Baltimore Sun Using Articles from Sinclair Broadcast Group

Since the purchase of the Baltimore Sun by conservative broadcast mogul David N. Smith, there have been notable changes.  Staffers have been closely monitoring these changes, some of which have raised concerns. 

One significant development is that articles from Smith’s Sinclair Broadcast Group and its Baltimore television station, Fox45, have started appearing in The Sun. 

For instance, a June 3 article published under a Fox45 reporter’s byline appeared in The Sun, prompting complaints from the union representing Sun reporters. The article made multiple references to “illegal immigrants,” a term not typically used in The Sun and not considered “best practices” by the Associated Press. While the language was modified in The Sun’s version of the story, it remained intact on the Fox45 website.

Additionally, the Baltimore Sun Guild, which represents staffers, has called on management to stop sharing content from Fox45 and Sinclair until a meeting can be held to address their concerns and explain the long-term strategy for the paper and any agreements with Fox45 or Sinclair. 

The ethical standards of The Sun have also been a point of contention, particularly regarding columns by conservative columnist Armstrong Williams, where the Sun’s standards were allegedly "tossed aside under new ownership".