PolitiFact’s parent company pays local journalists to cover transgender issues, extremists, and positive impacts of Biden
The group behind the popular fact-checking site PolitiFact is using funding from Left-leaning activists to support journalists with grants of $10,000 or more. These grants are specifically for writing about topics such as ”extremism,” “anti-transgender groups,” and the successes of Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan, which has been criticized for its excessive spending. The organization responsible for this initiative, the Poynter Institute, claims to be nonpartisan but is receiving money from foundations like the Joyce Foundation, the Gill Foundation, and the Catena Foundation, all known for their activist agendas.
The Poynter Institute is using these funds to provide classes for journalists across the country, instructing them on how to cover subjects like “climate change” and “transgender medical care.” Some participants in these classes will then have the opportunity to receive grants from activist foundations to write about specific topics for their employers.
What’s concerning is that many of the classes offered by the Beat Academy, a program run by the Poynter Institute, appear to have a clear political bias, often aligning with the agendas of the funders. For example, one session titled “Extremist Politics” teaches participants how to investigate candidates for extremist ties, including on school boards. They are also given access to resources and researchers focused on extremism. Three participants from this session will be awarded $10,000 grants to write about extremism.
Another session focuses on criticizing Joe Biden from the left, questioning whether his policies are truly benefiting disadvantaged communities. Two journalists will be paid a total of $20,000 to write articles highlighting the successes of Biden’s American Rescue Plan.
It’s worth noting that one of the foundations supporting this journalism program, the Joyce Foundation, aims to advance racial equity through evidence-informed policies. However, Vice President Kamala Harris defines “equity” as the radical idea of forced equal outcomes, which raises concerns about the foundation’s agenda.
The funds provided by these activist foundations will also be used to send a group of 25 journalists on a trip to the southern border. The purpose of this trip is to explore how domestic labor demand and politically-driven immigrant busing expose flaws in the system. Journalists will be encouraged to write stories emphasizing the need for immigrant workers in various industries.
In April, journalists will have the opportunity to take a subsidized class on “transgender coverage,” focusing on anti-transgender groups and their funders. Participants can apply for reporting grants to investigate how the transgender debate has impacted their local communities.
The program also includes a class on “voting systems,” which expands on the topic of extremism and provides insights into election worker threats and new voting rules in different states.
Lastly, the program aims to encourage all local reporters to incorporate ”climate change” into their coverage. The description of this session emphasizes that climate change affects every aspect of our lives and provides numerous examples of how it intersects with various industries. The program promotes the idea that government programs addressing climate change have a positive impact on disadvantaged communities.
It’s important to note that the panelists for the ”extremist politics” session are predominantly leftist activist reporters. One panelist focuses on covering extremism, disinformation, and conspiracies, while another is associated with an advocacy group that sues conservative journalists. The third panelist specializes in reporting on white supremacists and their disinformation campaigns.
Although the Poynter Institute was originally established to support journalists, it has now aligned itself with the “disinformation” industry, which seeks to discredit media outlets that deviate from government-approved narratives.
One of the funders of the Beat Academy and grants, the Catena Foundation, has ties to Sam R. Walton, the son of Walmart’s founder. This foundation has supported the Global Disinformation Index, a British project that received funding from the U.S. government. The index controversially listed mainstream center-right publications like Reason Magazine and the New York Post, potentially harming their business by discouraging advertisers from working with them.
Despite claims of being nonpartisan, the Poynter Institute’s Jon Greenberg, a former PolitiFact writer who leads the Beat Academy, has refused to share any classroom materials or lesson plans with The Daily Wire, further raising questions about the organization’s transparency and true intentions.
What concerns are raised about the balance and fairness of reporting in the Beat Academy classes, considering the specific political agenda promoted and the focus on topics aligned with the funders’ interests?
Hich will teach journalists how to report on alleged voter suppression and voter integrity issues. Participants in this class will have the chance to receive grants to investigate and write about these topics.
While it is important for journalists to receive training and support, the use of funding from clearly biased activist foundations raises concerns about the objectivity and impartiality of the reporting that will result from this program. The fact that the Poynter Institute claims to be nonpartisan while accepting money from foundations known for their activist agendas undermines its credibility as a neutral source of information.
The classes offered by the Beat Academy also seem to promote a particular political agenda, with sessions specifically targeting topics that align with the funders’ interests. The focus on extremism, anti-transgender groups, and the successes of Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan raises questions about the balance and fairness of the reporting that will be produced.
Furthermore, the inclusion of a subsidized class on “transgender coverage” indicates a potential bias in the program’s agenda. While it is important to cover and understand the issues facing the transgender community, the focus on anti-transgender groups and their funders suggests a predetermined narrative that may not accurately reflect the complexity of the debate.
The Poynter Institute’s use of activist funding to support journalists and provide classes is a concerning development in media coverage. It raises questions about the objectivity and integrity of the reporting that will be produced as a result of this funding. Journalism should strive for impartiality, and receiving support from foundations with clear activist agendas undermines the credibility of the reporting and the institutions involved.
As consumers of news and information, it is important to be aware of potential biases and agendas in journalistic coverage. Being critical and discerning about the sources of news and understanding the potential influences on the reporting is crucial in maintaining an informed and objective perspective.
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