NBC, a major American broadcast network, has partnered with the conservative media giant, Salem Media Group, to host the upcoming Republican presidential primary debate. The decision has raised eyebrows due to Salem Media’s reputation as a major promoter of 2020 Election fraud conspiracy theories.
Despite the company’s known affiliations with the far-right, NBC News still opted to partner with Salem Media for the debate. To explain the apparent contradiction, NBC News said it ‘believes that the approximately 45 million listeners of Salem Media Group programming deserve to hear the Republican field engage on a debate stage.’
Salem Media claims to serve the “Christian market” with its radio and digital programming targeting conservatives. It distributes conservative talk shows, including those hosted by Mark Levin, Dennis Prager, and Michael Medved. These shows have repeatedly amplified the false claims about widespread voter fraud in the 2020 Election.
An NBC spokesperson told CNN that all of the conversations between the network and Salem Media Group have been focused on the promise of a fair and credible debate. However, critics are questioning the network’s decision, given the potential for Salem to exploit the partnership.
Regardless, the debate will go on with Salem as the official partner of two of the biggest names in media. NBC News should be commended for offering a platform for the Republicans to air their differences, while also being aware that the credibility of the debate could be undermined by the promotional activities of Salem Media Group. The burden of responsibility will be the network’s to exercise vigilance in ensuring that the false claims of voter fraud are not amplified during the debate.