Difference between revisions of "National Journalism Center"

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Founded by [[conservative]] journalist [[M. Stanton Evans]] in 1977, the '''National Journalism Center''' (NJC) is now a program of [[Young America's Foundation]], and has successfully trained more than 1700 journalists since its conception. NJC places interns primarily in Washington, DC in both mainstream media outlets and smaller niche-oriented publications.  
Founded by [[conservative]] journalist [[M. Stanton Evans]] in 1977, the '''National Journalism Center''' (NJC) is now a program of Young America's Foundation, and has successfully trained more than 1700 journalists since its conception. NJC places interns primarily in Washington, DC in both mainstream media outlets and smaller niche-oriented publications.  
 
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
 
The National Journalism Center has given birth to a number of alumni who, through their engagement in public policy [[journalism]] and activism, have proven extremely effective in uncovering the truth and promoting responsible journalism.
 
  
 
NJC offers scholarships to budding young journalists so that they can attend its 12-week training sessions, where they receive training in the technical skills of journalism, combined with current event discussions, which help their understanding of such topics as education, environmental regulation, taxes, and media law. Interns participate in full-time internships and attend training seminars one day per week.
 
NJC offers scholarships to budding young journalists so that they can attend its 12-week training sessions, where they receive training in the technical skills of journalism, combined with current event discussions, which help their understanding of such topics as education, environmental regulation, taxes, and media law. Interns participate in full-time internships and attend training seminars one day per week.
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"Among the media outlets where NJCers have worked are the [[New York Times]], [[Washington Post]], [[USA Today]], and Wall Street Journal; ABC, [[CBS]], [[NBC]], Fox, [[PBS]], [[NPR]], CNN, [[MSNBC]], [[CNBC]] and [[C-SPAN]]; [[Time]], Newsweek, [[New Yorker]], [[Harper's]], Esquire, National Geographic, [[Readers' Digest]], [[Wired]], George, Details, Stuff and [[Forbes]]; [[AP]], [[UPI]], [[Dow Jones]] Newswire, [[Bloomberg]] News Service, [[Copley]] News Service, [[Knight Ridder]] News Service, and hundreds more," the web site states.
 
"Among the media outlets where NJCers have worked are the [[New York Times]], [[Washington Post]], [[USA Today]], and Wall Street Journal; ABC, [[CBS]], [[NBC]], Fox, [[PBS]], [[NPR]], CNN, [[MSNBC]], [[CNBC]] and [[C-SPAN]]; [[Time]], Newsweek, [[New Yorker]], [[Harper's]], Esquire, National Geographic, [[Readers' Digest]], [[Wired]], George, Details, Stuff and [[Forbes]]; [[AP]], [[UPI]], [[Dow Jones]] Newswire, [[Bloomberg]] News Service, [[Copley]] News Service, [[Knight Ridder]] News Service, and hundreds more," the web site states.
  
The NJC also is linked with other conservative industry-funded groups. In October 1995, M. Stanton Evans was slated to give the keynote address at a seminar, titled "Consumer Health and Safety: Does the Nanny State Help or Harm Consumers," during National Consumers' Week, organised by [[Consumer Alert]].
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According to a guide to right-wing groups on universities, the NJC is accused of being "is a product of the [[American Conservative Union]]." [http://www.qrd.org/qrd/religion/anti/UCP/POLITICS.TXT] Currently, there are no ties between the American Conservative Union and The National Journalism Center, and the National Journalism Center works with all media outlets to train journalists in responsible, accurate reporting.
[http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/fyi35c00]
 
 
 
According to a guide to right-wing groups on universities, the NJC "is a product of the [[American Conservative Union]]." [http://www.qrd.org/qrd/religion/anti/UCP/POLITICS.TXT] The NJC operated as a project of the [[Education and Research Institute]], headed by Evans, which received funds for the NJC.
 
  
 
==Funding==
 
==Funding==
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In the four financial years from 1998 to 2001, the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation contributed a total of $160,000 - $40,000 each year - to the general operations of the center. (They also contributed a further $105,000 over the 1986-1988 period).[http://www.mediatransparency.org/allinonesearchresults.php?searchString=National+Journalism+Center]
 
In the four financial years from 1998 to 2001, the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation contributed a total of $160,000 - $40,000 each year - to the general operations of the center. (They also contributed a further $105,000 over the 1986-1988 period).[http://www.mediatransparency.org/allinonesearchresults.php?searchString=National+Journalism+Center]
In 2002, NJC's grant was cut to $25,000.
 
