Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity
Encyclopedia
The Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity was founded on January 13, 2009 to serve as a national organization dedicated to training and supporting investigative journalism and journalistic endeavors at state based think tanks and other state based groups, individuals and organizations.
Originally funded by a sponsorship grant from the Sam Adams Alliance
, the Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity began operating independently, having received 501(c)3 tax status from the Internal Revenue Service on June 5, 2009.
According to the organization’s mission statement, Franklin Center’s purpose is “to promote social welfare and civil betterment by undertaking programs that promote journalism and the education of the public about corruption, incompetence, fraud, or taxpayer abuse by elected officials at all levels of government. The Franklin Center will accomplish these goals by networking and training independent investigative reporters, as well as journalists from state based news organizations, public-policy institutions & watchdog groups.”
The organization takes its name from Founding Father Benjamin Franklin
, who owned and published a newspaper, the Pennsylvania Gazette
. A statement on the organizations "about" page explains how Franklin Center believes they can carry on the values of Ben Franklin during modern times by utilizing and educating journalists about new media
.
The Franklin Center is not endowed and does not accept government funding. The organization is solely funded by private donations.
, President
Frank Keegan, National Editor
Meghan Tisinger, Director of Communications
Gwen Beattie, Director of Development and Donor Relations
Scott Reeder, Regional Managing Editor
Mary Massingale, Editor/Writing Coach/Reporter
Marta Hummel Mossburg, Franklin Center Fellow
Bureau - Springfield, Illinois
Bureau - Madison, Wisconsin
Bureau - Alexandria, Virginia
.” Franklin Center believes that journalists must master new media and as an organization offers in-depth training and education to individuals and organizations interested in learning new media techniques.
Some of the courses Franklin Center offers include Computer Assisted Reporting and Watchdog Workshops. The organization website offers internet links to numerous online resources and strongly advocates through their mission statement that these course and tools be used by “unbiased and accurate reporters.”
On June 13, 2011, Franklin Center announced that its investigative news site, Watchdog.org
, and its capitol news reporting news site Statehouse News Online
, are accessible to the public through an iPhone
application.
revealed in an article that millions of dollars in stimulus funds had been allocated to "create and save" jobs in congressional districts that did not exist.
Scarantino cited Recovery.gov, the website developed by the Obama administration to track spending and job creation courtesy of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
. His article was published in New Mexico Watchdog, which is associated with Watchdog.org
. a project of the Franklin Center. Scarantino's investigation inspired the entire Watchdog network to investigate each state. Over the following twenty-four hours stories appeared all over the internet, which unconvered similar results in all fifty states, D.C., and the American Territories.
"According to data retrieved from recovery.gov, nearly $6.4 billion was used to “create or save” just under 30,000 jobs in these phantom congressional districts–almost $225,000 per job.",
The Watchdog articles created a media and political frenzy. ABC News
conducted their own investigation in Arizona
that resulted in a headline story on the Drudgereport. Daily publications such as the Washington Times and the Associated Press
credited and praised the Franklin Center reporters. Politicians on both sides of aisle criticized the Obama administration for the website's countless errors and inability to provide accurate and honest information to the public.
on their website explaining the current state of journalism and the role they play in the profession.
"Reporting at the state and local levels has suffered due to economic realities. Time Magazine asked the question “Who Covers the Statehouse?” This may be the most important question asked of the journalism profession in recent history. The American public is demanding transparency of government institutions and the exposition of waste, fraud, abuse and, mismanagement. They want ethics, accountability, and a watchful eye on those who spend their hard earned tax dollars, which includes municipal and county government as well as school boards. By working with non-profit organizations and investigative reporters – providing the necessary training, expertise and technical support – Franklin Center assists in filling this void that has been created by a lack of resources, personnel and training.
We encourage anyone needing advice about starting up a nonprofit journalism group to contact us. We also make ourselves available to reporters looking to advance their skills. Franklin Center has also become a valuable resource for media outlets looking for reporters as we have been inundated with resumes – a sign of the times.
As you have read on our website, the Franklin Center honors and respects the wishes of its numerous supporters and donors and that is why we adhere to a policy of keeping our donors identity confidential. If I may illustrate by quoting John Podesta’s Center for American Progress: “Some donors choose to make public what they are giving us, but other’s don’t, and we respect that.”
