Sinclair Brings Local Newscasts to Congress

Sinclair Broadcast Group introduced a news segment called Connect to Congress, a multimedia initiative that lets members of Congress in Sinclair news markets communicate with their constituents on a regular basis. Combining broadcast, Internet and social media technologies, Connect to Congress offers Sinclair’s local market viewers “new ways to get answers to questions about what matters most to them at home,” according to the company.

Connect to Congress was created by Scott Livingston, Sinclair’s VP of news, who is using Sinclair’s presence in Washington, through its acquisition of ABC affiliate WJLA in 2014, to create what the company calls “a more regular dialogue” between viewers in local markets nationwide and their members of Congress. The first step in this plan was establishing a national bureau on Capitol Hill. “When Congress is in session, we have cameras set up weekly in the Rotunda, connected via remote to our local stations. Local anchors conduct the interviews about the key issues constituents and lawmakers are passionate about and not just topics that everyone else is covering,” said Colleen Wordock, Sinclair’s Capitol Hill bureau chief.