Changes

'''The Franklin News Network''' (formerly known as Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity) is the publisher of thecentersquare.com (formerly known as Watchdog.org).<ref name=rebrand>Scott Zimmerman [https://www.exposedbycmd.org/2019/05/30/franklins-right-wing-watchdog-org-rebrands-as-the-center-square/ Franklin’s Right-Wing Watchdog.org Rebrands as The Center Square] Center for Media and Democracy, May 30, 2019</ref> The Franklin Center News Network (FNN) is a national 501(c)(3) journalism organization based in Alexandria, Virginia, established in 2009.<ref>Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity, [http://franklincenterhq.org/about/ About], organizational website, accessed August 19, 2011.</ref> FNN now states its mission as holding "government accountable through objective, balanced, citizen-focused public journalism with a taxpayer sensibility. Our work allows all readers to understand the impact and importance of governmental issues in their own backyard." It stresses a promise to "highlight the presence and absence of fiscal responsibility," and "reveals the truth about mismanagement and overreach" in state governments. Further, FNN states that "the reporting we support changes the world for the better, exposing damaging public policies, leading to investigations, and prompting regulatory reforms and legislative changes."<ref> Franklin claims News Network [https://franklinnews.org/about/ about] organizational site, accessed May 30, 2019</ref> A Center for Media and Democracy survey of their articles hinted that the "regulatory reforms and legislative changes" align with conservative goals.<ref name=rebrand/> FNN's predecessor, The Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity, claimed its mission is to be "dedicated to the principles of transparency, accountability, and fiscal responsibility, and highlight their absence in state and local governments," and to "shine the bright light of transparency into government's darkest corners, and expose the facts about government mismanagement and overreach."<ref>Franklin Center For Government & Public Integrity, [http://franklincenterhq.org/about/ About], organizational website, accessed June 23, 2017.</ref> The Franklin Center funded state reporters in more than 40 states in August 2011,<ref>Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity, [http://www.franklincenterhq.org/2376/think-tank-journalism-the-future-of-investigative-reporting/ Think tank Journalism: The Future of Investigative Journalism], organizational website, accessed August 19, 2011, since modified by the organization.</ref> and in 34 states in May 2013.<ref name="2013_list">Franklin Center, [https://www.sourcewatch.org/images/e/e5/Franklin_Center_May_2013.pdf Watchdog.org], organizational document, May 2013, obtained by the Center for Media and Democracy June 2013.</ref> As of May 2019, Watchdog.org has state bureaus in thirteen states, according to its website. Despite their non-partisan description, many of these websites have received criticism for their conservative bias.<ref>Rebekah Metzler, [http://www.pressherald.com/news/watchdog-website-puts-a-new-spin-on-politics_2010-10-02.html 'Watchdog' website puts a new spin on politics'], ''The Portland Press Herald'', accessed August 19, 2011.</ref><ref>Allison Kilkenny, [http://www.truth-out.org/koch-spider-web/1312231636 The Koch Spider Web], ''Truthout'', August 4, 2011.</ref>