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			{{Short description\|American nonprofit conservative news organization}}
	{{Use mdy dates\|date=January 2012}}		{{Use mdy dates\|date=January 2012}}
	{{Infobox organization		{{Infobox organization
	\| name = Franklin ~~Center for Public and Government~~ ~~Integrity~~		\| name = Franklin News Foundation
	\| image = File:~~FCGPI~~.jpg		\| image = File:Franklinnewslogo.jpg
	\| image_size = 250px		\| image_size = 250px
	\| type = ]		\| type = ]
			\| tax_id = 26-4066298
	\| purpose = ]		\| purpose = Statehouse journalism
	\| formation = 2009		\| formation = 2009
	\| coords = {{Coords\|38.8061\|-77.0533\|display=inline,title}}
	\| location = ~~1229~~ ~~King~~ St., ~~3rd Floor~~<br>] ~~22314~~		\| location = 200 West Madison Street, Ste. 2100<br>], ], 60606
	\| key_people = ~~Erik~~ ~~Telford~~, President		\| key_people = Christopher Krug, President
			\| website = {{Official URL}}
	William Swaim, Managing Editor
	\| website =
	}}		}}
	The '''Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity''' is a ] ~~online~~ ~~nonprofit~~ news ~~organization~~ in the United States ~~that~~ ~~publishes~~ ~~news~~ ~~and~~ ~~commentary~~ on state and local ~~governance and~~ politics.<ref>{{cite book\|last1=McBride\|first1=Kelly\|last2=Rosensteil\|first2=Tom\|title=The New Ethics of Journalism: Principles for the 21st Century\|date=2013-07-30\|publisher=Congressional Quarterly Press\|isbn=~~1483320952~~\|page=130\|accessdate=11 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news\|last1=Enda\|first1=Jodi\|title=At the statehouse, ideological press tries to fill a void in news coverage\|url=http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/07/15/at-the-statehouse-ideological-press-tries-to-fill-void-in-news-coverage/\|~~accessdate~~=11 August 2014\|publisher=Pew Research Center~~\|date=2014-07-15~~}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|last=Peters\|first=Justin\|title=~~‘Serious~~, point-of-view ~~journalism’~~?\|url=~~http~~://www.cjr.org/swing_states_project/serious_point-of-view_journalism.php?page=all\|work=Columbia Journalism Review\|~~accessdate~~=28 October 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news\|url=~~http~~://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/think-tanked/post/heritage-foundation-and-franklin-center-team-up-for-breitbart-awards/2012/05/21/gIQAgthcfU_blog.html\|title=Heritage Foundation and Franklin Center team up for Breitbart awards\|newspaper=]\|date=May 21, 2012\|first=Allen\|last=McDuffee}}</ref><ref>{{cite news\|url=http://www.ibtimes.com/chris-christie-wins-lawsuit-exempt-himself-new-jerseys-open-records-laws-1646518\|title=Chris Christie Wins Lawsuit to Exempt Himself From New Jersey's Open Records Laws\|newspaper=]\|date=August 1, 2014\|first=David\|last=Sirota}}</ref>		The '''Franklin News Foundation''', previously the '''Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity''', is an American online nonprofit news organization that publishes news and commentary from a ] and ], ] perspective on state and local politics.<ref>{{cite book\|last1=McBride\|first1=Kelly\|last2=Rosensteil\|first2=Tom\|title=The New Ethics of Journalism: Principles for the 21st Century\|date=2013-07-30\|publisher=Congressional Quarterly Press\|isbn=978-1-4833-2095-3\|page=130}}<!--\|accessdate=11 August 2014--></ref><ref name=":2">{{cite news \|last1=Enda \|first1=Jodi \|date=2014-07-15 \|title=At the statehouse, ideological press tries to fill a void in news coverage \|url=http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/07/15/at-the-statehouse-ideological-press-tries-to-fill-void-in-news-coverage/ \|access-date=11 August 2014 \|publisher=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|last=Peters\|first=Justin\|title='Serious, point-of-view journalism'?\|url=https://www.cjr.org/swing_states_project/serious_point-of-view_journalism.php?page=all\|work=Columbia Journalism Review\|access-date=28 October 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news\|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/think-tanked/post/heritage-foundation-and-franklin-center-team-up-for-breitbart-awards/2012/05/21/gIQAgthcfU_blog.html\|title=Heritage Foundation and Franklin Center team up for Breitbart awards\|newspaper=]\|date=May 21, 2012\|first=Allen\|last=McDuffee}}</ref><ref>{{cite news\|url=http://www.ibtimes.com/chris-christie-wins-lawsuit-exempt-himself-new-jerseys-open-records-laws-1646518\|title=Chris Christie Wins Lawsuit to Exempt Himself From New Jersey's Open Records Laws\|newspaper=]\|date=August 1, 2014\|first=David\|last=Sirota}}</ref> Its journalism platform is called ], rebranded from ].<ref>{{cite news \|last1=Schoenburg \|first1=Bernard \|date=May 18, 2019 \|title=Bernard Schoenburg: Glad to see a new name for that organization \|publisher=State Journal Register \|url=https://www.sj-r.com/story/opinion/columns/2019/05/18/glad-to-see-new-name/5122602007/ \|access-date=19 June 2019}}</ref> Founded in 2009 in North Dakota, the organization moved to Virginia and is now based in Chicago.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web \|last=Roberts \|first=Andrea Suozzo, Ken Schwencke, Mike Tigas, Sisi Wei, Alec Glassford, Brandon \|date=2013-05-09 \|title=Franklin News Foundation - Nonprofit Explorer \|url=https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/264066298 \|access-date=2023-07-30 \|website=] \|language=en}}</ref>

