David D. Smith, the executive chairman of Sinclair Broadcasting Inc., has purchased The Baltimore Sun from investment firm Alden Global Capital. The acquisition has raised concerns due to Smith’s conservative political background and his involvement in right-wing media. The purchase price has not been disclosed.
During a meeting with The Sun’s employees, Smith expressed his intention to make the newsroom more profitable. However, he was not available for an interview with The Associated Press. In a previous statement, Smith emphasized his belief in serving the public interest but criticized the city’s “mainstream media.”
Smith’s ownership of Sinclair Broadcasting, which operates 185 local television stations across the country, has been known for infusing a right-wing sensibility into its news products. In 2018, the company ordered its anchors to read a statement echoing former President Donald Trump’s views on “fake news.”
Smith clarified that he used his personal resources to purchase The Sun, which will not be under the Sinclair umbrella and will be locally owned for the first time in 38 years. He revealed that his only partner in the acquisition is Armstrong Williams, a commentator who hosts a show on Sinclair’s affiliates.
Critics have expressed concerns about Smith’s political background and his potential influence on The Sun’s editorial direction. The Sinclair-owned Fox station in Baltimore has frequently aired coverage blaming the city’s Democratic mayor, Brandon Scott, for issues such as gun violence and failing schools.
While some individuals celebrated the sale as a positive development, others worry that The Sun could become a partisan publication. The newspaper has a history of credible reporting and won the Pulitzer Prize for local reporting in 2020.
The Baltimore Sun, founded in 1837, employs over 150 people and publishes seven other publications. It has more than 230,000 paid subscribers in total. The sale marks a shift from the previous ownership by the Abell family, who owned the newspaper until the 1980s.