Welcome to a new form of Checkbook Journalism.
Morano: “The AP will now have zero ‘obligation to serve as watchdogs over public affairs and government’ and instead be approved messaging lapdogs to their paymasters. Will the AP ever offend their donors and looks critically at the UN IPCC climate panel? Or NASA? It’s a laughable thought.”
By: Marc Morano – Climate Depot
The media’s coverage of climate change has sunk to a new journalistic low. The Associated Press declared on February 15, 2022, that it is no longer “wary” of accepting millions of dollars in outside group money to expand the news company’s climate change coverage. The mainstream media, led by the Associated Press, is now publicly admitting they are just phoning in their coverage on ‘climate change.’ Led by the Rockefeller Foundation and others, the AP will be parroting what the ideological activist groups’ funding pays for, while actual news will be tossed aside.
“This initiative, with the help of the Rockefeller Foundation and others, will enable us to closely examine efforts to cope with climate change, both the problems it poses and its potential solutions,” said AP Deputy Managing Editor Sarah Nordgren.
Journalistic standards are now officially out the window. There will be no attempt to present a patina of objectivity, balance or unbiased news by the AP when it comes to ‘climate change.’
AP – February 15, 2022
Climate grant illustrates growth in philanthropy-funded news
(AP) — The Associated Press said Tuesday that it is assigning more than two dozen journalists across the world to cover climate issues, in the news organization’s largest single expansion paid for through philanthropic grants. The announcement illustrates how philanthropy has swiftly become an important new funding source for journalism — at the AP and elsewhere — at a time when the industry’s financial outlook has been otherwise bleak.
The AP’s new team, with journalists based in Africa, Brazil, India and the United States, will focus on climate change’s impact on agriculture, migration, urban planning, the economy, culture and other areas. Data, text and visual journalists are included, along with the capacity to collaborate with other newsrooms, said Julie Pace, senior vice president and executive editor. “This far-reaching initiative will transform how we cover the climate story,” Pace said. … The grant is for more than $8 million over three years, and about 20 of the climate journalists will be new hires. Five organizations are contributing to the effort: the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Quadrivium, the Rockefeller Foundation and the Walton Family Foundation. …
For many years, Journalists and philanthropists were more wary of each other. News organizations were concerned about maintaining independence and, until the past two decades, financially secure enough not to need help. …
Carovillano said he’s noticed a difference in morale in his organization because of the growth achieved through new funding. “I think it has changed the mindset of the newsroom a little bit,” he said. “After years of basically feeling a little beleaguered, people are proud that they’re part of an organization that is dreaming really big and actually has the ability to do it.”
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Climate Depot analysis:
“Objectivity, balance, neutrality, plurality, and bias are among the concepts used to evaluate news media programming,” noted a report from Professor Natalie Jomini Stroud, Ph.D. of The Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Participation at the University of Texas at Austin.
In 2009, Climate Depot founder, Marc Morano, launched Climate Depot with this statement: “It is very hard to get accurate information on global warming and environmental issues. Much of what the media reports is simply a regurgitation of the rhetoric from partisan and ideologically driven environmental groups, foundations, and the United Nations, which are spinning data to promote a cause,” Morano said.
Morano added in 2009: “Sadly, many of today’s mainstream climate reporters would be better-suited writing newsletters for Al Gore than attempting to inform the public about the latest climate science developments.”
Fast forward to 2022. My comments in 2009 are even more prescient with AP’s announcement that they will be a pay-to-report news agency. The Associated Press will be tossing their journalistic ethics out the window.
The Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) issued its “Code of Ethics” for journalists. Let’s see how AP’s big announcement that big donors are going to drive their climate change news holds up to these ethical journalist codes.
Key excerpts from SPJ Code of Ethics:
SPJ Code of Ethics: “Be vigilant and courageous about holding those with power accountable. Give voice to the voiceless.”