			It was associated with reporting in 41 states as of its second year,<ref name="governing201411" /> but it scaled back later in the 2010s.<ref name=":3" /> Its stated mission is "to hold government accountable through objective, balanced, citizen-focused public journalism with a taxpayer sensibility."<ref>{{cite web \|title=About \|url=https://franklinnews.org/about/ \|publisher=Franklin News Foundation \|access-date=19 June 2019}}</ref> Much of its funding has come from conservative and Republican-connected large donors, especially via ].<ref name="nbc" /><ref name="guardian20150609" /><ref name=":4" /> Chris Krug is the foundation's president.<ref>{{cite web \|title=Chris Krug to lead Franklin Center and Watchdog.org \|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chris-krug-to-lead-franklin-center-and-watchdogorg-300440159.html \|access-date=26 April 2018 \|publisher=]}}</ref>

	==History==		==History==
			{{Conservatism US\|expanded=other organizations}}
	The Franklin Center was founded in 2009 with an initial sponsorship grant from the ].<ref name=nj>{{cite journal\|title=Conservative Watchdogs Awake\|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-214238631.html\|publisher=]\|date=December 12, 2009\|first=Julie\|last=Kosterlitz}}</ref> The organization was originally based in ], ] and is currently headquartered in ].<ref>{{cite web\|title=Franklin Center for Government & Public Integrity IRS Form 990\|url=http://www.guidestar.org/organizations/26-4066298/franklin-center-government-public-integrity.aspx\|website=GuideStar\|publisher=Internal Revenue Service\|accessdate=11 August 2014}}</ref>
			=== 2009 founding ===
			The Franklin Center was founded in January 2009 with an initial sponsorship grant from the ], a conservative think tank.<ref name="nj">{{cite magazine\|title=Conservative Watchdogs Awake\|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-214238631.html\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140921204234/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-214238631.html\|url-status=dead\|archive-date=September 21, 2014\|magazine=]\|date=December 12, 2009\|first=Julie\|last=Kosterlitz}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|title=Franklin Center » Encyclo » Nieman Journalism Lab \|url=https://www.niemanlab.org/encyclo/franklin-center-for-government-and-public-integrity/ \|access-date=2023-07-30 \|website=] \|language=en}}</ref><ref name="themachine" /> It was described that year by the ] as "a government watchdog group led by former Republican staffers".<ref>{{Cite web \|date=2009-11-18 \|title=Did "Phantom" Districts Get Stimulus Cash? \|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/did-phantom-districts-get-stimulus-cash/ \|access-date=2023-08-06 \|website=] \|language=en-US \|via=]}}</ref> One of its founders was Jason Stverak, a prior executive director of the ].<ref>{{cite web \|last=Metzler \|first=Rebekah \|title='Watchdog' website puts a new spin on politics \|date=October 2, 2010 \|newspaper=] \|url=http://www.pressherald.com/2010/10/02/watchdog-website-puts-a-new-spin-on-politics_2010-10-02/ }}</ref> The organization was originally based in ], before moving to ].<ref name=":0">{{cite web \|title=Franklin Center for Government & Public Integrity IRS Form 990 \|url=http://www.guidestar.org/organizations/26-4066298/franklin-center-government-public-integrity.aspx \|access-date=11 August 2014 \|website=] \|publisher=Internal Revenue Service}}</ref>

			In September 2009, the Franklin Center launched ], a network of state-based journalists who investigate and report on state and local government. Stories from the state news bureaus were linked on Watchdog.org and syndicated for newspapers.<ref name=":2" />
	According to the organization’s mission statement, the Franklin Center was founded "to address falling standards in the media as well as a steep falloff in reporting on state government and provides professional training; research, editorial, multimedia and technical support; and assistance with marketing and promoting the work of a nationwide network of nonprofit reporters."<ref>{{cite web\|title=Mission\|url=http://franklincenterhq.org/about/mission/\|publisher=Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity\|accessdate=11 August 2014}}</ref>