  
 
In 2001, the Education and Research Institute, the former parent organization for NJC, received $40,000 from the John M. Olin Foundation  for the NJC. [http://www.jmof.org/grants/2001e.htm]
 
In 2001, the Education and Research Institute, the former parent organization for NJC, received $40,000 from the John M. Olin Foundation  for the NJC. [http://www.jmof.org/grants/2001e.htm]
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According to the conservative [[Capital Research Center]], the Education & Research Institute 1999 return - the last it accessed - revealed that ERI ran at a $97,000 loss that year with revenue of $403,058 and expenditure $500,031. It also revealed that in 1994, 1997 and 1998, [[Exxon Mobil]] contributed $6,000 each year with a further $6,000 from Exxon Educational Foundation in 1998. In 1994 and 1995 Philip’s Petroleum contributed  $5,000 and $1,000 respectively.  
 
According to the conservative [[Capital Research Center]], the Education & Research Institute 1999 return - the last it accessed - revealed that ERI ran at a $97,000 loss that year with revenue of $403,058 and expenditure $500,031. It also revealed that in 1994, 1997 and 1998, [[Exxon Mobil]] contributed $6,000 each year with a further $6,000 from Exxon Educational Foundation in 1998. In 1994 and 1995 Philip’s Petroleum contributed  $5,000 and $1,000 respectively.  
 
[http://www.capitalresearch.org/search/orgdisplay.asp?Org=ERI100#quotes]
 
[http://www.capitalresearch.org/search/orgdisplay.asp?Org=ERI100#quotes]
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Currently, the National Journalism Center receives no federal funding and receives grants from private foundations and individual supporters.
  
 
==Personnel==
 
==Personnel==
  
Until recently, the NJC was directed by [[M. Stanton Evans]], who also edited [[Consumers' Research]] (NJC). Major changes followed Evans' departure with the organisation being "taken over" as a project of the [[Young America's Foundation]], with [[Tom Phillips]] the chairman of [[Human Events]] parent company, chairing the new board of governors. [http://www.humaneventsonline.com/article.php?id=2028]
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The National Journalism Center was under the direction of M. Stanton Evans from 1977 until it became a project of Young America's Foundation in 2001/2002. After Stan Evans retired from the program, [[Kenneth E. Grubbs, Jr.]] led the program, but was released in 2004, following a freelance piece criticizing the media. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A60670-2004Jul18]. The National Journalism Center is currently under the guidance of Alex X. Mooney, who has led the program since 2005. NJC also employs a full-time academic director to oversee the training seminars and overall academic component of the internship program.
 
 
In September 2002, Evans retired and was replaced by [[Kenneth E. Grubbs, Jr.]][http://nationaljournalismcenter.org/] In July 2004, however, Grubbs was fired after criticizing the ''Washington Times'' regarding its coverage of a bizarre event when the Rev. [[Sun Myung Moon]], who owns the ''Times'', proclaimed himself the Messiah, declared that Marx, Lenin, Hitler and Stalin had converted to his religion in the "spirit world," and then had himself crowned by a congressman. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A60670-2004Jul18]
 
 
 
[[Mark LaRochelle]] is NJC's associate editor and webmaster. [[J. Kelley Harris]], a fundraiser for the [[Young America's Foundation]], has been listed as Associate Director of the NJC. [http://thereporter.us/harris.html]
 
  
 
==NJC alumni==
 
==NJC alumni==
  
Since its formation in 1977, the NJC claim that, of the 1400 people who have attended their 12-week long training sessions, 900 have gone on to media and media-related positions. While a high percentage of those who were trained by the NJC appear to have had relatively short media life spans, a minority have carved our careers as media commentators, in conservative [[think tanks]], [[trade association]]s, [[lobbying]] or [[Public relations firms|PR companies]]. [http://thereporter.us/alumni.html]
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Since its formation in 1977, the NJC estimate that of the 1700 people who have attended their 12-week long training sessions, about two-thirds have gone on to media and media-related positions. The length of time in the journalism industry varies among the alumni, but a number have carved our careers as media commentators, in conservative [[think tanks]], [[trade association]]s, or [[Public relations firms|PR companies]]. [http://thereporter.us/alumni.html]
  
A selection of NJC "alumni", with the date of their course in brackets, who have endured, as well as some who appear to be rising stars, are:
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A selection of NJC alumni, with the date of their course in brackets, who have worked and succeeded in the journalism industry. Many have become published authors in addition to their roles as journalists.
  
