During a Monday interview on Rightside Radio, Trussville Tribune publisher Scott Buttram demanded an apology from Alabama Media Group for its second "unfounded" claim of racism on an Alabama entity in as many months.

In November, AL(dot)com ran a news story after a small group of Facebook users objected to the Selma Times-Journal using a photo of hay bales as its cover photo, which Selma Times-Journal publisher Brent Maze denied any ill-intent.

Last week, AL(dot)com played up a TikTok claim that Cullman was a "sundown town" as many people were visiting the city to view its German Christmas celebration, a video the site has since deleted from its X account.

In reaction to the multiple race baiting attempts, Buttram called on Alabama Media Group to issue a public apology for "one of the most despicable episodes I've ever witnessed in local media."

"They attacked a newspaper on a completely unfounded similar claim of racism - same thing - something they dragged off social media and used to attack the Selma Times, one of the oldest, most respected newspapers in the state of Alabama, also a member of the Alabama Press Association, also has a board member sitting on that board, and now they've done it to the entire city of Cullman. Completely unfounded."

"They ought to be embarrassed. There ought to be a public apology from Alabama Media Group. There should be a public apology from their owners in New York, the carpetbaggers up there that come down here and steal Alabama money and at the same time trash this state. I'm sick of them."

"The al(dot)com attack on the people of Cullman was one of the most despicable episodes I've ever witnessed in local media," he wrote on X. "The Alabama Media Group owes the people of Cullman an apology."

To connect with the story's author or comment, email daniel.taylor@1819news.com or find him on X and Facebook.

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