Our relationship with state-based groups is simple. Franklin Center and Watchdog.org aggregates and highlights the outstanding reporting by their reporters with a common goal of advocating government transparency. We also serve as a resource for educational and technical support – training journalists to utilize new media to conduct important investigations. It’s amazing how few reporters know how to do a simple FOIA request. This skill is lacking amongst too many professionals. State-based groups understand the importance of keeping government open and honest. That is why they are a great fit for Franklin Center as well as any credible news organization.
As you have witnessed in your research – Franklin Center fully discloses background information about our personnel. It has become common place for journalists to come from the political or policy professions. ABC News can’t hide the fact that the host of their Sunday morning news program and backup anchor to their evening news broadcast, George Stephanopoulos
, is a former senior official with the Clinton administration as well as a senior member of his presidential campaigns.
ABC News as well as the Franklin Center shouldn’t be judged by the work history of their staff, but by the content they are producing. We proudly stand by our work and media outlets such as CNN, Associated Press, Fox News, the Wall Street Journal as well as numerous local and state news organizations have recognized the quality of our reporting and shared it with their audience as trustworthy information.
The Franklin Center operates independently from any organization, having received 501 C3 tax status from the Internal Revenue Service in June 2009. At the heart of the Franklin Center’s mission is a belief that new technology can advance the cause of transparency in government. This can only be accomplished, however, if the journalists of tomorrow can effectively master this new media. The Franklin Center aims to educate, to advise and to train individuals and organizations from all backgrounds to become thorough, unbiased and responsible reporters well versed in new media techniques and journalistic integrity.
Government transparency and accountability is not a conservative nor liberal idea: it is an AMERICAN idea and one that is needed and welcomed by millions of Americans of all political persuasions. As a credible news organization we adhere to the Code of Ethics outlined by the Society of Professional Journalists. Our obligation is to that code and most importantly, the public, which relies upon us and every journalist across the nation to provide them real information so they can make an educated decision or form an honest opinion. We are happy to help citizens, organizations and professional journalists achieve this goal."
is a network of independent state-based journalists who investigate and report on state and local government. Launched in September 2009, the news organization is a project of the Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity. The Watchdog.org website (www.watchdog.org) serves as a central hub where stories from state-based reporters are featured.
According to the Watchdog.org website the organization covers news that involves "public officials, public programs and the taxpayer money that supports them." The journalists involved in the network are employed by independent non-profit news organization and therefore the Franklin Center does not take responsibility or edit their material.
Watchdog.org received national attention when they were the first news organization in the country to provide a complete outline of all 440 non-existing (phantom) congressional districts created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan website. In February 2010, the organization became certified to appear on Google News.
Statehouse News Online
is a network of independent journalists covering state-specific and local government news. The Statehouse News Online website (www.statehousenewsonline.com) provides news from the state-capitol of dozens of state-based news organizations who provide in depth coverage of state legislation, government & special interests, state budgets and political/campaign news.
According to the organization website The project began in June, 2010 and is the brainchild of the Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity.
On April 4, 2011, IowaPolitics.com (www.iowapolitics.com) was acquired by the Franklin Center and became part of the Statehouse News Online network of state-based news organizations.
, the first state to hold a presidential caucus.
The first forum featured former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney
and took place on May 27, 2011 at the State Historical Building in downtown Des Moines. Romney opened the event with a 20 minute statement and then answered questions by moderator Lynn Campbell. Approximately 200 Iowans attended the forum that was interrupted and cut short by a fire alarm set off by burnt popcorn in a microwave oven.
The second forum was scheduled for July 28, 2011 with Michigan Congressman Thaddeus McCotter. However, McCotter's appearance was postponed indefinitely due to obligations in Washington. Presidential candidate Herman Cain
was the second candidate to attend the series. He spoke on August 4, 2011. Jobs and the economy dominated Cain's speech as well as personal experience regarding race in America.
This series is being sponsored by the Greater Des Moines Partnership, Mediacom and IowaPolitics.com and in partnership with the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs. The Iowa caucuses are scheduled to take place on February 6, 2012. All Presidential candidates who are viewed as serious candidates by the sponsoring organizations will be given an opportunity to take part in the 2012 Presidential Candidate Series. The forums will continue until the 2012 caucuses take place.
