Sinclair fires reporter for criticizing anti-Kerry program

Sinclair Broadcast said in a statement that it fired reporter Jon Leiberman and that "we are disappointed that Jon's political views caused him to violate company policy and speak to the press about company business."

Lieberman, who had been the media company's chief political correspondent for more than a year, told CNN Monday night that he was fired for denouncing Sinclair's decision to present the film as news instead of commentary and to run it so close to the election.

"They're using news to drive their political agenda," Leiberman said Monday. "I don't think it served the public trust."

In his initial interview with the Baltimore Sun, published in Monday's edition, Leiberman called Sinclair's program "biased political propaganda, with clear intentions to sway this election."

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http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/sinclair_10-19-04.html

Corporate spokesman Mark Hyman confirmed Leiberman's dismissal and said the company did not comment on personnel matters.

Leiberman told CNN he had raised objections within the company to airing the film as a news program, and "just basically said, 'I don't want to be a part of it.'" He said he was warned not to go public with his objections and was canned when he did.

"I knew this was a possible consequence," Leiberman said. "I really wanted them to just change the ways that they do things. I've been telling them for months that they need to change the way they do things."

Sinclair has ordered its 62 television stations to run the 40-minute film "Stolen Honor: Wounds That Never Heal," in which former U.S. prisoners of war criticize Kerry's role in the Vietnam-era antiwar movement.

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Sinclair owns stations in the swing states of Ohio, Florida, Iowa and Wisconsin, and Democrats say Sinclair would be making an illegal campaign contribution to President Bush's re-election effort by airing the film. But the company says it is a news program and has offered Kerry time to respond.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/10/19/sinclair.kerry/

Mark Hyman, Sinclair vice president, said in a statement: ''Everyone is entitled to their personal opinion, including Jon Lieberman. We are disappointed that Jon's political views caused him to speak to the press about company business."

The statement called him a ''disgruntled employee."

Lieberman, 29, called that characterization ''completely unfair," telling CNN's Paula Zahn that Sinclair had promoted him twice and treated him well until he criticized the upcoming hourlong special, which is to include the anti-Kerry film ''Stolen Honor: Wounds That Never Heal."

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2004/10/19/firm_fires_critic_of_plan_to_air_movie/