Make The Lie Big, Make It Simple, Keep Saying It
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The Associated Press (AP) recently announced that it has extended its dissemination partnership with five local news outlets to expand its reach and increase access to its strained brand of “nonpartisan” journalism ahead of the 2024 US presidential election. This move aims to provide so-called “fact-based news” to communities with limited access to it.
However, the list of partner outlets has rightly raised serious concerns due to their obvious far-leftwing donor backing.
The Unusual Suspects
The AP stated that it would be partnering with CalMatters, Honolulu Civil Beat, Montana Free Press, The Nebraska Journalism Trust, and South Dakota News Watch. These organizations will share AP content with their audience, while AP will distribute stories from each outlet to its members and customers, supplementing its existing coverage in California, Hawaii, Montana, Nebraska, and South Dakota.
But each of the above mentioned outlets is married to the ideological Left, courtesy of their financial benefactors.
One of the partner outlets, Honolulu Civil Beat, is overseen by CEO and publisher Pierre Omidyar. Omidyar co-founded eBay and donated significantly to create The Intercept.
The Intercept is considered biased to the left because it often presents news and opinions from a progressive or liberal perspective. The publication was founded by journalists known for their left-leaning political views, and this is reflected in the content they produce, with its editorial focus and slant aligning with left-wing ideologies.
In 2016, Omidyar personally donated $100,000 to the NeverTrump PAC, a political action committee dedicated to preventing Donald Trump from becoming president.
Additionally, Honolulu Civil Beat often coordinates with States Newsroom, a network of local news outlets funded by left-leaning sources. One of States Newsroom's subsidiary outlets, The Tennessee Lookout, will be led by Holly McCall, a former reporter recently working in Democrat Party politics, including for Mike Bloomberg's Tennessee team during his failed presidential bid.
CalMatters, another partner outlet, was co-founded by Simone Coxe, who donated $100,000 to a pro-Joe Biden super PAC in 2020. Coxe and her husband, Tench, collectively donated $2 million to neo-fascist and failed perennial candidate Beto O'Rourke's 2022 presidential campaign.
Coxe reportedly also has a family charity that donates to the Nebraska Journalism Trust and has personally donated $160,000 to the Montana Free Press.
Other prominent donors, such as John Doerr and Google co-founder Eric Schmidt's foundation, have donated to CalMatters and political committees of Biden's.
Former Enron executive John Arnold, well known for funding woke criminal justice reform initiatives, has donated money to three of the five outlets through his firm.
The Disassociated Press
The AP's decision to partner with these predominantly far-left-backed outlets has raised concerns about the bias in its coverage.
The news agency has recently faced criticism for left-wing bias, such as a January headline about the resignation of Harvard President Claudine Gay, which concluded her decision was the result of a "conservative weapon."
While the AP aims to expand the reach of local news and provide what it argues is “fact-based journalism” to underrepresented communities, the choice of partner outlets raises serious questions about the organization's commitment to nonpartisan reporting.
The AP is one of the largest and most influential news agencies in the world. As such, it has attracted significant scrutiny, particularly regarding its potential biases in reporting. Critics have accused the AP of favoring specific political viewpoints, promoting liberal ideologies, and underreporting alternative perspectives.
Some examples include:
One of the most prominent accusations of AP bias involves its coverage of the 2020 US Presidential Election. Critics rightfully argue that the AP's reporting was grossly slanted in favor of Joe Biden, emphasizing negative aspects of Donald Trump's campaign – and targeting his personality over his platform – while highlighting positive aspects of Biden's. This perception of bias has persisted among large segments of the nonpartisan population.
The AP has also been accused of anti-Israel bias in their coverage of Israel-Palestine conflicts, portraying Israel in a more negative light, emphasizing its military actions, and downplaying the violence from Palestinian militants. This imbalance in reporting has led many to question the AP's objectivity on this issue.
Climate change is another area where the AP has been accused of bias, with critics arguing that the news agency promotes a far-Left viewpoint on the issue. By presenting climate change as a “settled scientific fact” and dismissing alternative perspectives, the AP has been accused of stifling debate and perpetuating a false and one-sided narrative on the topic.
The AP has demonstrated a pro-choice bias in their reporting on abortion. The news agency uses terms such as "fetus" instead of "unborn child" and emphasizes the benefits of abortion access while downplaying the moral and ethical concerns surrounding the issue.
In their coverage of gun control, the AP has demonstrated a profound anti-gun bias. The news agency has consistently emphasized the negative aspects of gun ownership and downplayed instances of self-defense with firearms. This imbalance in reporting has led many to question the AP's objectivity on this issue.
The AP has also shown a pro-immigration bias, using terms such as "undocumented immigrants" instead of " illegal aliens" and emphasizing the benefits of immigration. This one-sided portrayal of immigration ignores the potential negative consequences of uncontrolled migration – such as the violence and the trafficking of drugs endemic in that demographic – and perpetuates a pro-immigration narrative.
In their reporting on healthcare, the AP has exhibited a pro-Obamacare bias. It emphasizes the Affordable Care Act's positive aspects and downplays its negative consequences, leading to questions about the AP's objectivity.
The AP has also been biased in its coverage of the #MeToo movement, focusing on sexual abuse allegations against conservatives while ignoring similar accusations against liberals. This imbalance in reporting has led some to question the AP's commitment to impartiality and fairness.