, to express his disapproval of an article published by the organization. The controversy began when Zielinski was quoted in an article saying that Wisconsin’s neighbor to the south, Illinois, was outpacing Wisconsin’s economy. He referred to Gov. Scott Walker
’s claim in a recent interview with the Heritage Foundation
of economic victory as “right-wing fantasy, a total lie.” Wisconsin Reporter included in the article U.S. Department of Labor statistics showing Wisconsin’s economy creating 9,500 jobs in June, and Illinois
lost 18,900 jobs the same month.
In the email, which was sent directly to Bureau Chief Matt Kittle, Zielinski said the publication is a “shill for the Republican Party and isn’t balanced in its news coverage.” Zielinski's email contained language that Franklin Center perceived as threatening.
Franklin Center President Jason Stverak
responded to the email with a statement condemning Zielinski's comments and demanded an apology from the Wisconsin Democratic Party for what he called "baseless threats."
Zielinski made good on his threat during an October 18, 2011 meeting in Madison, sponsored by the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. At the training session, Wisconsin Reporter journalist Kirsten Adshead was asked to leave by an organizer who cited the organizations desire to keep the information out of the media. Adshead agreed to leave the meeting but asked to speak to the individual making the request. According to the Wisconsin reporter she was placed on the phone with Zielinski.
Kevin Lee of Illinois Statehouse News, won the Online In-depth Reporting Award, for his investigation into the General Assembly Scholarship Program in Illinois.
In May 2011, the Society of Professional Journalists
gave two awards for excellence to CapitolBeatOK. Editor Patrick B. McGuigan and staff writer Stacy Martin, were the recipient of several journalism awards. The pair shared two awards for a single story on the potential application of federal civil rights strictures to public school districts defying Oklahoma’s special needs scholarship program, aimed at giving handicapped students choices in where they might go to school. CapitolBeatOK.com won “honorable mention” in the “Best News Website” competition and was awarded third place in “Web Design.” The 2011 awards spanned an 18 month time frame. In all, Martin won 5 awards and McGuigan took home 11 Society of Professional Journalists awards(eight for his reporting and commentaries, and three “institutional awards,” including the two recognitions for CapitolBeatOK.com).
On June 24, 2011, Franklin Center affiliate HawaiiReporter.com
received four awards at a Society of Professional Journalists
ceremony. Malia Zimmerman, editor of Hawaii Reporter, was honored with the top investigative reporting award and top online news reporting award for her series of stories on alleged human trafficking of Thai workers. Jim Dooley, investigative reporter for Hawaii Reporter, won “finalist” awards in the best business reporting and best government reporting for his work on native Hawaiian contracting preferences.
In August 2011, MarylandReporter.com was awarded a $50,000 grant by The Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation
. The grant will provide the Franklin Center affiliate with funding for two years to train aspiring journalists through an intensive 13-week paid internship program.
Originally funded by a sponsorship grant from the Sam Adams Alliance
Sam Adams Alliance
Sam Adams Alliance is a non-profit organization based in Richmond, Virginia. Founded in Chicago in 2006, the group describes itself as a "fiercely independent organization dedicated to inspiring and encouraging grass-roots citizen activism."...
, the Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity began operating independently, having received 501(c)3 tax status from the Internal Revenue Service on June 5, 2009.
According to the organization’s mission statement, Franklin Center’s purpose is “to promote social welfare and civil betterment by undertaking programs that promote journalism and the education of the public about corruption, incompetence, fraud, or taxpayer abuse by elected officials at all levels of government. The Franklin Center will accomplish these goals by networking and training independent investigative reporters, as well as journalists from state based news organizations, public-policy institutions & watchdog groups.”
The organization takes its name from Founding Father Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin
Dr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat...
, who owned and published a newspaper, the Pennsylvania Gazette
Pennsylvania Gazette
The Pennsylvania Gazette was one of the United States' most prominent newspapers from 1728, before the time period of the American Revolution, until 1815...
. A statement on the organizations "about" page explains how Franklin Center believes they can carry on the values of Ben Franklin during modern times by utilizing and educating journalists about new media
New media
New media is a broad term in media studies that emerged in the latter part of the 20th century. For example, new media holds out a possibility of on-demand access to content any time, anywhere, on any digital device, as well as interactive user feedback, creative participation and community...
