Keeping up with all the Portland and Oregon news that's on the intertubes is quite a challenge. We're late to the party in discovering this site -- NWWatchdog.org -- which looks pretty interesting. It's tied to this national outfit. Is there an agenda behind it, aside from stirring things up a bit? Let's hope not.
Comments (5)
There is definitely an agenda behind it. Whether that's good or bad is a matter of opinion.
Columbia School of Journalism, which I tend to trust states:
"The Franklin Center is perhaps the most ambitious conservative news organization you’ve never heard of. Founded in 2009 by Jason Stverak, a former Republican campaign operative, and initially funded by over $2 million in seed money from the conservative Sam Adams Alliance, the Franklin Center funds small online news operations in 18 states. "
I'll also note Wikipedia states:
"The Franklin Center has co-sponsored programs with Americans for Prosperity and James O'Keefe."
Anything connected to James O'Keefe is a dealbreaker for me.
**** Staff Ties to Conservative & GOP Organizations
The center was launched by the Chicago-based Sam Adams Alliance (SAM),[6] a 501(c)(3) devoted to pushing free-market ideals. The Franklin Center also receives funding from the Wisconsin-based Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation,[7] a conservative grant-making organization.[8]
The Franklin Center’s president, Jason Stverak, is the former Regional Field Director for SAM, served as North Dakota Executive Director for the Rudy Giuliani Presidential Committee and former Executive Director of the North Dakota Republican Party.[9][10]
The Center's Director of Donor Relations Matt Hauck is a former Associate at the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation. [11]
The Center's Chief of Staff Gwen Beattie is the former Director of Development and Operations at America's Future Foundation, an organization committed to "identify and develop the next generation of conservative and libertarian leaders."[12]
The Center's 2009 IRS 990 form lists Rudie Martinson as director and secretary, who formerly worked as the assistant state director for North Dakota's chapter of Koch's Americans for Prosperity.[13]
****
6 Sam Adams Alliance. Sam Adams Alliance Media Kit. Organizational PDF. Accessed August 19, 2011.
7 The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Franklin Center boss wants apology from Democratic staffer. News website. Accessed August 19, 2011.
8 The Bradley Foundation. The Bradley Foundation. Organizational website. Accessed August 19, 2011.
9 The Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity. Staff. Organizational website. Accessed August 19, 2011.
10 The Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity. Staff. Organizational website. Accessed August 19, 2011.
11 Matt Hauck LinkedIn [[1]] Accessed 5 October 2011
12 Gwen Beattie LinkedIn [[2]] Accessed 5 October 2011
13 AFP Announces Free Market Essay Contest [[3]] Accessed 5 October 2011
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Comments (5)
There is definitely an agenda behind it. Whether that's good or bad is a matter of opinion.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watchdog.org
Funded by the Franklin Center for Goverment and Public Integtrity. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_Center_for_Government_and_Public_Integrity
http://franklincenterhq.org/
Who is funded by the Sam Adams Alliance (no joke), an organization "funded by (anonymous) private donors.
http://samadamsalliance.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Adams_Alliance
The Sam Adams Alliance is run by Eric O'Keefe.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_O%27Keefe_(political_activist)
Posted by k2 | January 16, 2013 7:37 AM
There is always an agenda but that does not means something is not true or useful or both at least some of the time.
Posted by GEORGE | January 16, 2013 7:39 AM
I'm left wondering if GEORGE is a fan of useful lies.
Posted by Cary | January 16, 2013 10:35 AM
Columbia School of Journalism, which I tend to trust states:
"The Franklin Center is perhaps the most ambitious conservative news organization you’ve never heard of. Founded in 2009 by Jason Stverak, a former Republican campaign operative, and initially funded by over $2 million in seed money from the conservative Sam Adams Alliance, the Franklin Center funds small online news operations in 18 states. "
I'll also note Wikipedia states:
"The Franklin Center has co-sponsored programs with Americans for Prosperity and James O'Keefe."
Anything connected to James O'Keefe is a dealbreaker for me.
Posted by Baloney Joe | January 16, 2013 2:29 PM
From "Sourcewatch"
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Franklin_Center_for_Government_and_Public_Integrity
****
Staff Ties to Conservative & GOP Organizations
The center was launched by the Chicago-based Sam Adams Alliance (SAM),[6] a 501(c)(3) devoted to pushing free-market ideals. The Franklin Center also receives funding from the Wisconsin-based Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation,[7] a conservative grant-making organization.[8]
The Franklin Center’s president, Jason Stverak, is the former Regional Field Director for SAM, served as North Dakota Executive Director for the Rudy Giuliani Presidential Committee and former Executive Director of the North Dakota Republican Party.[9][10]
The Center's Director of Donor Relations Matt Hauck is a former Associate at the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation. [11]
The Center's Chief of Staff Gwen Beattie is the former Director of Development and Operations at America's Future Foundation, an organization committed to "identify and develop the next generation of conservative and libertarian leaders."[12]
The Center's 2009 IRS 990 form lists Rudie Martinson as director and secretary, who formerly worked as the assistant state director for North Dakota's chapter of Koch's Americans for Prosperity.[13]
****
6 Sam Adams Alliance. Sam Adams Alliance Media Kit. Organizational PDF. Accessed August 19, 2011.
7 The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Franklin Center boss wants apology from Democratic staffer. News website. Accessed August 19, 2011.
8 The Bradley Foundation. The Bradley Foundation. Organizational website. Accessed August 19, 2011.
9 The Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity. Staff. Organizational website. Accessed August 19, 2011.
10 The Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity. Staff. Organizational website. Accessed August 19, 2011.
11 Matt Hauck LinkedIn [[1]] Accessed 5 October 2011
12 Gwen Beattie LinkedIn [[2]] Accessed 5 October 2011
13 AFP Announces Free Market Essay Contest [[3]] Accessed 5 October 2011
Posted by Mojo | January 17, 2013 9:43 PM