 
*[[John Barnes]] (summer '81)
 
*[[John Barnes]] (summer '81)
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*[[Elizabeth Larson]] (summer '90)  
 
*[[Elizabeth Larson]] (summer '90)  
 
*[[Karen Lotter/ Hickey]] (spring '96)  
 
*[[Karen Lotter/ Hickey]] (spring '96)  
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*[[Rachel Marsden]] (fall '02)
 
*[[William McGurn]] (summer '80)  
 
*[[William McGurn]] (summer '80)  
 
*[[John Merline]] (fall '84)  
 
*[[John Merline]] (fall '84)  
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*[[Martin Morse Wooster]] (spring '81)
 
*[[Martin Morse Wooster]] (spring '81)
  
Some of the alumni wax lyrical about the role of the NJC in getting them started as conservative commentators. According to [[Ann Coulter]]: "NJC teaches writers to locate primary sources, run down facts, and get quotes. Partisan bile you have to develop on your own." ­[[Michael Fumento]] too endorses the NJC: "No institution has worked harder or been more effective than the National Journalism Center in preventing 'responsible journalism' from becoming a true oxymoron." [http://thereporter.us/whattheysay.html]
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According to [[Ann Coulter]]: "NJC teaches writers to locate primary sources, run down facts, and get quotes. Partisan bile you have to develop on your own." ­[[Michael Fumento]] also comments on the work of the NJC: "No institution has worked harder or been more effective than the National Journalism Center in preventing 'responsible journalism' from becoming a true oxymoron." [http://thereporter.us/whattheysay.html]
  
 
==Case studies==
 
==Case studies==
*[[The National Journalism Center and Philip Morris]]
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===Philip Morris associations===
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*<B>[[The National Journalism Center and Philip Morris]]</b>
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In the early 1990s, Philip Morris worked with a number of the NJC alumni to "accurately report" about the tobacco industry, and proposed health care reforms.  [[Michael Fumento]] in particular, made a lot of money from these services (linked to [[Steven J Milloy]] and [[TASSC]]). The National Journalism Center, under the direction of M. Stanton Evans, ''hosted forums on public policy issues to raise awareness and promote education of the issues''.
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[[Richard T Hines]] an infamous neo-Confederate corporate lobbyist was active in promoting the use of the NJC and extending it influence outside the USA, and into Europe. He worked extensively for many years as a lobbyist for the tobacco industry.  <ref>https://www.industrydocuments.ucsf.edu/docs/kqkm0128</ref>. Hines worked closely with the US and UK Libertarian think-tanks in blocking smoking bans and other regulatory measures, mainly in linking their propaganda to various friendly journalists. He acted as a conduit between the tobacco companies and many of the NJC alumnii. <ref>https://www.industrydocuments.ucsf.edu/docs/zpkm0128</ref>
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The [[Krieble Institute]] was an off-shoot of [[Paul Weyrich]]'s [[Free Congress Foundation]] which ran the [[National Empowerment Television]] (NET) system. Television personality [[Joelle Ziemian]] (later Fox News) worked for Richard Hines in 1994 and acted as Philip Morris's liason to the Krieble Institute and NET. <ref>https://www.industrydocuments.ucsf.edu/docs/fppk0101</ref>  In another project, Richard Hines also used Krieble (which had set up an office and training facility in Moscow) to link Philip Morris into a group of the new journalists they were training in Russia, and also to many of the libertarian think-tanks who would employ them.
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<ref>https://www.industrydocuments.ucsf.edu/docs/jqkm0128</ref> <ref>https://www.industrydocuments.ucsf.edu/docs/xqkm0128</ref>
  
 
== Contact information ==
 
== Contact information ==
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Web: http://njc.yaf.org
 
Web: http://njc.yaf.org
  
==Other SourceWatch resources==
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==Articles and resources==
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===Other SourceWatch resources===
 
*[[Young America's Foundation]]
 
*[[Young America's Foundation]]
  