Reality Check: The AP will now be subservient and timid ‘about holding those with power accountable’, especially those who gave them untold millions to promote climate propaganda.
SPJ Code of Ethics: “Recognize a special obligation to serve as watchdogs over public affairs and government.”
Reality Check: The AP will now have zero ‘obligation to serve as watchdogs over public affairs and government’ and instead be approved messaging lapdogs to their paymasters. Will the AP ever offend their donors and looks critically at the UN IPCC climate panel? Or NASA? It’s a laughable thought.
SPJ Code of Ethics: “Be wary of sources offering information for favors or money; do not pay for access to news.”
Reality Check: The AP will NOT ‘be wary of sources offering information for favors or money,’ but instead, it will be seeking even money from additional donors for a job well done promoting climate hysteria.
SPJ Code of Ethics: “Deny favored treatment to advertisers, donors or any other special interests, and resist internal and external pressure to influence coverage.”
Reality Check: Instead of ‘denying favored treatment’ to ‘donors,’ the AP will be dishing out ‘favored treatment’ to not only its current funders of the news but to any other potential donors who could help expand their ‘climate’ reporting.
SPJ Code of Ethics: “Distinguish news from advertising and shun hybrids that blur the lines between the two.”
Reality Check: The AP will most likely ‘shun hybrids’ of ‘news and advertising and instead just opt for full-blown press releases of the foundations that fund the AP. Modern mainstream journalism has devolved into a sad sack of shit.
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Related Links:
AP Announces Sweeping Climate Journalism Initiative – The Associated Press will significantly expand its climate coverage, creating a standalone desk and hiring about 20 journalists – The expansion is being supported by several philanthropic organizations, including the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Quadrivium and The Rockefeller Foundation. AP retains complete editorial control of all content.
Associated Press Announces That Billionaires Control The News – Tony Heller: The Associated Press has announced that their fraudulent reporting on energy and climate is funded by billionaires who want to control the energy supply. They call this power and money grab through massive fraud “philanthropy.”
AP Take The Climate Bribe! – Paul Homewood: Well at least they’re honest! The far left foundations listed have long been involved in funding disinformation campaigns in the US and Europe. What could be simpler than paying AP to print the propaganda they want? It is little wonder the industry’s financial outlook is bleak! Readers are leaving the legacy media in droves, fed up with the constant lies and fake news.
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‘Long sad history of AP reporter Seth Borenstein’s woeful global warming reporting’– Media Factsheet: Climate Depot Serving as the Media’s Ombudsman
AP’s Seth Borenstein at it again hyping Antarctic melt fears – Recycles same claims from 2014, 1990, 1979, 1922 & 1901! – Climate Depot’s Point-By-Point Rebuttal– ‘The Associated Press is recycling more than century old Antarctica ice sheet melt and sea level rise fears. Reporter Seth Borenstein is not the first one to hype these same Antarctica melt fears. Virtually the exact same claims and hype were reported in 2014, 1990, 1979, 1922 and 1901!
2014: Watch: WUSA 9 DC TV station on Antarctic melt fears features images of DC monuments underwater. ‘It’s our choice how fast the seas rise’ – We control sea level rise? Watch Now: Local DC News Schlock Report on Antarctica & Sea Level Rise
1979 NYT: “Boats could be launched from the bottom of the steps of the Capitol’ in DC –‘Experts Tell How Antarctic’s Ice Could Cause Widespread Floods – Mushy Ice Beneath Sheet’]
1922: ‘Mountain after mountain of [Antarctic] ice will fall into the sea, be swept northwards by the currents, and melt, thus bringing about, but at a much more rapid rate, the threatened inundation of the land by the rising of the sea to its ancient level.‘ – The Mail Adelaide, SA – April 29, 1922
1901: ‘London On The Border of Destruction’: ‘To Be Wiped Out By A Huge Wave’ – Queanbeyan Age – August 10, 1901 – Excerpt: ‘Geologists believe that this great ice sucker has reached the stage of perfection when it (Antarctica) will, break up again, letting loose all the waters of its suction over the two hemispheres, and completely flooding the low-lying lands of Europe, Asia, and North America.’
