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SW: an alec ally
As part of the application process to land a job at the Wisconsin Reporter, applicants must answer questions like: “How do free markets help the poor?” and “do higher taxes lead to balanced budgets?”<ref>The Poytner Institute. [http://www.poynter.org/latest-news/romenesko/141113/editor-opportunistic-conservatives-are-behind-wisconsinreporter-com/ Editor: ‘Opportunistic conservatives’ are behind WisconsinReporter.com]. Organizational website. Accessed August 19, 2011.</ref>
==An ALEC Ally==
The Wisconsin Reporter is a vehicle for promoting ideologically-based wire stories about state legislation and politics, and is a division of StateHouse News, a product of the [[Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity]]. The Franklin Center is an [[ALEC]] member, sponsor, and exhibitor. The Franklin Center’s stated mission is "networking and training independent investigative reporters, as well as journalists from state based news organizations, public-policy institutions & watchdog groups."
The Nieman Journalism Lab at Harvard University wrote in 2010 that “critics have accused the Franklin Center, and its array of state-based websites, of purposefully half-reporting stories for a conservative gain.” Its bureaus, including the Wisconsin Reporter, function as a news wire service, and local newspapers across Wisconsin have reprinted the free Wisconsin Reporter wire news stories with no notice of their ideological slant.
During the Wisconsin protests over Walker’s budget in early 2011, the Wisconsin Reporter sponsored a questionable poll asserting that 71 percent of state residents thought the budget proposal to cut the collective bargaining rights of most of the state's public sector workers was “fair.” The result was a statistical outlier, leading some to question the source. The same month, We Ask America, largely owned by the business organization Illinois Manufacturing Association, conducted a similar poll surveying 2,400 Wisconsin residents and found that 52 percent opposed Walker's plan.
The Franklin Center was a “Vice-Chairman”-level sponsor of ALEC’s 2011 Annual Conference – which in 2010 equated to a $25,000 sponsorship fee – and was one of about 60 entities with booths in ALEC’s conference exhibition hall.
The Franklin Center receives part of its funding from the [[Bradley Foundation]], which also has funded ALEC.<ref> [http://alecexposed.org/w/images/c/cd/ALEC_Exposed_in_Wisconsin.pdf ALEC Exposed in Wisconsin: The Hijacking of a State], [http://www.alecexposed.org ALEC Exposed], May 2012 </ref>
{{About ALEC}}
===Funding===
The Franklin Center was launched by the Chicago-based [[Sam Adams Alliance]] (SAM),<ref>Sam Adams Alliance. [http://www.samadamsalliance.org/media/5148/sam_adams_alliance_media_kit.pdf Sam Adams Alliance Media Kit]. Organizational PDF. Accessed August 19, 2011.</ref> a 501(c)(3) devoted to pushing free-market ideals. SAM gets funding from the [[State Policy Network]],<ref>Media Matters Action Network. [http://mediamattersaction.org/transparency/organization/Sam_Adams_Alliance/funders Sam Adams Alliance]. Conservative Transparency. Accessed August 19, 2011.</ref> which is partially funded by The Claude R. Lambe Foundation.<ref>Media Matters Action Network. [http://mediamattersaction.org/transparency/organization/State_Policy_Network/funders State Policy Network]. Conservative Transparency. Accessed August 19, 2011.</ref> [[Charles Koch]], one of the billionaire brothers who co-own Koch Industries, sits on the board of this foundation.<ref>Media Matters Action Network. [http://mediamattersaction.org/transparency/organization/Claude_R_Lambe_Charitable_Foundation Claude R. Lambe Charitable Foundation]. Conservative Transparency. Accessed August 19, 2011.</ref> SAM also receives funding from the [[Rodney Fund]]. The Franklin Center also receives funding from the Wisconsin-based [[Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation]],<ref>The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. [http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/127259723.html Franklin Center boss wants apology from Democratic staffer]. News website. Accessed August 19, 2011.</ref> a conservative grant-making organization.<ref>The Bradley Foundation. [http://www.bradleyfdn.org/ The Bradley Foundation]. Organizational website. Accessed August 19, 2011.</ref>
===Staff===
* M.D. Kittle, Bureau Chief
* Kirsten Adshead, Investigative Reporter
* Alissa Smith, Reporter
==Sourcewatch resources==
