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==Funding==
==Funding==
In 2011, [[Donors Trust]] and [[Donors Capital Fund]], two affiliated [[donor-advised fund]]s, granted {{usd}}6.3 million to the Franklin Center.<ref name=Guardian021513>{{cite news|title=Media campaign against windfarms funded by anonymous conservatives|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/feb/15/media-campaign-windfarms-conservatives|accessdate=February 16, 2013 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=February 15, 2013 |authorlink=Suzanne Goldenberg |first=Suzanne |last=Goldenberg |quote=Conservatives used a pair of secretive trusts to fund a media campaign against windfarms and solar projects, and to block state agencies from planning for future sea-level rise}}</ref> The amount was 95% of the Franklin Center’s revenue that year and was the second-largest grant made by Donors Trust that year.<ref name=nbc>{{cite news |last1=Abowd |first1=Paul |title=Koch-funded charity passes money to free-market think tanks in states|url=http://investigations.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/14/16939114-koch-funded-charity-passes-money-to-free-market-think-tanks-in-states |work=[[NBC News]] |agency=[[Center for Public Integrity]] |accessdate=March 11, 2015}}</ref> For tax years 2011 through 2013, the Franklin Center received {{usd}}22 million from the two funds, which do not disclose the original donors.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Secretive donors gave US climate denial groups $125m over three years|url = http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jun/09/secretive-donors-gave-us-climate-denial-groups-125m-over-three-years|website = The Guardian|accessdate = 2015-06-11|first = Suzanne|last = Goldenberg|first2 = Helena|last2 = Bengtsson|date = June 9, 2015}}</ref>
Much of the funding for the Franklin Center is from [[Donors Trust]] and [[Donors Capital Fund]], two affiliated [[donor-advised fund]]s.<ref name=governing201411/> In 2011, the two funds granted the Franklin Center {{usd}}6.3 million.<ref name=Guardian021513>{{cite news|title=Media campaign against windfarms funded by anonymous conservatives|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/feb/15/media-campaign-windfarms-conservatives|accessdate=February 16, 2013 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=February 15, 2013 |authorlink=Suzanne Goldenberg |first=Suzanne |last=Goldenberg |quote=Conservatives used a pair of secretive trusts to fund a media campaign against windfarms and solar projects, and to block state agencies from planning for future sea-level rise}}</ref> The amount was 95% of the Franklin Center’s revenue that year and was the second-largest grant made by Donors Trust that year.<ref name=nbc>{{cite news |last1=Abowd |first1=Paul |title=Koch-funded charity passes money to free-market think tanks in states|url=http://investigations.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/14/16939114-koch-funded-charity-passes-money-to-free-market-think-tanks-in-states |work=[[NBC News]] |agency=[[Center for Public Integrity]] |accessdate=March 11, 2015}}</ref> In 2012, the two funds granted the Franklin Center nearly {{usd}}9.5 million, more than 80% of the Franklin Center’s revenue that year.<ref name=governing201411>{{cite news |title=How Political Donors Are Changing Statehouse News Reporting |first=Daniel C. |last=Vock |date=November 2014 |magazine=[[Governing (magazine)|Governing]] |accessdate=October 28, 2015 |url=http://www.governing.com/topics/politics/gov-political-donors-statehouse-news.html}}</ref> For tax years 2011 through 2013, the Franklin Center received {{usd}}22 million from the two funds, which do not disclose the original donors.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Secretive donors gave US climate denial groups $125m over three years|url = http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jun/09/secretive-donors-gave-us-climate-denial-groups-125m-over-three-years|website = The Guardian|accessdate = 2015-06-11|first = Suzanne|last = Goldenberg|first2 = Helena|last2 = Bengtsson|date = June 9, 2015}}</ref>


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 00:57, 29 October 2015

Franklin Center for Public and Government Integrity
Formation2009
TypeNonprofit
PurposeInvestigative journalism
Location
Coordinates38°48′22″N 77°03′12″W / 38.8061°N 77.0533°W / 38.8061; -77.0533
Key people
Erik Telford, President William Swaim, Managing Editor
Websitewww.franklincenterhq.org

The Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity is a conservative online nonprofit news organization in the United States that publishes news and commentary on state and local governance and politics.[1][2][3][4][5]

History

The Franklin Center was founded in 2009 with an initial sponsorship grant from the Sam Adams Alliance.[6] The organization was originally based in Bismarck, North Dakota and is currently headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia.[7]

According to the organization’s mission statement, the Franklin Center was founded "to address falling standards in the media as well as a steep falloff in reporting on state government and provides professional training; research, editorial, multimedia and technical support; and assistance with marketing and promoting the work of a nationwide network of nonprofit reporters."[8]

Erik Telford serves as the organization's president.[9]

News bureaus and affiliates

In September 2009, the Franklin Center launched Watchdog.org, a network of state-based journalists who investigate and report on state and local government. Watchdog.org covers news that involves "public officials, public programs and the taxpayer money that supports them." The network includes affiliates in Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Colorado, Idaho, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and Wyoming.[10][11]