.
The Franklin Center is not endowed and does not accept government funding. The organization is solely funded by private donations.
Personnel
Jason StverakJason Stverak
Jason Wesley Stverak is a native of Rapid City, South Dakota and President of the Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity, a position he has held since January 2009...
, President
Frank Keegan, National Editor
Meghan Tisinger, Director of Communications
Gwen Beattie, Director of Development and Donor Relations
Scott Reeder, Regional Managing Editor
Mary Massingale, Editor/Writing Coach/Reporter
Marta Hummel Mossburg, Franklin Center Fellow
News Bureaus and Affiliates
Headquarters -Bismarck, North DakotaBismarck, North Dakota
Bismarck is the capital of the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Burleigh County. It is the second most populous city in North Dakota after Fargo. The city's population was 61,272 at the 2010 census, while its metropolitan population was 108,779...
Bureau - Springfield, Illinois
Springfield, Illinois
Springfield is the third and current capital of the US state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County with a population of 117,400 , making it the sixth most populated city in the state and the second most populated Illinois city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area...
Bureau - Madison, Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
Bureau - Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
New Technology
Franklin Center promotes itself as an advocacy group for “transparency in government.” They believe this can be accomplished through use of new technology, often referred to as “new mediaNew media
New media is a broad term in media studies that emerged in the latter part of the 20th century. For example, new media holds out a possibility of on-demand access to content any time, anywhere, on any digital device, as well as interactive user feedback, creative participation and community...
.” Franklin Center believes that journalists must master new media and as an organization offers in-depth training and education to individuals and organizations interested in learning new media techniques.
Some of the courses Franklin Center offers include Computer Assisted Reporting and Watchdog Workshops. The organization website offers internet links to numerous online resources and strongly advocates through their mission statement that these course and tools be used by “unbiased and accurate reporters.”
On June 13, 2011, Franklin Center announced that its investigative news site, Watchdog.org
Watchdog.org
Watchdog.org is a non-profit news group founded in September 2009 to serve and support independent journalists reporting on state and local government. The organization website serves as a central hub that highlights stories produced by journalists at state-based watchdog news sites...
, and its capitol news reporting news site Statehouse News Online
Statehouse News Online
Statehouse News Online, is a network of state-based news organizations that cover state-specific and local government. The organization website serves as a news aggregator for over forty news organizations that provide in-depth coverage of state legislation, budgets, local political interests and...
, are accessible to the public through an iPhone
IPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
application.
Recovery.org and Phantom Congressional Districts
On November 16, 2009, Jim Scarantino of Rio Grande FoundationRio Grande Foundation
The Rio Grande Foundation is an economic policy advocacy group in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and affiliated with the U.S. nationwide State Policy Network....
revealed in an article that millions of dollars in stimulus funds had been allocated to "create and save" jobs in congressional districts that did not exist.
Scarantino cited Recovery.gov, the website developed by the Obama administration to track spending and job creation courtesy of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, abbreviated ARRA and commonly referred to as the Stimulus or The Recovery Act, is an economic stimulus package enacted by the 111th United States Congress in February 2009 and signed into law on February 17, 2009, by President Barack Obama.To...
. His article was published in New Mexico Watchdog, which is associated with Watchdog.org
Watchdog.org
Watchdog.org is a non-profit news group founded in September 2009 to serve and support independent journalists reporting on state and local government. The organization website serves as a central hub that highlights stories produced by journalists at state-based watchdog news sites...
. a project of the Franklin Center. Scarantino's investigation inspired the entire Watchdog network to investigate each state. Over the following twenty-four hours stories appeared all over the internet, which unconvered similar results in all fifty states, D.C., and the American Territories.
"According to data retrieved from recovery.gov, nearly $6.4 billion was used to “create or save” just under 30,000 jobs in these phantom congressional districts–almost $225,000 per job.",
The Watchdog articles created a media and political frenzy. ABC News
ABC News
ABC News is the news gathering and broadcasting division of American broadcast television network ABC, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company...
conducted their own investigation in Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
that resulted in a headline story on the Drudgereport. Daily publications such as the Washington Times and the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
credited and praised the Franklin Center reporters. Politicians on both sides of aisle criticized the Obama administration for the website's countless errors and inability to provide accurate and honest information to the public.
