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Where do you get your local news? Do you like to read it? Hear it? Watch it?

I’ve written a lot over the years about print media when it comes to local journalism. Lately I’ve been starting to look at how area television stations cover Columbia/HoCo.

I got into a bit of trouble over on Reddit for speaking bluntly about WBFF Fox 45 reporting. 

Go away, Fox News! If you look at the general output of Fox locally the vast majority of stories skew "crime", "danger", "fear" while other significant news is ignored.

By trouble I mean that it was my first experience with being downvoted. Obviously I’ll live, but - - I was surprised.

So let’s look at what comes up in a basic Google search for Howard County for each of our Baltimore area tv stations.

WJZ CBS News:


WMAR 2 News:


WBAL-TV:

Now look at WBFF Fox 45:


Do you see it? The first three stations are covering a variety of topics. WBFF, the Sinclair station, shows 100 per cent crime stories in the top six hits on Google.

This isn’t just a coincidence. From the Guardian in 2024, a look at Sinclair practice of amplifying crime stories:

TV giant known for rightwing disinformation doubles down on its national news agenda, Eric Berger

Sinclair, like Trump, also presents crime as a grave threat, Vogel said, despite violent crime decreasing significantly in recent years.

“Local news in general tends to cover a lot of crime stories – that’s not specific to Sinclair,” said Vogel. But Sinclair stations are “producing in-depth reporting that is really focused on local crime in a way that feels like fear-mongering or promoting crisis-level feelings out of viewers”.

You may recall that the Baltimore Sun is now owned by Sinclair’s own David Smith. I think you’ll find that the Sun’s coverage has shifted in the same direction since he bought the paper.

Truth in advertising: this information comes from a basic Google search. Google search ain’t what it used to be. My next step will be to go to the websites of each of these outlets individually to see how they bill Columbia/HoCo news stories. That’s important, too.

I wrote yesterday about how separation creates a breeding ground for fear and misinformation. What Fox does is reach out to those existing in those pockets of ignorance and tell them they should be afraid. They should stay separate, and ignorant, and they should be angry about it, too - - because it’s somebody else’s fault.

The best way to learn what’s going on in your community is to consume a balanced diet. There are very real consequences if you don’t.


Village Green/Town² Comments 




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