Trump, Pence highlight policy-focused events in D.C, Justice Department probing Trump effort to overturn election, Some mouthwashes could help curb coronavirus, The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), The Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR). Sook has declared that Nexstar has the largest news gathering organization in the country, and staff at the corporate headquarters, in Irving, Texas, refer to their vast network as the Nexstar Nation.. Some regional broadcasts, such as town halls with lawmakers that run with limited advertising breaks, are a clear public service. Former President Trumps tweet on the launch of NewsNation. Traffic/Popularity: High Traffic 02/28/23 9:18 PM EST, Video & Audio The FCC agreed, and in their final decision allowing the merger they went a step further and enshrined a new policy that restricts public opposition to future mergers. Banfields program is less politically oriented and has featured many liberal guests, such as commentator Keith Olbermann and screenwriter-director Aaron Sorkin. Overall, we rate NewsNation Least Biased based on minimal editorializing of content and reasonable balance with story selection. Dont miss reporting and analysis from the Hill and the White House. For Ad-Free Subscriptions go here: https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/membership-account/membership-levels/, Terms and Conditions That night they purchased the domain name BorderReport.com, and soon afterward Sandra Sanchez and Julian Resendiz, two veteran newspaper journalists, were hired to report for the new site. The criticisms have merit, but the picture is complicated: although Nexstars coverage is uneven, many of its stations nationwide do provide substantive local news. Perry Sook, Nexstars CEO, isnt as worried as youd think, though. The network has built its brand on promising to deliver high-quality local TV, and the means by which it proposes to do thataggressive consolidationbuffers against a troubling future. Armed with a team of national reporters and backed by over 100 local newsrooms spread out across the country, Nexstar promised quality broadcast journalism free from opinion or bias, setting aside three hours on its only cable news channel WGN America for NewsNation. The political news publication, which started as an insiders guide to Washington and greatly expanded its audience after it went digital, fetched a price of $130 million. Many reports contain videos from TV news content. Nexstar is the latest in a long list of news outlets, including The Associated Press, that have used CIS as a source without acknowledging the groups white nationalist ties or its years of extremism. Retransmission fees now account for roughly half of Nexstars total revenueand the majority of these agreements are locked down until 2022, so this revenue is expected to remain steady or even increase. In 2017, Nexstar acquired Media General, which ran local newspapers and television stations, for $4.6 billion. MBFC Credibility Rating: HIGH CREDIBILITY. On Sunday mornings, the station airs Capitol Report, a half-hour roundtable conversation with Republican and Democratic public figures about hot topics being debated in Hartford. Advertisers are also willing to pay more to run commercials on live original programs than sitcoms and drama repeats, the company has said. In 2017, though, the FCC. AccordingtoOpen Secrets, Nexstar Media group gave more money to Republicans in the 2018 election cycle (45% to Democrats, 55% to Republicans); however, in 2020, they gave more to Democrats. Advertising generates revenue. CIS was established by white nationalist and eugenicist John Tanton, who also founded multiple other extremist anti-immigrant organizations including the Federation for American Immigration Reform and NumbersUSA. If Nexstars general mandate to encourage localism does not explicitly incentivize station managers to embrace a muckraking ethos, in other words, its unlikely to happen. Sook seems to have anticipated this; in 2019 he requested, and was denied, was worth $16.4 million, while the median salary of Nexstars thirteen thousand employees was $43,537. The program bears the name of Joe Donlon, the broadcast journalist who just a few months earlier had been accused of the cringe worthy interview with Trump. Right Bias: How we rate the bias of media sources. On April 19, the company announced the signing of Adrienne Bankert, a former national correspondent for ABC News. Then, late last year, Nexstar finalized an acquisition of Tribune Media for $7.2 billion, a figure that includes the assumption of Tribune's debt. 02/16/21 9:54 AM EST, Article NewsNations mission is to provide news based on facts, not opinions, the company said. Nielsen data show the network averaged 27,000 viewers in prime time during the month of April, compared with 2.2 million viewers for Fox News, 1.6 million for MSNBC and 1 