Media Statement
The Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity published a statementon their website explaining the current state of journalism and the role they play in the profession.
"Reporting at the state and local levels has suffered due to economic realities. Time Magazine asked the question “Who Covers the Statehouse?” This may be the most important question asked of the journalism profession in recent history. The American public is demanding transparency of government institutions and the exposition of waste, fraud, abuse and, mismanagement. They want ethics, accountability, and a watchful eye on those who spend their hard earned tax dollars, which includes municipal and county government as well as school boards. By working with non-profit organizations and investigative reporters – providing the necessary training, expertise and technical support – Franklin Center assists in filling this void that has been created by a lack of resources, personnel and training.
We encourage anyone needing advice about starting up a nonprofit journalism group to contact us. We also make ourselves available to reporters looking to advance their skills. Franklin Center has also become a valuable resource for media outlets looking for reporters as we have been inundated with resumes – a sign of the times.
As you have read on our website, the Franklin Center honors and respects the wishes of its numerous supporters and donors and that is why we adhere to a policy of keeping our donors identity confidential. If I may illustrate by quoting John Podesta’s Center for American Progress: “Some donors choose to make public what they are giving us, but other’s don’t, and we respect that.”
Our relationship with state-based groups is simple. Franklin Center and Watchdog.org aggregates and highlights the outstanding reporting by their reporters with a common goal of advocating government transparency. We also serve as a resource for educational and technical support – training journalists to utilize new media to conduct important investigations. It’s amazing how few reporters know how to do a simple FOIA request. This skill is lacking amongst too many professionals. State-based groups understand the importance of keeping government open and honest. That is why they are a great fit for Franklin Center as well as any credible news organization.
As you have witnessed in your research – Franklin Center fully discloses background information about our personnel. It has become common place for journalists to come from the political or policy professions. ABC News can’t hide the fact that the host of their Sunday morning news program and backup anchor to their evening news broadcast, George Stephanopoulos
George Stephanopoulos
George Robert Stephanopoulos is an American television journalist and a former political advisor.Stephanopoulos is most well known as the chief political correspondent for ABC News – the news division of the broadcast television network ABC – and a co-anchor of ABC News's morning news...
, is a former senior official with the Clinton administration as well as a senior member of his presidential campaigns.
ABC News as well as the Franklin Center shouldn’t be judged by the work history of their staff, but by the content they are producing. We proudly stand by our work and media outlets such as CNN, Associated Press, Fox News, the Wall Street Journal as well as numerous local and state news organizations have recognized the quality of our reporting and shared it with their audience as trustworthy information.
The Franklin Center operates independently from any organization, having received 501 C3 tax status from the Internal Revenue Service in June 2009. At the heart of the Franklin Center’s mission is a belief that new technology can advance the cause of transparency in government. This can only be accomplished, however, if the journalists of tomorrow can effectively master this new media. The Franklin Center aims to educate, to advise and to train individuals and organizations from all backgrounds to become thorough, unbiased and responsible reporters well versed in new media techniques and journalistic integrity.
Government transparency and accountability is not a conservative nor liberal idea: it is an AMERICAN idea and one that is needed and welcomed by millions of Americans of all political persuasions. As a credible news organization we adhere to the Code of Ethics outlined by the Society of Professional Journalists. Our obligation is to that code and most importantly, the public, which relies upon us and every journalist across the nation to provide them real information so they can make an educated decision or form an honest opinion. We are happy to help citizens, organizations and professional journalists achieve this goal."
Franklin Center Sponsored News Organizations
Watchdog.orgWatchdog.org
Watchdog.org is a non-profit news group founded in September 2009 to serve and support independent journalists reporting on state and local government. The organization website serves as a central hub that highlights stories produced by journalists at state-based watchdog news sites...
is a network of independent state-based journalists who investigate and report on state and local government. Launched in September 2009, the news organization is a project of the Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity. The Watchdog.org website (www.watchdog.org) serves as a central hub where stories from state-based reporters are featured.
According to the Watchdog.org website the organization covers news that involves "public officials, public programs and the taxpayer money that supports them." The journalists involved in the network are employed by independent non-profit news organization and therefore the Franklin Center does not take responsibility or edit their material.
Watchdog.org received national attention when they were the first news organization in the country to provide a complete outline of all 440 non-existing (phantom) congressional districts created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan website. In February 2010, the organization became certified to appear on Google News.
