Firm fires critic of plan to air movie

WASHINGTON -- The Washington bureau chief of Sinclair Broadcast Group was fired yesterday after accusing the media company of ''indefensible" conduct for planning to air a movie attacking Senator John F. Kerry's Vietnam record in the coming days.

Jon Lieberman, who also was the lead political reporter for the 62-station chain, told CNN last night that he was terminated for his criticism, quoted in yesterday's Baltimore Sun.

He spoke out, he said, because ''I feel so strongly that our credibility is at issue here. . . . I feel our company is trying to sway this election."

The Baltimore-based firm, which has drawn harsh criticism from Kerry and other Democrats, found itself explaining why it dismissed a top journalist for speaking to the media.

Mark Hyman, Sinclair vice president, said in a statement: ''Everyone is entitled to their personal opinion, including Jon Lieberman. We are disappointed that Jon's political views caused him to speak to the press about company business."

The statement called him a ''disgruntled employee."

Lieberman, 29, called that characterization ''completely unfair," telling CNN's Paula Zahn that Sinclair had promoted him twice and treated him well until he criticized the upcoming hourlong special, which is to include the anti-Kerry film ''Stolen Honor: Wounds That Never Heal."