In their reporting on police brutality, the AP has consistently displayed an anti-police bias, emphasizing instances of police misconduct while downplaying the overall positive impact of law enforcement on society. Further, they ignore statistics that disprove the narrative of systemic racism in law enforcement, placing into question the AP's objectivity and honesty on this contentious issue.
Finally, the AP executed a pro-lockdown and pro-vaccination bias in its reporting on the COVID pandemic. The news agency emphasized the benefits of lockdowns and vaccinations while ignoring – and, in fact, advancing untruths – about the potential harms of the vaccines and alternative viewpoints. This favoritism has made a good many question the AP's commitment to balanced and impartial reporting in total.
Why We Need Accurate, Unbiased Information
As the 2024 US presidential election approaches, it is crucial for news agencies to maintain impartiality and deliver balanced coverage to inform the public and promote healthy democratic discourse. At the very least, it is important for the public to scrutinize the information they consume, including from outlets like the AP.
Given these partner outlets' apparent far-Left donor backing, the Associated Press's expansion ahead of the 2024 US presidential election raises serious concerns about potential bias in the AP's coverage.
In a rapidly evolving world, where information is readily available at our fingertips, the role of media in shaping public opinion and influencing decision-making cannot be overstated. News reporting, in particular, serves as a crucial conduit for disseminating information, providing the public with invaluable insights into the world around them.
However, the integrity of this information is paramount; the accurate and unbiased portrayal of events is fundamental to the functioning of a free and democratic society.
Honest news reporting empowers individuals by providing them with the necessary information to make informed decisions. In a free Republic, citizens are entrusted with the responsibility of electing their representatives, shaping policies, and holding their leaders accountable. This process is contingent upon the availability of accurate and reliable information, allowing citizens to make educated judgments about the issues at hand.
By presenting facts and diverse perspectives, honest news reporting fosters a well-informed populace capable of engaging in constructive dialogue and making sound decisions. Conversely, dishonest and agendized reporting leads to a path that eventually arrives as totalitarianism and despotism; the subjugation of a free people.
The preservation of democracy is intrinsically linked to the existence of a free and independent press, but that press must have fidelity to the facts, truth, and honesty. This is precisely why the Framers and Founders included it in the First Amendment to the US Constitution. Honest news reporting serves as a check on the power of those in authority, ensuring that their actions are scrutinized and held to account. This principle of transparency is essential in preventing corruption, abuse of power, and the erosion of democratic institutions.
Thus, a free and honest media is a cornerstone of a free and republican society, providing a platform for dissenting voices and safeguarding citizens' rights and freedoms.
Further, accurate and honest news reporting fosters understanding and tolerance by presenting diverse perspectives and shedding light on the complexities of various issues. News media can help bridge divides, dispel misconceptions, and promote empathy by offering a balanced portrayal of events. But, by advancing a politically agendized version of events, a corrupt news media only creates a manipulated populace that exists in division.
In a world marked by cultural, religious, and political differences, the role of honest and truly fact-based news reporting in promoting understanding and tolerance cannot be underestimated.
Why This Proven Bias Is Dangerous
Conversely, biased, inaccurate, and dishonest news reporting undermines the media's credibility, leading to a decline in public trust. When news outlets consistently favor a particular viewpoint or political agenda, they risk alienating a significant portion of their audience, who may perceive their reporting as untrustworthy and manipulative. This loss of trust can have far-reaching consequences, as it invariably leads to a reduction in the consumption of news altogether or a shift towards alternative, potentially unreliable sources of information
Further, biased, inaccurate, and dishonest news reporting contributes to society's polarization by reinforcing existing prejudices and stereotypes. News media that cater to specific ideological or political affiliations often present a skewed and dishonest representation of events, amplifying divisive rhetoric and exacerbating social tensions. This can lead to the unnecessary entrenchment of opposing viewpoints, making it increasingly difficult for individuals to engage in constructive dialogue in an effort to find common ground.
The proliferation of biased, inaccurate, and dishonest news reporting poses a significant and direct threat to a free people and the democratic process. By peddling misinformation, disinformation, and propaganda – or through the sin of omission, biased media outlets have swayed public opinion, manipulated electoral outcomes, and undermined the legitimacy of democratic institutions. This has, today, resulted in the entrenchment of power in the hands of a corrupt and elitist few, curtailing the rights and freedoms of citizens and ultimately jeopardizing the very foundations of our Republic.
The Mainstream Media Complex
Must Be Forced To Reform
The importance of honest news reporting in the functioning of a free Constitutional Republic cannot be overstated. It is a vital tool for disseminating accurate and reliable information, facilitating informed decision-making, safeguarding democratic institutions, and promoting understanding and tolerance.
Today’s epidemic of biased news reporting – including that of the Associated Press – poses a grave danger to the free world. It is eroding public trust in the media, exacerbating social polarization, and threatening the very foundations of our Republic.
Therefore, it is incumbent upon the mainstream news media complex to abruptly cleanse itself of the partisan ideologues that have hostilely taken over and recommit itself collectively to upholding the highest standards of integrity and professionalism to ensure that their reporting remains honest, unbiased, and reflective of the diverse perspectives and complexities of the world we inhabit.
Sadly, in our current state, we are worlds apart from where we need to be on this issue. And organizations like the AP lead the way in keeping us from where we need to be.
“Propaganda works best when those who are being manipulated
are confident they are acting on their own free will.” – Joseph Goebbels