Statehouse News Online
Statehouse News Online
Statehouse News Online, is a network of state-based news organizations that cover state-specific and local government. The organization website serves as a news aggregator for over forty news organizations that provide in-depth coverage of state legislation, budgets, local political interests and...
is a network of independent journalists covering state-specific and local government news. The Statehouse News Online website (www.statehousenewsonline.com) provides news from the state-capitol of dozens of state-based news organizations who provide in depth coverage of state legislation, government & special interests, state budgets and political/campaign news.
According to the organization website The project began in June, 2010 and is the brainchild of the Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity.
On April 4, 2011, IowaPolitics.com (www.iowapolitics.com) was acquired by the Franklin Center and became part of the Statehouse News Online network of state-based news organizations.
2012 Presidential Candidate Series
On May 10, 2011, Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity’s journalist Lynn Campbell of IowaPolitics.com was named moderator for the 2012 Presidential Candidate Series. The series of forums takes place in Des Moines, IowaIowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, the first state to hold a presidential caucus.
The first forum featured former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney
Mitt Romney
Willard Mitt Romney is an American businessman and politician. He was the 70th Governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007 and is a candidate for the 2012 Republican Party presidential nomination.The son of George W...
and took place on May 27, 2011 at the State Historical Building in downtown Des Moines. Romney opened the event with a 20 minute statement and then answered questions by moderator Lynn Campbell. Approximately 200 Iowans attended the forum that was interrupted and cut short by a fire alarm set off by burnt popcorn in a microwave oven.
The second forum was scheduled for July 28, 2011 with Michigan Congressman Thaddeus McCotter. However, McCotter's appearance was postponed indefinitely due to obligations in Washington. Presidential candidate Herman Cain
Herman Cain
Herman Cain is a candidate for the 2012 U.S. Republican Party presidential nomination.Cain has a background as a business executive, syndicated columnist, and radio host from Georgia. He served as chairman and CEO of Godfather's Pizza from 1986 to 1996...
was the second candidate to attend the series. He spoke on August 4, 2011. Jobs and the economy dominated Cain's speech as well as personal experience regarding race in America.
This series is being sponsored by the Greater Des Moines Partnership, Mediacom and IowaPolitics.com and in partnership with the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs. The Iowa caucuses are scheduled to take place on February 6, 2012. All Presidential candidates who are viewed as serious candidates by the sponsoring organizations will be given an opportunity to take part in the 2012 Presidential Candidate Series. The forums will continue until the 2012 caucuses take place.
Wisconsin Democratic Party Controversy
On August 5, 2011, Wisconsin Democratic Party spokesman Graeme Zielinski sent an email to Franklin Center news bureau Wisconsin ReporterWisconsin Reporter
Wisconsin Reporter began operations in January 2011 and is an affiliate of Statehouse News Online, a project of the non-profit news organization, Franklin Center for Government & Public Integrity, a 5013 non-profit organization. Wisconsin Reporter is an online only publication focused on state and...
, to express his disapproval of an article published by the organization. The controversy began when Zielinski was quoted in an article saying that Wisconsin’s neighbor to the south, Illinois, was outpacing Wisconsin’s economy. He referred to Gov. Scott Walker
Scott Walker (politician)
Scott Kevin Walker is an American Republican politician who began serving as the 45th Governor of Wisconsin on January 3, 2011, after defeating Democratic candidate Tom Barrett, 52 percent to 47 percent in the November 2010 general election...
’s claim in a recent interview with the Heritage Foundation
Heritage Foundation
The Heritage Foundation is a conservative American think tank based in Washington, D.C. Heritage's stated mission is to "formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong...
of economic victory as “right-wing fantasy, a total lie.” Wisconsin Reporter included in the article U.S. Department of Labor statistics showing Wisconsin’s economy creating 9,500 jobs in June, and Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
lost 18,900 jobs the same month.
In the email, which was sent directly to Bureau Chief Matt Kittle, Zielinski said the publication is a “shill for the Republican Party and isn’t balanced in its news coverage.” Zielinski's email contained language that Franklin Center perceived as threatening.