AP’s Seth Borenstein at it again! Claims ‘global warming means more Antarctic ice’ — Meet the new consensus, the opposite of the old consensusPosted October 10, 20122:33 PM by Marc Morano | Tags: antarctica, arctic, astrology, az, Borenstein, climate depot, factsheet, ice, ipcc, mediacd, mkey, models, wacky
AP’s Borenstein cites Hansen as linking DC summer’s 23 days with 95° or hotter temps to global warming…In 1980, with significantly cooler world temps than today’s,D.C. experienced 28 days of temps of 95° or higher — 5 more than this summer. 24, occurred in 1988 again with significantly cooler world temps‘Posted August 9, 20129:45 AM by Marc Morano | Tags: az, Borenstein, Hansen, heatwave, media, mkey, new study
Flashback: Say it ain’t so! AP’s Borenstein Reports: ‘The Wind seems to be dying down…the cause may be global warming’– Scientist mocks wind claims: ‘How can they have more intense storms from the same effect that is lessening winds?’
‘Rank climate propaganda’ – ‘Associated Press touts ‘a clear sign of human-caused climate change’ – But scientists dismantle claims– Morano: ‘Americans who rely on the Associated Press for climate news and information are being misinformed. The AP is serving up nothing short of rank climate propaganda.’
Also see: Analysis: ‘AP and NOAA are intentionally deceiving the public’ to support the climate narrative
AP’s Seth Borenstein Tries The Daily Records Con – ‘Another remarkably dishonest and deceitful piece, even by Seth Borenstein standards’‘AP is selling pure snake oil’ – The Garbage Science Behind the AP’s Latest ‘Global Warming’ Report
A Classic Twitter Debate
AP’s Seth Borenstein claim: “I seek out experts, people who have studied the science, have academic qualifications, published the data in peer-reviewed journals and write what they say. I hold up a mirror to what data, science, reality show from qualified scientists. That’s my job.”
Morano responded: “Oh, come on Seth. Your ‘job’ is to promote bullshit climate scares in any way you can imagine, to hell with the actual science. I don’t pay too much attention to your articles anymore, but I believe that you honestly think you are a good reporter on climate change. I think you are that clueless.”
Borenstein replied: “You don’t pay attention to reality, science or anything with common sense You’re just a troll with a love for conspiracy, a hatred for science and reality. Leave science to smart people. Bye.”
Morano: “No reason to get so testy Seth. Happy Earth Day.”
Update: Morano apologizes!: “Upon further review, I made the first unprovoked rude comment to Seth and instigated him into making a nasty comment about me. For what it’s worth Seth, I apologize. Over and out. Thanks.” Borenstein accepted the apology.
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AP’s been feeding mainstream media fake news for a long time now. Now, they’re selling it for exactly what it is.
Ja. Ja. I told you….
https://breadonthewater.co.za/2022/02/10/so-who-is-speaking-for-the-people/
Yes, good old Associated (with terrorists) Press.
https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3286966,00.html
Ironically, it quotes Charles Johnson from LGF back before his mental health issues.
AP just metaphorically announced it has a QR code tramp stamp tattooed with it’s current price list.
Yeah, it’s amazing that they can accept oil money from the Rockefeller and Hughes foundations whilst simultaneously condemning people they don’t like as being ‘in the pay of big oil.’ 2 – faced hypocrites is the first term that springs to mind, closely followed by media prostitution and other less polite ones.
Borenstein is either a deliberate, intentional liar or he’s dumber than a box of rocks.
There are no other possibilities— it’s one or the other.
Seth Boringstone is both a deliberate intentional liar and is also dumber than a box of rocks that make up his brains.
LOL.