million for CNN. A former radio executive, Compton produced a syndicated Trump commentary program that aired during the height of Trumps reality-TV fame on The Apprentice.. The associated website is NewsNationNow.com, which features news from the TV station and supplemental content. The must-watch TV of the moment is local news. But they were also discussed as recently as last week on NewsNation. In March, WGN America changed its name to NewsNation, and currently has five hours of news programming a night, which is repeated for West Coast viewers. NewsNation, with its main studios in Chicago, was touted as an unbiased alternative to Fox News, MSNBC and CNN, which fill their prime-time hours with opinion and commentary. Nexstar had a strong year financially, reporting free cash flow of $1.3 billion in 2020, a 100% increase over 2018; TV stations typically see a boon from political advertising in election years.. The deal sealed the companys dominance over Sinclair, which had tried to purchase Tribune in 2018 but failed to get support from the FCC. The unfolding crisis has shown local news outlets to be indispensablejust as it has threatened their survival. This also included Nexstar station KRON in San Francisco, a market with the potential to reach over 2.3 million households. Last year, CNBC hired former Fox News anchor Shepard Smith for a nightly just-the-facts presentation at 7 p.m. Eastern. Sook seems to have anticipated this; in 2019 he requested, and was denied, a bonus of $41.4 million in future stock options. News stories on the website often come from external sources such as the Associated Press, Reuters, The Hill, and other Nexstar affiliates. As of June, amid major layoffs across the media industry, the two companies hadnt reported furloughing or laying off any employees. Nexstar, the largest operator of local TV stations in the country, said in a news release that the deal would expand its digital reach and coverage of political news. President Trump is absolutely correct that the election results are in doubt, the lawyer, Jenna Ellis, said on the program, which is pre-recorded and had aired just one episode prior to that evenings show. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. ), This year, Nexstar can also count on election ad spending, which is a key component of nearly every television companys revenue. 2) Fox News's viewership is pretty moderate compared to the Hannitys, Limbaughs, Becks and Breitbarts. Former state Supreme Court Judge Dan Kelly, a conservative candidate, is projected to advance to the April 4 general election in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race, where he will face liberal judge . In reality, Nexstar says, its stations reach 63 percent of American households, well surpassing the cap. The opportunities to foster necessary, dynamic journalism are therethey just need proper attention. Nexstar Media Group has a responsibility to avoid spreading misinformation to potentially millions of Americans through this type of sloppy reporting. Over the last decade The Hill has sought to attract readers interested in political news without carving out a partisan editorial voice a challenge at a time of political polarization. National news is covered through a combination of the Associated Press, CNN, Los Angeles Times, and other large media outlets. The local TV news industry has changed rapidly in the past decade. Blake Russell, executive vice president of station operations and content development, says that Nexstar sometimes supplies local stations with more staff when they expand their news programming: It depends on the market.. A Fox News survey showing former President Trump leading Florida Gov. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. In 2017, Nexstar acquired Media General, which ran local newspapers and television stations, for $4.6 billion. That dissent started after NewsNation acknowledged hiring William Bill Shine, a former White House official under former President Donald Trump who was tapped to provide consulting services to the news product. To that end, News Nation employs both conservative and liberal commentators, and provides its viewers with . Nexstar executives believed they had to drastically change WGN America after it was acquired as part of its $4.1-billion deal for Tribune Broadcastings TV stations. The staff also reflects a diversity of viewpoints, which they are encouraged to express., From the start, there were suspicions in the TV news industry that NewsNation might have a conservative slant. paving the way for accelerated consolidation. These are the most credible media sources. In review, the KTLA website publishes news about Los Angeles and surrounding areas. Earlier this year, Sook said that Nexstar was already taking in more revenue from political spending than ever before. ANNA WIERNICKI (NEXSTAR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT): Todd