==External links==
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===External articles===
*[http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/blz55e00 New project], Bates No 2046662829, April 1993 (estimated), page 2.
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* [http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/blz55e00 New project], Bates No 2046662829, April 1993 (estimated), page 2.
*[http://legacy.library/ucsf.edu/tid/jgj46e00 Unitled], Bates No 2021170039,August 13, 1993 (estimated), page 6.
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* [http://legacy.library/ucsf.edu/tid/jgj46e00 Unitled], Bates No 2021170039,August 13, 1993 (estimated), page 6.
*Philip Morris, &#8220;[http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/dtv34e00 Tobacco strategy]&#8221;, Bates No 2022887066, March 1994.
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* Philip Morris, &#8220;[http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/dtv34e00 Tobacco strategy]&#8221;, Bates No 2022887066, March 1994.
*Dalya Massachi and Rich Rowan, "[http://www.qrd.org/qrd/religion/anti/UCP/POLITICS.TXT Excerpt from Guide to Uncovering the Right on Campus]," October 1994.
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* Dalya Massachi and Rich Rowan, "[http://www.qrd.org/qrd/religion/anti/UCP/POLITICS.TXT Excerpt from Guide to Uncovering the Right on Campus]," October 1994.
*Consumer Alert,"[http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/fyi35c00 National Consumers Week seminar]", Bates No 2046968854, October 1995, page 1.
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* Consumer Alert,"[http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/fyi35c00 National Consumers Week seminar]", Bates No 2046968854, October 1995, page 1.
*&#8220;[http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/neu27d00 Proactive media relations: the Borelli formula]&#8221;, Bates No 2072927845/7848, August 1997 (estimated date), page 2.
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* [http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/neu27d00 "Proactive media relations: the Borelli formula"], Bates No 2072927845/7848, August 1997 (estimated date), page 2.
*Joseph A. D'Agostino, &#8220;[http://www.humaneventsonline.com/article.php?id=2028 Conservative Spotlight: National Journalism Center]&#8221;, Oct 9, 2003(D'Agostino is the Associate Editor of Human Events, a conservative online journal with close ties to the NJC).
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* Joseph A. D'Agostino, &#8220;[http://www.humaneventsonline.com/article.php?id=2028 Conservative Spotlight: National Journalism Center]&#8221;, Oct 9, 2003 (D'Agostino is the Associate Editor of Human Events, a long-standing conservative newspaper which has hosted NJC interns).
*Media Transparency,  &#8220;[http://www.mediatransparency.org/allinonesearchresults.php?searchString=National+Journalism+Center The National Journalism Center], accessed November 29, 2003.
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* Howard Kurtz, "[http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A60670-2004Jul18 The Ordinary American, Under Stress and Oversimplified]," ''Washington Post'', July 19, 2004, describes the release of NJC director Ken Grubbs, Jr.
*Howard Kurtz, "[http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A60670-2004Jul18 The Ordinary American, Under Stress and Oversimplified]," ''Washington Post'', July 19, 2004, describes the firing of NJC director Ken Grubbs, Jr.
 
  
[[category:Journalism]][[Category:United States]][[category:Media]]
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===References===
[[Category:Tobacco documents organizations|National Journalism Center]]
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<references/>
  
<tdo>search_term=National Journalism Center confidential</tdo>
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[[category:Journalism]][[Category:United States]][[category:Media]][[category:Internship]]

Latest revision as of 05:52, 12 October 2019

Founded by conservative journalist M. Stanton Evans in 1977, the National Journalism Center (NJC) is now a program of Young America's Foundation, and has successfully trained more than 1700 journalists since its conception. NJC places interns primarily in Washington, DC in both mainstream media outlets and smaller niche-oriented publications.

History

NJC offers scholarships to budding young journalists so that they can attend its 12-week training sessions, where they receive training in the technical skills of journalism, combined with current event discussions, which help their understanding of such topics as education, environmental regulation, taxes, and media law. Interns participate in full-time internships and attend training seminars one day per week.

Interns at the NJC also receive career advice at seminars featuring speakers from the world of public policy and journalism, such as columnist Robert Novak, Washington Times political correspondent Donald Lambro, or Wall Street Journal editorialist John Fund (himself an NJC alumnus).