Thanks. I am embarrassed to have to admit that I had not considered that possibility.
Yes there is. Both!!
I stand corrected.
Thank you!
As someone else wrote: Embrace the power of and.
Well SB may not be aware that when you look at things in a mirror they are reversed. (“I hold up a mirror to what data, science, reality show…”)
A completely worthless paper!
Little Ice Age temperature decreases precisely match the cooling from SO2 aerosols injected into the stratosphere by known volcanic eruption, with NO additional climatic effect from solar minimums.
But sadly not if you include ‘amplification’.
Which is it then?
Is that you Seth?
Well, yeah. AP, long time acronym for “associated puke”, donch know?
ASSociated Press.
The link above, “noted a report” [from Professor Natalie Jomini Stroud] appears to be busted. The following:
https://publicmediaintegrity.org/wp-content/uploads/cpb_ReadersReachConclusions_StroudReese.pdf
downloads the 38 page file.
Item: newshounds become news-whores.
that happened once they started accepting advertising as their main source of income. This is no different.
In the US, one of the many liars is “Public” radio and television.
Here’s a thought. Let’s have pharmaceutical companies fund their regulators.
Well played Scissor..well played.
From a report yesterday about the FDA, it sounds like the pharmaceutical companies *were/are* funding their government regulators.
I smell a scandal brewing.
Do you mean New Pravda Radio – NPR?
If newspapers will automatically bend to the will of whoever is paying the bills, why do you assume this will stop when it’s government that is paying the bills?
Advertising has always been the primary modus operandi of newspapers, radio, TV, and internet news sites. Where have you been living the past few centuries?
Stupid comment, Isick. Very stupid. Advertisers don’t have a single common goal. Some are actually in competition against each other. There is no way that the media can tailor a single narrative to please all advertisers, however they can push a false narrative on the (nonexistent) climate “crisis” in exchange for cash and incentives.
I’ve yet to read a post from you, Isick, that contains anything well thought through.
Exactly – advertisers, usually several dozens at a time will find a publication or outlet whose readers/subscribers or watchers match their target demographic. When a single (or small number of sources) fund an outlet, that outlet changes it’s perspective to fit it’s funding source. How many times have we heard the left complain bitterly, without evidence, about Murdoch or Breitbart views dominating their news organisations? Now they have done exactly the same, only the evidence seems to be quite obvious.
All I ask is this from the Climate Change enthusiasts:
Please identify for me the year that the Earth had its most pristine climate. If it were at all possible, is there a cost that is too much to bear to achieve that climate? Is that climate ideal for maximizing human flourishing, or is that no factor?
I’m not a Climate Change enthusiast, but I can give you an answer.
Any time but now.
Does this mean they’ll officially change their logo?
Alternatively,
Administration Propaganda.
They *should* change it to Associated Propaganda, because that’s what they are, and are doing.
The radical Left is amping up the propaganda. There’s lots of money being funneled into efforts to fool people into believing things that are not true.
Actually this makes sense. You’d need to pay a lot of money to get people to abandon all ethics and lie convincingly to the whole world. 8 million will get them a few years before even the most brain dead realize that they’re getting lied to.
These AP guys better collect quick. The jig is about up.
Of course their objectivity between CC “good news” and CC “bad news” will not be compromised by grant money.
IMHO, pay to publish “science” journals are exactly the same thing
Also, bring back proper peer review
Redge, yes I agree. But sadly the present system of peer review is a natural emergent property of our education system. Our education system progressively and harshly punishes the early signs of creativity with extreme penalty for failure. Thus to progress one has to learn to operate within the existing system. When the final, most advanced and filter-refined, products of this process come to scientific publishing they very quickly realise that it is very simple to ethically play the system by forming mutually cooperative groups. And so, the primary users of this system, enjoy the benefits of it, and are loath to change.