Bensman with the Center for Immigration Studies says the policy change will invite a surge at the southern border. Veteran cable news host Ashleigh Banfield joined NewsNation in March. However, Lyons'. The Border Report team is small. A, RTDNA/Newhouse School at Syracuse University. Shine was never accused of sexual harassment but was named in some of the lawsuits filed by former employees against the network, alleging that he failed to act on complaints against Ailes. During the launch of NewsNation, Sean Compton, Nexstar Inc.'s Networks Division President, said, "Rebranding WGN America as NewsNation underscores the network's clearly defined mission of delivering fact-based and unbiased news, while making it easier for viewers to find this new informative source for news." Top of Page Articles from NewsNation This spring, WTNH added even more hours of news programming, likely in a move to increase revenue. Feel free to distribute or cite this material, but please credit OpenSecrets. MBFC Credibility Rating: HIGH CREDIBILITY. Local TV stations tend to have a glut of crime stories, ranging from the horrific to the mundane, because a steady stream of them are always arriving through the police blotter. The two cover an enormous radiusoften driving multiple hours to cover a storyand usually write between two and four pieces a day, mostly related to migration. By Ben Smith and Katie Robertson. When I asked Gary Weitman, whether Nexstars political activity presented a potential conflict of interest, he responded, The, Campaign organizers say Facebook boycott will continue, Coping with the inundation of news online, Emergency upon Emergency: How the press reacted to, A Matter of Necessity: Shefali Luthra covers abortion for, Anonymous Woman: Speaking with the press, an abortion fund worker faces an impossible dilemma, Everywhere and Nowhere: Notes from a parachuting national reporter on abortions local stories, Peer to Peer: News you can use, via Google Doc, The Poetics of Posting: A conversation with Mia Sato of, Sources on Sourcing: Six people weigh the risks and benefits of talking with the media, Out of Control: How a search for answers about reproductive health can lead you down a tunnel of misinformation. The founder, chairman, president, and CEO of Nexstar is Perry A. Sook. The latest: Durbin praises Garland for restoring independence to Justice Dept. This article was published more than8 years ago. In September, its cable network WGN America (a former Tribune holding) will launch a three-hour nightly prime-time program that will compete with cable news shows. News Nation is an American cable news television channel owned by Nexstar Media Group, which debuted on September 1, 2010. After drawing on local station news operations to staff NewsNation for its launch, Sook has said Nexstar is looking to hire executives and talent with national network experience. "We thank her for her efforts in spearheading the launch of NewsNation and we wish her success in whatever she does next," Sook said. The Hill is owned by Nexstar Media Group, the country's largest television station owner, which purchased the publication in 2021. Nexstar, based in Irving, Texas, became the countrys largest local TV operator when it acquired Tribune Media in 2018 in a $4.1 billion deal, gaining 42 television stations and a cable network. 02/28/23 6:43 PM EST, Article Fair Use Policy From a programming perspective, this regional strategy could be an opportunity to fulfill an acute need. WTNH staff aim for coverage that resonates, but out of necessity they also end up running items like the hack of a mans home security camera or the umpteenth update on the murder of a local woman. Their bread and butter is traffic and weather. Nexstar also. In 2017, though, the FCC reopened an outdated loophole that in effect allows companies to control stations beyond the market cap, paving the way for accelerated consolidation. Launched last year, NewsNation was billed as an attempt to bring a straightforward, no-nonsense prime-time national news block at a time when political opinion and debates dominated cable news. In 2018, a high-stakes midterm year, political advertising accounted for roughly 19 percent of Nexstars total $1.3 billion in ad revenue, in large part because the company owns stations in swing districts and states across the country. Matthew Keys is an award-winning journalist who covers the intersection of media, journalism and technology as publisher of The Desk. Further, their personality-driven news shows often feature the opinions of the hosts. Despite the slow start, Sook has told Wall Street analysts that the company is not concerned about the financial performance of NewsNation and is in it for the long term. People who read BuzzFeed,. Here you have more people consuming local news than at any time in recent history, says Steve Passwaiter, a vice president and general manager