The Baltimore Sun has been purchased by a prominent local figure in media, David D. Smith. Smith is Executive Chairman of Sinclair Broadcast Group, headquartered in Hunt Valley, Maryland. Furthermore, he previously served as CEO of Sinclair from 1990 to 2017. During this period, he oversaw the company’s significant growth through acquisitions and consolidations.
Smith’s influence extends beyond his official titles. He is a significant figure in conservative media circles and has been a vocal advocate for deregulation in the broadcasting industry. The acquisition of The Baltimore Sun has raised concerns about potential editorial influence, though Smith has assured the newspaper’s staff of his commitment to journalistic independence.
“We have one job, to tell the truth, present the facts, period. That’s our job.”
David D. Smith, in an interview with The Baltimore Sun, January 15, 2024
David D. Smith Fact Box - Age 73 - Son of Julian Sinclair Smith, founder of Sinclair Broadcast Group. - Born in Baltimore, Maryland, on September 1, 1950. - Founded Comark Communications in 1978, which later became part of Sinclair Broadcast Group. - Served as CEO and president of Sinclair Television Group from 1988 to 2017. - Became Executive Chairman of SBGI in 2017.
Alden Ownership
Alden Global Capital has owned the Sun since acquiring Tribune Publishing in May 2021. Tribune, briefly known as tronc, was a media company which owned local media businesses in eight markets. Tribune newspapers included the Chicago Tribune, New York Daily News, Baltimore Sun and Orlando Sentinel.
The Baltimore Sun is a newspaper with a rich and storied history, stretching back to 1837.
Smith’s Plan
Terms of the transaction have not been disclosed. However, Smith told the Sun that he plans to invest in the business. The Sun revealed that their new owner plans to grow subscriptions and advertising revenue. To be clear, he plans to do so by focusing on local news and utilizing social media and video.
Smith isn’t the first influential local business person who had their eyes on the Sun. Choice Hotels Executive Chairman Stewart W. Bainum Jr. wanted to acquire Tribune Publishing whole in 2021, not just The Baltimore Sun. Alden had already made an offer for the company in 2020.
Reaction from Baltimore and Beyond
The media outlet that Bainum went on to found, The Baltimore Banner, dished today that Smith held a “tense, three-hour meeting” with Sun staff. Among the tidbits the Banner shared were:
- Smith paid “nine figures” — meaning at least $100 million — for the paper
- Smith would not commit long term to the print edition and offered no assurances to retain staff.
The Banner also highlighted that conservative commentator and TV host Armstrong Williams has a share of Sun ownership.
The Sun’s staff reacted to the meeting on X today. Sun journalist Sanya Kamidi posted that Smith “denigrated” their work. Furthermore, Kamidi shared that the “most vocal pushback in today’s meeting came from the young women journalists in the newsroom.”
NPR’s David Folkenflik posted that Smith referred often to WBFF’s work. That is the local Sinclair station.
Other reaction was mixed. David Simon, creator of the acclaimed HBO series The Wire, “lamented” the sale, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Meanwhile, former Maryland Governor, Larry Hogan, posted on X, “After nearly 40 years, it’s great to see a return to Maryland ownership of the Baltimore Sun and a commitment to coverage of local issues.”