But that’s not good for science. But that’s not the point for most people, especially early in their career. It will only change when there is a real threat to our mutual well being, when the efficacy of science will become a target. Until that time, you may as well get what you can out of what’s there. Good solid but predictable incremental and timid advances.
nice pimp outfit
I would like to know the effect of climate change on the Loch Ness Monster. Is the habitat of the Loch Ness Monster changing in ways that threaten its existence? That needs careful study. Some University Professor should apply for a research grant to study the issue. After all, it could have significant effects on the Scottish tourist industry. Perhaps we might even have to put the Loch Ness Monster on the list of endangered species. Perhaps the good people of the Polar Bear Study Group could give some of their valuable time to studying this issue. I’m surprised that First Minister Sturgeon (there’s a joke in there somewhere) hasn’t yet appointed several Working Parties of civil servants to investigate the matter. It really does deserve far more attention than it has been given up to now. Moreover, if it could be shown that climate change is indeed threatening the future existence of the Loch Ness Monster it may help to persuade people, especially in Scotland, of the supreme importance of taking strong and immediate action on climate change. After all climate change is just as real as the Loch Ness Monster. And we don’t want any Loch Ness Monster deniers spouting their nonsense. They’re all funded by evil, corrupt scientists who distort data for their own purposes.
I thought Loch Ness Monster deniers were all in the pay of the Big Yeti Organisation.
That’s a much better suggestion than the one I came up with. I tried to think of one that was better but couldn’t think of one.
With January temps 0.1 below the historic long term avg it’s clearly time to panic .
Which historic long term average?
Here’s another propaganda website which promotes it’s own truth. It’s worth taking a look and scrolling down to the bottom just to see it’s partners; NBC News, CBS News, Reuters, The Guardian and the Weather Channel are just some of them. The narrative these outlets promote is one of the reasons why I read WUWT etc. Just to get an alternative view.
https://coveringclimatenow.org/
I noticed that no one actually commented on the amount. Compared to the billions/trillions being spent on the climate con, $8million seems like it won’t go very far. If I had to guess, this is someone’s way of virtue signaling their “climate concern”.
Well, they say they are establishing a permanent desk for climate change and on-boarding about 20 correspondents. If you take a salary of $100,000 plus benefits of $50,000 that’s only $3,000,000, unless that’s for a multi-year effort. They have plenty of money to splurge on committing additional mischief.
This also demonstrates clearly that if the AP will eagerly lie about climate, they will readily lie about any and everything. Henceforth, whenever one sees an AP byline, do not believe a word that is written on any subject.
We have long known this about journalism, but now they are openly verifying it.
Maurice strong reaching out from beyond the grave to implement the strategy he began with Rockefeller money back in the seventies to bring about worldwide UN governance
Meanwhile in NATOstan the very same mainstream Press for weeks were alarming about an immanent Russia Invasion!
Then a hockey stick of sheer hysteria – it would be on Wednesday 16.02.2022 – mark it in the calendar!
Then, not to be outdone, the London Mirror announced the exact time 01.0am, while the London Sun announced 03.0am local time!
This is the 12-years-for-Climate on Steroids.The stunning parallel shows that the Climate mafia has full NATO and Pentagon backing and explains the smug condescension.
As Tim Kirby (at a strategic culture website that cannot be named) wrote :
Lavrov’s Trolling Reveals the Joke Is Actually on Russia
He precisely identifies the attitude of UK Foreign Minister Truss recently.
“What town or river is where doesn’t make any difference. This Roman attitude of seeing the world as one of civility vs. barbarity hasn’t gone anywhere, and a true sign of a “civilized person” is having zero knowledge or tolerance for the ways of the backwards.”
With Climate, what scientific details in reports, does not make any difference. The thinking of a Roman Consul about the barbarian Germanen, Celts, or deplorables, scientific tinkerers.
Even Google-poodle can find this report – for now.
Russia invasion of Ukraine was hilarious. Why on earth would Russia upstage China’s Olympics after China just signed a huge deal to buy more natural gas?
