 | SourceWatch needs your financial support to survive and thrive. If you've found this information on the people, organizations, and issues shaping the public agenda helpful, please make a tax-deductible donation now. |
Western Journalism Center
From SourceWatch
The Western Journalism Center (also called the Western Center for Journalism) was co-founded by Joseph Farah and James H. Smith, the "former publisher of the Sacramento Union (and former CEO and publisher of the revived Sacramento Union operation)."[1]
Contents |
Staff
The Center is currently headed by conservative political operative Floyd G. Brown.[2]
Also on staff is Caleb Heimlich, Director of Programs.[3]
Background
"The center provided Christopher Ruddy with 'additional expense money, funding for Freedom of Information Act requests, legal support and publicity' during his investigation of the death of Vince Foster while working as a reporter for the New York Post and the Scaife-owned Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. This included buying full-page ads in major newspapers reproducing Ruddy's work and co-producing a video about the Foster investigation with Ruddy. The center accepted $330,000 in donations from Scaife-connected foundations in 1994-95. The center has been involved in an ongoing lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service over a tax audit it alleges was politically motivated. Farah is, like [Brent] Bozell, also a member of the secretive Council for National Policy," ConWebWatch reported.[4]
In March 2009, the Center sent out an email to conservatives promoting conspiracy theories regarding Barack Obama's citizenship.[5]
WorldNetDaily
WorldNetDaily was "started in May 1997 as a project of the Western Journalism Center. WorldNetDaily describes itself as 'a fiercely independent newssite committed to hard-hitting investigative reporting of government waste, fraud and abuse.' WorldNetDaily.com, Inc., headquartered in Cave Junction, Ore., but incorporated in Delaware, was spun off in 1999 as a for-profit subsidiary of the non-profit Western Journalism Center with the backing of $4.5 million from investors. Farah and the Western Journalism Center own a majority of WND, according to Farah; the rest of the stock is owned by about 75 private investors," ConWebWatch reported.
Contact
Western Center for Journalism
4109 Bridgeport Way Ste. E-2
University Place WA, 98466
Phone: 202.370.6366
Website: http://www.westernjournalism.com/
Articles and resources
Related SourceWatch articles
References
- ↑ "The ConWebWatch Primer," ConWebWatch, accessed April 2, 2009.
- ↑ "About" Western Journalism Center, accessed April 2, 2009.
- ↑ The Team :. Western Journalism.com. Retrieved on 2010-01-03. “Caleb Heimlich is the Director of Programs for the Western Center for Journalism and a professional blogger. He joined the Western Center for Journalism in January, 2009. He holds a Bachelors degree in Political Economics from Hillsdale College. Caleb worked as a Policy Analyst at the Americans for Prosperity Foundation in Washington D.C. before running for State Representative in Washington’s 25th legislative district.”
- ↑ "The ConWebWatch Primer," ConWebWatch, accessed April 2, 2009.
- ↑ Terry Krepel, "The Return of the Western Journalism Center" ConWebWatch, accessed April 2, 2009.
