Sinclair Announces $500,000 Broadcast Diversity Scholarship Fund
BALTIMORE, Feb. 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: SBGI) announced today a $500,000 scholarship fund to help minority students finance their undergraduate studies related to broadcast television. Scholarships will be available to students studying broadcasting or journalism.
"This fund complements our existing widespread internship program," said Don Thompson, SVP of Human Resources for Sinclair. "We have long-standing relationships with numerous colleges, including historically black colleges and universities in markets where we have stations. These relationships are a great source for talent, and many student interns become full-time employees. This scholarship fund is another way for us to invest in the future of broadcast television, by ensuring that students dedicated to careers in broadcasting can complete their educations."
Sinclair's goal is to distribute up to $50,000 per year in grants of up to $5,000 each. The fund is open to minority students enrolled at an accredited four-year college and who have a demonstrated financial need. Additional qualifications will be set forth in the scholarship application, which will be available this spring on the Sinclair website (www.sbgi.net). The first grants will be awarded by the summer of 2016, applicable towards fall 2016 tuition.
"We believe that television broadcast news is the most important source for local political, consumer protection, and other investigative reporting that our communities want and need," said Scott Livingston, VP of News for Sinclair. "This scholarship fund supports students who believe in that mission too."
While the scholarship fund is set up solely to provide financial scholarships, awardees will be invited to produce stories for television broadcast and web publication. As Sinclair ramps up Circa, its new digital news service targeting the next generation, and expands its American Sports Network, which carries numerous college conference games in a variety of sports and related programming, college campuses will become important in cultivating tomorrow's broadcasters. "Campuses are where many top journalists begin their careers," continued Livingston. "The Sinclair Broadcast Diversity Scholarship Fund is an opportunity to deepen our commitment to students who want to pursue careers in broadcast journalism, but who don't have the financial means to complete their degrees."
About Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.:
Sinclair is the largest and one of the most diversified television broadcasting companies in the country. Including pending transactions, the Company owns, operates and/or provides services to 171 television stations in 81 markets, broadcasting 467 channels and affiliations with all the major networks. Sinclair is the leading local news provider in the country, as well as a producer of sports content. Sinclair's broadcast content is delivered via multiple-platforms, including over-the-air, multi-channel video program distributors, and digital platforms. The Company regularly uses its website as a key source of Company information which can be accessed at www.sbgi.net.
SOURCE Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
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