What happens next is that I contact the publishers and editors of the papers that publish you as ‘unbiased,’ and let them know our deep concern about the obvious bias that permeates your entire operation. Then, we let our activists know which papers publish you, and they write the publisher and editor. Then, we contact the Capitol press pool and let them know about our concerns about your credentialing. And we continue on until you actually admit to the truth of your operation. What is the truth of the operation?
Franklin Center President Jason Stverak
Jason Stverak
Jason Wesley Stverak is a native of Rapid City, South Dakota and President of the Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity, a position he has held since January 2009...
responded to the email with a statement condemning Zielinski's comments and demanded an apology from the Wisconsin Democratic Party for what he called "baseless threats."
Zielinski made good on his threat during an October 18, 2011 meeting in Madison, sponsored by the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. At the training session, Wisconsin Reporter journalist Kirsten Adshead was asked to leave by an organizer who cited the organizations desire to keep the information out of the media. Adshead agreed to leave the meeting but asked to speak to the individual making the request. According to the Wisconsin reporter she was placed on the phone with Zielinski.
Zielinski called the reporter unprofessional, accused her of sneaking into a party function and then threatened to discuss the incident Wednesday with the statehouse press corps, of which Wisconsin Reporter is a member.
“Get out,” Zielinski shouted. “Don’t come to our party functions anymore.”
He then hung up the phone.
Awards and Recognition
In November 2010, Franklin Center reporters at Marylandreporter.com and Illinois Statehouse News, were honored by the he national Association of Capitol Reporters and Editors. MarylandReporter.com editor and publisher Len Lazarick won the first place Cappie award for coverage in the online news category of the Excellence in State House Reporting contest for what the judges called his “solid body of beat reporting.” The judges also gave Lazarick a third place award for news analysis for his articles on General Assembly compensation. JournalistJournalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
Kevin Lee of Illinois Statehouse News, won the Online In-depth Reporting Award, for his investigation into the General Assembly Scholarship Program in Illinois.
In May 2011, the Society of Professional Journalists
Society of Professional Journalists
The Society of Professional Journalists , formerly known as Sigma Delta Chi, is one of the oldest organizations representing journalists in the United States. It was established in April 1909 at DePauw University, and its charter was designed by William Meharry Glenn. The ten founding members of...
gave two awards for excellence to CapitolBeatOK. Editor Patrick B. McGuigan and staff writer Stacy Martin, were the recipient of several journalism awards. The pair shared two awards for a single story on the potential application of federal civil rights strictures to public school districts defying Oklahoma’s special needs scholarship program, aimed at giving handicapped students choices in where they might go to school. CapitolBeatOK.com won “honorable mention” in the “Best News Website” competition and was awarded third place in “Web Design.” The 2011 awards spanned an 18 month time frame. In all, Martin won 5 awards and McGuigan took home 11 Society of Professional Journalists awards(eight for his reporting and commentaries, and three “institutional awards,” including the two recognitions for CapitolBeatOK.com).
On June 24, 2011, Franklin Center affiliate HawaiiReporter.com
HawaiiReporter.com
HawaiiReporter.com is a pro-free market Hawaii-based online news and opinion journal. HawaiiReporter.com was founded in November 2002 by Malia Zimmerman and Jay McWilliams, both who have served as reporters and editors for many publications in Hawaii...
received four awards at a Society of Professional Journalists
Society of Professional Journalists
The Society of Professional Journalists , formerly known as Sigma Delta Chi, is one of the oldest organizations representing journalists in the United States. It was established in April 1909 at DePauw University, and its charter was designed by William Meharry Glenn. The ten founding members of...
ceremony. Malia Zimmerman, editor of Hawaii Reporter, was honored with the top investigative reporting award and top online news reporting award for her series of stories on alleged human trafficking of Thai workers. Jim Dooley, investigative reporter for Hawaii Reporter, won “finalist” awards in the best business reporting and best government reporting for his work on native Hawaiian contracting preferences.
In August 2011, MarylandReporter.com was awarded a $50,000 grant by The Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation
Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation
The was established in 1982 by Edith Kinney Gaylord . The Foundation is dedicated to upholding the values and interests of its founder. President and CEO Robert J. Ross has led EEJF and the Inasmuch Foundation since 2003. The Foundation is currently headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma...
. The grant will provide the Franklin Center affiliate with funding for two years to train aspiring journalists through an intensive 13-week paid internship program.