at Kantar, a consultancy firm. Mr. Finkelstein took a controlling stake in The Hill in 2014. Editorially, NewsNation does not produce opinion pieces and generally reports on politics neutrally. Unlike its conservative rival Sinclair Broadcast Group, which made headlines in 2018 for requiring anchors to read identical scripts, Nexstar doesnt broadcast synchronized or partisan content. Standards & Ethics Statement | Privacy Policy | Proudly hosted by Skystra, strong-arming traditional pay TV companies, forging new agreements with streaming services, one day after NewsNations news director, Sandy Pudar, resigned, Nexstar revenue boosted by political ads, hurt by Fubo TV issue, Peacock to add live feed of Reelz Channel, Hulu to move Boomerang from base live TV package, Report: Paramount rejected $3 billion offer for Showtime, Rush Limbaugh to get posthumous broadcaster award, NAB slams FCCs latest move on TEGNA deal, Next TV: HBO Maxs top technologist Jason Press steps down, Fierce Wireless: T-Mobiles Metro to increase bill payment fee, Fierce Video: Orby TV shuts down, redirects customers to Dish, GeekWire: Amazon reveals confidential podcast plan in mass email, TechHive: Rokus neutral platform days are over, Pocket Lint: Twitter leaks subscription feature in job ad, The Hill: Washington Post reinstates reporter suspended over Kobe Bryant tweets, Columbia Journalism Review: The Faux CNN Threat. The two cover an enormous radiusoften driving multiple hours to cover a storyand usually write between two and four pieces a day, mostly related to migration. Nexstar is rolling out new state bureausit now operates news bureaus in twenty state capitalswhich could fill those gaps. This is probably because Fox's audience is just so large that it couldn't be relegated to an extreme end of the chart. Open Secrets following the money in politics, OpenSecrets Following the money in politics, Contributions from this PAC to federal candidates (, Contributions to this PAC from individual donors of $200 or more (. Press Freedom Rank: MOSTLY FREE The reporting is factual and usually sourced. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Their stories run on the website and are also aired on Nexstar stations across the border region, from San Diego to Albuquerque to McAllen, thereby reaching larger audiences than stories for a single local paper or TV station would. Washington, The company went public in 2003, after its first big acquisition. Anyone can read what you share. Shine was replaced by current Fox News Media Chief Executive Suzanne Scott. It is this experience, as much as geography, that varies across the Nexstar Nation. Now, without the usual in-person strategiesrallies, events, door-to-door canvassingand with reduced expenses, campaigns may allocate more funds to television. All rights reserved, except where otherwise noted. Notably, he was a proponent of the family separation policy under the Trump administration. They argued that the merger would diminish local news because Nexstar lays off employees at some stations it acquires and relies too much on pumping content from its regional hubs. When covering politics, they generally stick with the facts, such as this Justice Department probing Trump effort to overturn election. And the station size, the market size, the geographic part of the nation, it is so diverse and varied that there is no one way fits all., Investigative journalism, Tully says, is important to viewers in some markets and less so in others, and it is up to station managers to gauge demand. In an email to The Hills staff on Friday, Mr. Finkelstein wrote that The Hill was highly profitable, with profit and revenue increasing at a rate of 50 percent a year. Then, late last year, Nexstar finalized an acquisition of Tribune Media for $7.2 billion, a figure that, includes the assumption of Tribunes debt, The deal sealed the companys dominance over Sinclair, which had tried to purchase Tribune in 2018 but failed to get support from the FCC. And in contrast to the private equity firms that have gutted local print newsrooms nationwide, Nexstars corporate management largely comprises veterans of local broadcasting. Articles and headlines often have minimally loaded language, such as this Trump, Pence highlight policy-focused events in D.C. Broadcasters that control a large share of the market have an advantage when negotiating with cable companies and are able to raise their fees, which customers absorb through increased cable rates. Whats more, over the last three months, several of NewsNations top editorial executives including the newsrooms leader, Jennifer Lyons, a veteran news director from Nexstars Chicago station, WGN have exited. There's some evidence to suggest that The Hill's former owner Jeremey Finkelstein is friends with former President Trump and has interfered with the site's output. 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