"Among the media outlets where NJCers have worked are the New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal; ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, PBS, NPR, CNN, MSNBC, CNBC and C-SPAN; Time, Newsweek, New Yorker, Harper's, Esquire, National Geographic, Readers' Digest, Wired, George, Details, Stuff and Forbes; AP, UPI, Dow Jones Newswire, Bloomberg News Service, Copley News Service, Knight Ridder News Service, and hundreds more," the web site states.

According to a guide to right-wing groups on universities, the NJC is accused of being "is a product of the American Conservative Union." [1] Currently, there are no ties between the American Conservative Union and The National Journalism Center, and the National Journalism Center works with all media outlets to train journalists in responsible, accurate reporting.

Funding

In the four financial years from 1998 to 2001, the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation contributed a total of $160,000 - $40,000 each year - to the general operations of the center. (They also contributed a further $105,000 over the 1986-1988 period).[2]

In 2001, the Education and Research Institute, the former parent organization for NJC, received $40,000 from the John M. Olin Foundation for the NJC. [3]

According to the conservative Capital Research Center, the Education & Research Institute 1999 return - the last it accessed - revealed that ERI ran at a $97,000 loss that year with revenue of $403,058 and expenditure $500,031. It also revealed that in 1994, 1997 and 1998, Exxon Mobil contributed $6,000 each year with a further $6,000 from Exxon Educational Foundation in 1998. In 1994 and 1995 Philip’s Petroleum contributed $5,000 and $1,000 respectively. [4]

Currently, the National Journalism Center receives no federal funding and receives grants from private foundations and individual supporters.

Personnel

The National Journalism Center was under the direction of M. Stanton Evans from 1977 until it became a project of Young America's Foundation in 2001/2002. After Stan Evans retired from the program, Kenneth E. Grubbs, Jr. led the program, but was released in 2004, following a freelance piece criticizing the media. [5]. The National Journalism Center is currently under the guidance of Alex X. Mooney, who has led the program since 2005. NJC also employs a full-time academic director to oversee the training seminars and overall academic component of the internship program.

NJC alumni

Since its formation in 1977, the NJC estimate that of the 1700 people who have attended their 12-week long training sessions, about two-thirds have gone on to media and media-related positions. The length of time in the journalism industry varies among the alumni, but a number have carved our careers as media commentators, in conservative think tanks, trade associations, or PR companies. [6]

A selection of NJC alumni, with the date of their course in brackets, who have worked and succeeded in the journalism industry. Many have become published authors in addition to their roles as journalists.

According to Ann Coulter: "NJC teaches writers to locate primary sources, run down facts, and get quotes. Partisan bile you have to develop on your own." ­Michael Fumento also comments on the work of the NJC: "No institution has worked harder or been more effective than the National Journalism Center in preventing 'responsible journalism' from becoming a true oxymoron." [7]

Case studies

Philip Morris associations

In the early 1990s, Philip Morris worked with a number of the NJC alumni to "accurately report" about the tobacco industry, and proposed health care reforms. Michael Fumento in particular, made a lot of money from these services (linked to Steven J Milloy and TASSC). The National Journalism Center, under the direction of M. Stanton Evans, hosted forums on public policy issues to raise awareness and promote education of the issues.

Richard T Hines an infamous neo-Confederate corporate lobbyist was active in promoting the use of the NJC and extending it influence outside the USA, and into Europe. He worked extensively for many years as a lobbyist for the tobacco industry. [1]. Hines worked closely with the US and UK Libertarian think-tanks in blocking smoking bans and other regulatory measures, mainly in linking their propaganda to various friendly journalists. He acted as a conduit between the tobacco companies and many of the NJC alumnii. [2]

The Krieble Institute was an off-shoot of Paul Weyrich's Free Congress Foundation which ran the National Empowerment Television (NET) system. Television personality Joelle Ziemian (later Fox News) worked for Richard Hines in 1994 and acted as Philip Morris's liason to the Krieble Institute and NET. [3] In another project, Richard Hines also used Krieble (which had set up an office and training facility in Moscow) to link Philip Morris into a group of the new journalists they were training in Russia, and also to many of the libertarian think-tanks who would employ them. [4] [5]

Contact information

National Journalism Center
529 14th Street NW, Suite 937
Washington, DC 20045
Phone: 202-628-1490
Fax: 202-628-1490
Web: http://njc.yaf.org

Articles and resources

Other SourceWatch resources

External articles

References