A self-stated goal of MrEricksonRules.com is to “challenge hypocrisy and media bias, while dragging them out into the sunlight.”
Well, Poynter Institute…, consider yourself dragged!
I had not even been aware of The Poynter Institute before reading an article by Liam Quinn of Fox News about The Poynter Institute being forced to scrap an “unreliable news” list which targeted conservative news outlets.
Well, I’m aware of it now, and you soon will be as well.
According to the article, “A journalism watchdog has been forced to scrap a list of ‘unreliable’ news sources because, as it turns out, the list wasn’t reliable.”
Just a helpful interjection here…, in the past, when an organization was described as a “watchdog,” that was perceived as a positive and a noble thing, looking out for the good of everyday people.
The term “watchdog” has since been co-opted by liberal organizations everywhere to somehow try and give the impression of a fair and just operation…, which of course they aren’t. The only ones these people are looking out for is themselves.
“The Poynter Institute, a journalism nonprofit organization, initially released a list of more than 500 ‘unreliable’ news outlets purportedly ‘built from pre-existing databases compiled by journalists, fact-checkers and researchers around the country.’”
“But a number of prominent conservative-leaning outlets were included in the ‘unreliable’ category, including The Washington Examiner, Washington Free Beacon, Daily Caller and other publications that employ scores of journalists covering Congress, elections, the White House and more.”
“The index was created with the help of an employee for the Southern Poverty Law Center.”
Ohhhh…, well why didn’t you reference the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) in the first place?! Please refer to some of my prior blogs about the gold ole’ SPLC and its astonishing disingenuousness.
Anyway…, the article continues, “Poynter’s managing editor, Barbara Allen, posted a mea culpa [An acknowledgment of one’s fault or error, or as in this case, an elaborate excuse that disseminates the blame.] Thursday as the backlash built.”
‘“On Tuesday, April 30, Poynter posted a list of 515 “unreliable” news websites, built from pre-existing databases compiled by journalists, fact-checkers and researchers around the country. Our aim was to provide a useful tool for readers to gauge the legitimacy of the information they were consuming,’ the statement read.”
Translation: We just posted a list of conservative websites and resources that liberal media sheep everywhere already were aware of. Our aim was to try and expand the users of our “hit list” to the public in general.
‘“Soon after we published, we received complaints from those on the list and readers who objected to the inclusion of certain sites, and the exclusion of others. We began an audit to test the accuracy and veracity of the list, and while we feel that many of the sites did have a track record of publishing unreliable information, our review found weaknesses in the methodology.’”
Translation: Soon after we did this we got busted. Being a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization (just like The Southern Poverty Law Center by the way), we are supposed to be nonpartisan, so we have to make sure we keep up the appearance of being nonpartisan even though we’re not. So we pretended like we carefully reviewed our list, then came up with some lame excuses as to why the lists seemed to be partisan.
‘“We detected inconsistencies between the findings of the original databases that were the sources for the list and our own rendering of the final report.’”
Translation: We are now going to just straight up lie in an effort to make an excuse for ourselves.
“It continued: ‘Therefore, we are removing this “unreliable sites list” until we are able to provide our audience a more consistent and rigorous set of criteria. The list was intended to be a starting place for readers and journalists to learn more about the veracity of websites that purported to offer news; it was not intended to be definitive or all encompassing.”
Translation: We were not able to get away with putting our list out there this time, but we’ll do a better job of making it available next time, while getting away with it somehow.
‘“We regret that we failed to ensure that the data was rigorous before publication, and apologize for the confusion and agitation caused by its publication. We pledge to continue to hold ourselves to the highest standards.’”
Translation: We are very sorry and disappointed we got caught, and we pledge to make a better effort to not get caught next time. Not getting caught is the highest of our high standards here at The Poynter Institute.
There…, was that helpful? I hope it was.
So, now what exactly is The Poynter Institute?
Again…, let’s hear about The Poynter Institute in their own words, according to their own website, with a little interpretation by myself.
“The Poynter Institute has grown from a storefront in sunny St. Petersburg, Florida, to the world’s most influential school for journalists.”
(Ahhh, the old rags to riches story. How inspiring! But they didn’t do it alone. The list of major contributors is a virtual “who’s who” of liberal foundations, funds and trusts. Trying to control “the media” and brainwash “journalists” everywhere does not come cheap. Oh, by the way, The Poynter Institute is designated as a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization, but they say they own The Tampa Bay Times newspaper. How does that work? Just sayin’.)
(Pretty nice digs for a non-profit, huh?)
“Poynter is an instructor, innovator, convener and resource for anyone who aspires to engage and inform citizens. We serve not only 21st-century democracies, but those in corners of the globe where people who honor freedom and self-government struggle against tyrants and autocrats.”
(We want to enlist you and guide you through our liberal propaganda program.)
“By supporting the Poynter Institute, you fortify journalism’s role in a free society. Poynter champions freedom of expression, civil dialogue and compelling journalism that helps citizens participate in healthy democracies. We prepare journalists worldwide to hold powerful people accountable and promote honest information in the marketplace of ideas.”
(Poynter champions freedom of expression, except when that expression does not agree with their expression, and we prepare our fascists in training to attack conservatives at every turn and to try and dictate our socialist narrative on everyone.)
“Poynter’s Brands:”
(Poynter’s associated liberal indoctrination services:)
“News University – Poynter’s News University brings Poynter training to users around the world with the world’s largest online journalism curriculum.”
(Our way of spreading our liberal and socialist agenda to budding propagandists everywhere!)
“International Fact-checking Network – The International Fact-Checking Network brings together more than 60 fact-checkers worldwide, promoting best practices and exchanges.”
(This network makes sure no one deviates from the prescribed liberal talking points or narratives, and attempts to spin “facts” in favor of liberals, liberal politicians and liberal causes everywhere.)
“MediaWise – aims to teach 1 million teenagers how to sort fact from fiction through social media and our teen fact-checking network.”
(This particularly insidious resource targets teenagers with the “proper” indoctrination of liberal thought.)
“PolitiFact – is the largest political fact-checking news organization in the United States and winner of the Pulitzer Prize. It has published more than 16,000 fact-checks on its Truth-O-Meter.”
(PolitiFact is the lone resource they can point to as being anywhere near legitimate and somewhat fair.)
“As public trust in the media dissipates, we are increasingly expanding our mission to reach out to communities and have conversations about finding the truth. We must be relevant to journalists and non-journalists alike and hold our staff and other media accountable.”
(As public trust in the media dissipates…? But how could this be? How could the public trust in the media be dissipating with all of the valiant and noble efforts of the Poynter Institute? I guess “the public” is smarter than you gives us credit for, huh?)
“Each year, Poynter trains over 100,000 journalists from more than 70 countries in person and online. Since the start of our online education initiative in 2005, we’ve taught journalists in virtually every country in the world.”
(God help us all.)
Their “code of ethics” is quite extensive, but obviously not worth the paper it’s printed on.
One of their highlighted taglines on their website says, “Poynter teaches journalists to tell stories the world needs to hear.” Which in essence means that Poynter teaches its media minions to spread their approved liberal propaganda everywhere.
Well…, there you have it!
The Poynter Institute in all of its “liberal propaganda machine” glory!
Remember…, stay thirsty my friends…, but don’t drink the liberal Kool Aide! Especially the Kool-Aide The Poynter Institute is serving up!
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