I am tired of trying to think logically on Russia…I guess I need to be dumb like Simon and Russia = Bad every time. And Russia is behind the truckers …OMG.
Russian Government spokesperson Zhakarova kindly requested a list of invasion dates for 2022 so she could book holiday’s!
The entire planet is LOL, NATOstan’s MSM of course will still carry on on Climate, Russia, and China – CO2 bad, Russia bad, China bad, Trump bad…
Slight difference in that Russian invasions of Georgia, eastern Ukraine, and Crimea have actually happened in recent years, with the first one starting just a week prior to the last time the Olympics were in China.
Pay to play does tend to ‘change the mindset’ just a bit.
Bring in the next translation app with the ability to translate paid climate news into plain agenda lists. It’s an evolutionary game of tit for tat.
Seth Boogerstein is an ignoramus who wouldn’t know science if it bit him on the hiney.
These days when watching old movies with scenes of smoking I’m more interested in knowing how much the producer got paid for the insert than the movie dialog itself. Climate change political agenda has replaced all of that in the modern era of pay-to-play but your mental and financial health are more at risk now. Like the Marlboro Man, there will be a long lag time in the truth catching up to the fraud.
Maybe it’s just me, but what is going on with the AP sees oddly similar to one of six types of bribery that is illegal…..
https://www.txcrimdefense.com/6-types-of-bribery-why-theyre-illegal/
#1: Bribery and Kickbacks
Bribery may involve the transfer of favors or compensation in exchange for a specific beneficial treatment or decision. For instance, paying off a public servant for his or her vote or decision is an example.
However, bribery is a nuanced crime. For that reason, laws pertaining to bribery and kickbacks are updated by the state of Texas on a regular basis.
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I realize that #1 above probably does not apply to the AP and the money it is getting from rich individuals. But it nonetheless shows how the MSM today is more than willing and able to throw journalistic ethics and principles out the window for both money and activism, including activism on climate. It is, to say the least, disturbing. At worst, it is disgusting.
The only question here is whether the American people believe everything they read or hear from the MSM. At any rate, Orwellian Big Brother is very much alive and well.
Oops, first line should read seems oddly similar.
It is all narrative intended to keep the population in sufficient fear to demand our governments save us from the problem they created with the solution they could not sell with logic. Occulting information has always been the means to control others. This game has been afoot under a variety of guises for thousands of years. When we respond because of fear, we deminish our choises of action.
Who’s covering the climate stories in the trenches of Ukraine? I’ll say none since it’s a dirty job with lots of reality checks.
through the whole of the plandemic the elites have been making money like never before seen in our history and now they must spend it on the propaganda issues they love an be the backers of the NWO. iT REALY IS THAT SIMPLE we are in some deep du du
Now Borenstein owes all of us an apology for all his duplicitous and innumerate lying.
AP stands for activist propaganda. May they follow the destiny of CNN and their well earned oblivion.
unfortunately for them more and more people are switching off having more important things to worry about such as how to pay their heating bills.
This is also how it works when the Vatican needs money.
Vatican spy story takes center stage as fraud trial resumes – ABC News (go.com)
Paul Homewoods statement above is the best and clearest analysis of this Money for Propaganda scheme.
At least 90% of the news cycle is paid propaganda. Why would anyone not think the incessant moan on global warming would be any different.
Well, this is just codifying what I’ve been saying for years.
The MSM (or legacy media if you will) has been laying off real writers and editors for decades, replacing them with recent social sciences grads who took the bare minimum of science and math, and giving them grandiose titles such as “Senior Science Writer” who report to “Senior Science Editors”, age 30.
And all they do is re-type press releases, which come complete with quotes so they don’t even have to actually call for a quote.
I moved from the media into government back in the 80s, and even then, the entire charade was clear. We’d have a press conference, provide the data, they’d ask a few loaded questions, then go off and file their pre-written stories.