Sinclair Fires Bureau Chief, Stock Drops

The Washington, DC Bureau Chief for Sinclair, Jon Leiberman, was fired Monday after telling the Baltimore Sun that "Stolen Honor" was "biased political propaganda, with clear intentions to sway this election.'' In other news, Sinclair's shares fell more than 8 percent in Monday trading. Leiberman said Sinclair warned him not to go public with his objections, which he had expressed in a staff meeting. "I know I stood up for the principles of objectivity," he said. "Call it [Stolen Honor] commentary, call it an editorial ... but don't call it news."

He founded the chain's DC bureau 15 months ago. A company spokesman said, "We are disappointed that Jon's political views caused him to speak to the press about company business."

"Stolen Honor" was made by former Washington Times journalist Carlton Sherwood, who is a Vietnam veteran and was an aide to Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge when he was governor of Pennsylvania.

On Friday, Legg Mason -- an investment firm -- issued an analysis of Sinclair's decision to air the controversial film, writing that airing the film "would likely turn Sinclair into another poster child for critics of the industry to target, and we believe there is some risk that the negative fallout could spread beyond Sinclair to other broadcasters by fueling the general backlash against regulatory relaxation and media concentration." Also, on Monday JP Morgan gave Sinclair an "underweight" rating.

See AP (Canada); Guardian (London); CNN; Washington Post; Washington Times