| "We're concerned about the troubling trend of irresponsible, one-sided news stories plaguing our country. The sharing of biased and false news has become all too common on social media." These words, uttered by local news anchors across America, were written by the Sinclair Broadcast Group. Deadspin last week released a montage of the dozens of journalists who were forced by their corporate boss to cross the line into partisan editorializing. The video quickly went viral with Sinclair's actions decried by many journalists and representative organizations, including the National Press Photographers Association. The NPPA said, in a statement released on Wednesday, that "on-camera personalities — who, to viewers, are the trusted faces of news departments — were used by Sinclair to disseminate their coordinated message." "In newsrooms, the division between opinion and fact is a sacred one. Borrowing the credibility of those employees for this messaging could be construed as an affront to widely-held journalistic standards." Sinclair didn't take too kindly on NPPA's statement — based on the association's code of ethics — and has since rescinded its pledge to donate $25,000 to fund the NPPA's legal advocacy program, one that helped advocate and educate about the responsible and ethical use of drones in newsgathering operations. "Our board of directors knew that releasing that statement could put Sinclair's donation at risk, but we were absolutely willing to accept the consequences," Michael King, NPPA's director, told In Sight. "The only way to live up to our Code of Ethics was to respectfully raise our concerns. Of course we are disappointed with Sinclair's response — and how swiftly it came — but we have no regrets at all." Sinclair's decision, while not surprising considering its recent and heavily publicized stand, is disappointing — and not just for the NPPA, which usually relies on these contributions to focus its own resources on the defense of the First Amendment. Sinclair's decision sends the message that differing opinions are not welcomed at a news organization that controls more than 190 local stations in close to 100 markets. For the NPPA, the financial blow has been softened by an outpouring of support from photographers and reporters alike. "The support I've seen has been absolutely heartwarming," said King. "There are anchors and reporters making donations to us in honor of the photojournalists they work with. There are people supporting us who aren't even in the journalism industry. It's evidence that ethics truly matter." -- Olivier Laurent Sign up here to receive our 'In Sight' photo blog newsletter each week. | 
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