Sample boycott letters (e-mail, phone calls) to Sinclair and advertisers
(I asked Chat GPT to compose for me. I've edited it and offer it hear for your cut-and-paste convenience.)
Threatening to contact advertisers can be a powerful tactic when protesting a media company like Sinclair, as advertising revenue is crucial to its business model. When adding this to a protest letter, you should state your intentions clearly and professionally. For this to be most effective, research which companies advertise on your local Sinclair-owned station. You can watch the station's local newscasts and primetime programming to identify advertisers. Below is a template for a protest letter with a direct threat to contact advertisers.
Sample letter protesting Sinclair's censorship with advertiser warning
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Your City, State, Zip]
[Your Email]
[Your Phone Number]
[Date]
Sinclair Broadcast Group
10706 Beaver Dam Road
Hunt Valley, MD 21030
Subject: Protest of Sinclair's censorship of Jimmy Kimmel Live! and intent to contact advertisers
To the Management of Sinclair Broadcast Group,
I am writing to express my profound disappointment and outrage regarding Sinclair's decision to censor Jimmy Kimmel Live! This action represents a blatant disregard for journalistic integrity and free speech, and it sets a dangerous precedent for corporate control over content that does not align with your political agenda.
I find it unacceptable that a media company would use its corporate power to silence a comedian for expressing his opinion. This is not simply a content dispute; it is an act of censorship aimed at punishing a program for speech with which you disagree. As a viewer, this destroys my trust in your network as an independent and reliable source of news and entertainment.
I will be actively boycotting all Sinclair-owned stations and their programming. Furthermore, I intend to take my protest a step further. I will be compiling a list of your most prominent local and national advertisers from the Sinclair-owned stations in my area, [City, State]. I will inform these advertisers that I, along with many other concerned consumers, will be boycotting their products and services until they cease supporting your network's actions. I will also be encouraging others online and in my community to join this boycott.
Advertisers are essential to your revenue stream, and I believe they should be aware that their dollars are funding an organization that engages in corporate censorship. I urge you to reverse your decision and reinstate Jimmy Kimmel Live! immediately. Be aware that your continued actions will be met with organized consumer pushback that will directly impact your financial bottom line.
Sincerely,
[Your Signature]
[Printed Signature]
Tips for carrying out your protest
• Keep a list: Maintain a list of advertisers and their contact information.
• Use social media: Engage with your protest on social media and tag the advertisers and Sinclair in your posts to increase visibility and pressure.
• Stay professional: When contacting advertisers, be polite and firm. Explain your rationale and state your intent to boycott their products unless they reconsider their advertising with Sinclair.
• Track your progress: Keep an eye on any advertiser responses or changes in their ad placements.
Sample boycott email to an advertiser
Subject: Withdrawal of Support Due to Censorship of Jimmy Kimmel on ABC
Dear [Company Name] Advertising and Marketing Team,
I am writing to inform you that as a consumer and concerned member of the public, I will be boycotting your products and services that are advertised during the time slot usually allotted to Jimmy Kimmel Live! This decision is in direct response to your decision to pre-empt the program demonstrating a disregard for freedom of speech. The subsequent actions by ABC and Disney demonstrate a disregard for our Freedom of Speech and the decision of Sinclair to censor the program due to political bias.
This email serves as a formal complaint and a statement of my intention to boycott your company's products and services. My decision is based on your company's continued advertising on programs that, in my opinion, feature content that is politically biased and not aligned with First Amendment rights. By associating your brand with this sort of censorship, you risk alienating consumers who find such censorship unacceptable.
I urge you to reconsider your advertising placement and take action to ensure your brand is not associated with such blatant censorship. Consumers are increasingly making purchasing decisions based on the values and associations of the brands they support.
I will monitor this situation and will consider resuming my patronage only when your company demonstrates a commitment to ethical advertising practices and disassociates from programming that promotes ignoring the First Amendment.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your City/State]
[Your Email Address]