In early 2012, the Franklin Center created a platform for citizen journalism under a banner called Watchdog Wire.[12] The Watchdog Wire website states that the it “exists to train citizens just like you to be citizen journalists and provide a place to feature your work. By covering stories in your local community that are otherwise ignored by the establishment media, you can make a difference! We partner with you to provide the training, the platform and the coaching you need to be government watchdogs in your own cities and states.”[13][14]

Activities

The Franklin Center provides training for investigative reporters, state-based news organizations, public-policy institutions, and watchdog groups.[15]

On May 10, 2011, Franklin Center journalist Lynn Campbell of IowaPolitics.com was named moderator for the 2012 Presidential Candidate Series.[16]

In June 2012 the Franklin Center teamed up with the Heritage Foundation to host the first annual Breitbart Awards dinner.[17] The awards honored the life and work of the late Andrew Breitbart who "pioneered a new media revolution that transformed journalism and the political landscape."[18] The 2012 award winners included Washington Examiner journalist Philip Klein, Citizen Journalist Andrew Marcus, and the Ace of Spades blog.[19] Syndicated columnist and Fox News Channel contributor Michelle Malkin took home the honors in 2013.[20]

At Conservative Political Action Conference 2013, Erik Telford of the Franklin Center served on a panel discussing "Current trends in technology."[21] During the two-day conference the Franklin Center ran a promotion using an over-sized costume of Ben Franklin meeting and greeting conference participants.[22] Individuals who had their picture taken with the mascot and tweeted the photo received free drink tickets.[22]

Awards and recognition

In November 2010, Franklin Center reporters at Marylandreporter.com and Illinois Statehouse News were honored by the National Association of Capitol Reporters and Editors.[23][third-party source needed] MarylandReporter.com editor and publisher Len Lazarick won the first place Cappie award for coverage in the online news category.”[24][third-party source needed] The judges also gave Lazarick a third place award in the category "Online: In-depth." Journalist Kevin Lee of Illinois Statehouse News won the Online In-depth Reporting Award for his investigation into the General Assembly Scholarship Program in Illinois.[24][third-party source needed]

The Franklin Center's Maryland affiliate, Maryland Reporter, has won awards from the Washington chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists and from CapitolBeat, the national Association of Capitol Reporters and Editors. In 2012, Maryland Reporter was named Maryland's best political website by Baltimore Magazine. Maryland Reporter was also named one of the best state-based political blogs in the nation by the Washington Post.[25][26][27]

In August 2011, MarylandReporter.com was awarded a $50,000 grant by the Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation to provide "in-depth coverage of Maryland state government and politics and to expand capacity by giving those who plan on entering journalism as a career real-world experience in investigative reporting supervised by veteran journalists."[28][third-party source needed]

Franklin affiliates CapitolBeatOK in Oklahoma, HawaiiReporter.com, and New Jersey Watchdog have been presented awards by the respective state chapters of the Society of Professional Journalists.[29][30][31][third-party source needed] New Jersey Watchdog has also won two New York Press Club awards.[32][third-party source needed]

GreenTech Automotive investigation

The Franklin Center published a series of articles that raised questions about GreenTech Automotive and its presumed chairman, Governor of Virginia Terry McAuliffe. The investigation exposed the company’s reliance on a controversial fundraising program, EB-5, that has been criticized for its lax oversight and subject to abuse.[33] The investigation also revealed that McAuliffe’s public projections, starting back in 2010, of how many cars would be built and jobs created had not come to fruition.[34] In April 2013, it was revealed that McAuliffe had left the green energy car-maker in December of the previous year.[35]

Green Tech Automotive filed an $85 million libel lawsuit against Franklin Center on April 8, 2013 in a Mississippi court.[36] Franklin Center described the suit as “intimidation” and pledged to continue investigating GTA and McAuliffe.[37][38] In July 2014, a federal judge in Mississippi dismissed Green Tech's case. Green Tech's appeal is pending before a federal appeals court.[39]

Funding

Much of the funding for the Franklin Center is from Donors Trust and Donors Capital Fund, two affiliated donor-advised funds.[40] In 2011, the two funds granted the Franklin Center US$6.3 million.[41] The amount was 95% of the Franklin Center’s revenue that year and was the second-largest grant made by Donors Trust that year.[42] In 2012, the two funds granted the Franklin Center nearly US$9.5 million, more than 80% of the Franklin Center’s revenue that year.[40] For tax years 2011 through 2013, the Franklin Center received US$22 million from the two funds, which do not disclose the original donors.[43]

