sun (Armstrong Williams, who currently hosts an eponymous program on WJLA, the Washington DC ABC affiliate also owned by Sinclair, is a co-owner). The Sun, as it is, has not been a compelling publication for over two decades with the complete and utter decimation of local coverage—now I do not say this with glee as this in large part is due to massive cuts and corporate interests being placed over the public interest, which is manifesting in much of the journalism landscape. While it should be celebrated that the local publication of record is now back in local hands, in the words of William Shakespeare, all that glisters is not gold.
As is par for the course for most things FOX—though to be fair, this is local FOX—there are questionable journalism ethics under Smith’s tutelage. And while I do not find Armstrong Williams to be as much of a provocateur as some others in the modern conservative movement—being a provocateur seems to be de rigueur these days—I am not optimistic that the public interest will be served. The only interests that will be served are for those who want their news to be aired with a heavy dollop of never-ending grievances, much of which I have illustrated in past editions of Fit To Speak, which you can comb through here.
Sometimes in life, you have to read the room, and I would strongly advise Smith and Williams—if they ever come across this—to look at The Examiner’s success (or lack thereof) in Baltimore many moons ago as a cautionary tale.
If I were somebody working at The Sun, I would run, not walk, to the nearest exit.
And if I were The Baltimore Banner—which I had the opportunity to visit last year for an event—I would be elated at this development. The Banner will become, mark my words, THE publication of record in the Baltimore market, and in many cases, it has already—they have far eclipsed The Sun in every conceivable way, and the disparity between both publications is going to be even wider.
The masthead of The Sun says “Light For All”. The lights have been dimming a while, and soon, they may very well be out.
A MUST READ
CNN’s Pete Muntean featured in People Magazine: https://people.com/he-saw-plane-crash-that-killed-his-mom-now-cnn-aviation-correspondent-8550489
As CSE VP Eugene Obah says:
“Pete is somebody who I have firmly believed from the get-go is a major league talent—I saw it during our time at the University of Maryland—but what really adds to the success that he has is his personal story. I am proud to see all that he has and will continue to achieve in our business.”
NO OSTRICHES HERE
Peacock had its Chiefs-Dolphins playoff game as an exclusive this month. It was the most streamed live event ever. From a programming standpoint, yes, it could have been on linear television, but the consternation about it from much of the public being exclusive made no sense. Do NOT be surprised, by the way, to see this for some marquee events when the Paris Olympics occurs this summer.