References

  1. ^ McBride, Kelly; Rosensteil, Tom (July 30, 2013). The New Ethics of Journalism: Principles for the 21st Century. Congressional Quarterly Press. p. 130. ISBN 1483320952. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  2. ^ Enda, Jodi (July 15, 2014). "At the statehouse, ideological press tries to fill a void in news coverage". Pew Research Center. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  3. ^ Peters, Justin. "'Serious, point-of-view journalism'?". Columbia Journalism Review. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
  4. ^ McDuffee, Allen (May 21, 2012). "Heritage Foundation and Franklin Center team up for Breitbart awards". The Washington Post.
  5. ^ Sirota, David (August 1, 2014). "Chris Christie Wins Lawsuit to Exempt Himself From New Jersey's Open Records Laws". International Business Times.
  6. ^ Kosterlitz, Julie (December 12, 2009). "Conservative Watchdogs Awake". National Journal. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  7. ^ "Franklin Center for Government & Public Integrity IRS Form 990". GuideStar. Internal Revenue Service. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  8. ^ "Mission". Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  9. ^ "Erik Telford, President". Franklin Center. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
  10. ^ Watchdog.org States
  11. ^ PA Independent Welcomed Into State Press Association
  12. ^ Citizen Training. "Watchdog Wire". Franklincenterhq.org. Retrieved May 7, 2013.
  13. ^ "Watchdog Wire Website". Watchdogwire.org. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
  14. ^ "Watchdog Wire bets that citizen journalists can investigate, too". Ebyline. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  15. ^ "Franklin Center aims investigative reporters at states". Washington Examiner. November 24, 2010. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  16. ^ "IOWA CAPITAL DIGEST". Quad City Times. May 10, 2011. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  17. ^ Byers, Dyland (June 6, 2012). "Heritage, Franklin to host Breitbart Awards". Politico. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  18. ^ Franklin Center President Jason Stverak Announces 2013 Breitbart Award
  19. ^ Lee, Tony (June 10, 2012). "Inaugural Breitbart Award Winners Honored". Breitbart. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  20. ^ Michelle Malkin Wins 2013 Breitbart Award for Excellence in Journalism
  21. ^ "CPAC 2013 Schedule" (PDF). CPAC 2013 Schedule. Wall Street Journal. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  22. ^ a b "ABC News Live CPAC update". Abcnews.go.com. March 14, 2013. Retrieved May 7, 2013.
  23. ^ "Congrats to our 2010 Cappie Winners". Association of Capitol Reporters and Editors. November 16, 2010. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  24. ^ a b "Cappie Awards". Capitolbeat.wordpress.com. November 16, 2010. Retrieved January 12, 2012.
  25. ^ "Baltimore magazine names MarylandReporter.com best political website". Baltimore Post-Examiner. July 25, 2012. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  26. ^ Cassie, Ron. "2013 Best of Baltimore: News". Baltimore Magazine. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  27. ^ Cillizza, Chris (March 12, 2013). "The Fix's best state based political blogs — extended edition!". Washington Post. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  28. ^ "Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation announces $1.6 million in awards". Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  29. ^ "The City Sentinel wins honors from Society of Professional Journalists; Community publication wins second in Best Newspaper category". City Sentinel. May 1, 2011. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  30. ^ "Star-Bulletin staff earns 30 SPJ journalism awards". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  31. ^ "Winner, 2013 NJSPJ Excellence in Journalism" (PDF). NJSPJ. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  32. ^ Caruso, Debra (May 13, 2014). "Winners Announced in 2014 New York Press Club Awards for Journalism" (PDF). New York Press Club. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  33. ^ "Judge dismisses GreenTech suit in win for First Amendment: Examiner Editorial". Washington Examiner. July 29, 2014. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  34. ^ Sherfinski, David (August 11, 2013). "McAuliffe's overstated production levels for GreenTech mar business-savvy image". Washington Times. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  35. ^ "Terry McAuliffe left car firm in December". Politico.com. April 7, 2013. Retrieved May 7, 2013.
  36. ^ Fredrick Kunkle (April 12, 2013). "Car company founded by McAuliffe files $85 million suit over Web site articles". Washingtonpost.com. Retrieved May 7, 2013.
  37. ^ Stverak, Jason (April 14, 2013). "We won't be intimidated". Franklincenterhq.org. Retrieved May 7, 2013.
  38. ^ Jason Stverak Blaze Interview
  39. ^ Gerstein, Josh; Parti, Tarini (March 27, 2015). "Hillary's brother raised Chinese money for McAuliffe's green car venture". Politico. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
  40. ^ a b Vock, Daniel C. (November 2014). "How Political Donors Are Changing Statehouse News Reporting". Governing. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
  41. ^ Goldenberg, Suzanne (February 15, 2013). "Media campaign against windfarms funded by anonymous conservatives". The Guardian. Retrieved February 16, 2013. Conservatives used a pair of secretive trusts to fund a media campaign against windfarms and solar projects, and to block state agencies from planning for future sea-level rise
  42. ^ Abowd, Paul. "Koch-funded charity passes money to free-market think tanks in states". NBC News. Center for Public Integrity. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  43. ^ Goldenberg, Suzanne; Bengtsson, Helena (June 9, 2015). "Secretive donors gave US climate denial groups $125m over three years". The Guardian. Retrieved June 11, 2015.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Franklin_News_Foundation&oldid=688004689"