			The Franklin Center is an associate member of the ], a ] of ] and ] ]s which focus on ].<ref name="themachine" /><ref>{{cite web \|title=Directory \|url=http://www.spn.org/directory/char.F/organizations.asp \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151025203138/http://www.spn.org/directory/char.F/organizations.asp \|archive-date=October 25, 2015 \|access-date=October 28, 2015 \|publisher=]}}</ref> The Franklin Center partnered with the State Policy Network to help establish news websites and hire reporters in each of the State Policy Network think tanks.<ref name="themachine">{{cite book \|last=Fang \|first=Lee \|url=https://archive.org/details/machinefieldguid0000fang/page/206 \|title=The Machine: A Field Guide to the Resurgent Right \|publisher=] \|year=2013 \|isbn=978-1-59558-639-1 \|place=New York \|page= \|authorlink=Lee Fang}}</ref> Thirty news bureaus were established in the first year and 41 as of the second year,<ref name="governing201411" /> almost all in State Policy Network think tanks.<ref name="nation20130415">{{cite magazine \|last=Fang \|first=Lee \|date=April 15, 2013 \|title=The Right Leans In \|url=http://www.thenation.com/article/173528/right-leans \|magazine=] \|access-date=February 22, 2015}}</ref>
	Erik Telford serves as the organization's president.<ref>{{cite web\|title=Erik Telford, President\|url=http://franklincenterhq.org/9806/erik-telford/\|publisher=Franklin Center\|accessdate=29 April 2015}}</ref>

			=== 2010s ===
	==News bureaus and affiliates==
			In early 2012, the Franklin Center created a platform for ] under a banner called Watchdog Wire.<ref>{{cite web \|date= \|title=Watchdog Wire bets that citizen journalists can investigate, too \|url=http://blog.ebyline.com/2013/01/watchdog-wire-bets-that-citizen-journalists-can-do-more-than-blog-about-pets/ \|access-date=2013-01-11 \|publisher=Ebyline}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|last=Peters \|first=Justin \|title=‘Serious, point-of-view journalism’? \|url=https://www.cjr.org/united_states_project/serious_point-of-view_journalism.php \|access-date=2024-09-13 \|website=Columbia Journalism Review \|language=en}}</ref> As of 2013, many officials of ], a Koch-affiliated group known for its ], were leading the Franklin Center, according to '']''.<ref name="nation20130415" />
	In September 2009, the Franklin Center launched ], a network of state-based journalists who investigate and report on state and local government. Watchdog.org covers news that involves "public officials, public programs and the taxpayer money that supports them." The network includes affiliates in Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Colorado, Idaho, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and Wyoming.<ref name="Watchdog.org States"></ref><ref></ref>

			As of 2014, the Franklin Center owned 14 of the 33 ideological press outlets (as identified by a ] study) that assigned reporters to state governments.<ref name=":2" /> Such ideological outlets were described as filling a void when financially struggling daily newspapers were cutting their statehouse reporters during and after the ].<ref name=":2" /><ref name="governing201411" /> '']'' described the Franklin Center outlets in 2014: "Some covered events in a relatively straightforward fashion; others made little effort to conceal their ideological bent. After some shake-ups and streamlining, most of the sites that didn’t become financially self-sufficient now appear under the Watchdog banner." ''Governing'' noted that the Franklin Center had been one of the largest recipients of money from groups connected to the billionaire ].<ref name="governing201411" />
	In early 2012, the Franklin Center created a platform for citizen journalism under a banner called Watchdog Wire.<ref>{{cite web\|author=Citizen Training \|url=http://www.franklincenterhq.org/watchdog-wire/ \|title=Watchdog Wire \|publisher=Franklincenterhq.org \|date= \|accessdate=2013-05-07}}</ref> The Watchdog Wire website states that the it “exists to train citizens just like you to be citizen journalists and provide a place to feature your work. By covering stories in your local community that are otherwise ignored by the establishment media, you can make a difference! We partner with you to provide the training, the platform and the coaching you need to be government watchdogs in your own cities and states.”<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://watchdogwire.com/about-the-franklin-center/ \|title=Watchdog Wire Website \|publisher=Watchdogwire.org \|date= \|accessdate=2013-10-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=http://blog.ebyline.com/2013/01/watchdog-wire-bets-that-citizen-journalists-can-do-more-than-blog-about-pets/ \|title=Watchdog Wire bets that citizen journalists can investigate, too \|publisher=Ebyline \|date= \|accessdate=2013-01-11}}</ref>

			Nicole Neily was appointed the Franklin Center’s president in March 2016.<ref>{{cite web \| url=http://franklincenterhq.org/12567/franklin-center-announces-nicole-kurokawa-neily-as-incoming-president/ \| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170505053057/http://franklincenterhq.org/12567/franklin-center-announces-nicole-kurokawa-neily-as-incoming-president/ \| archive-date=May 5, 2017 \| title=Franklin Center Announces Nicole Kurokawa Neily as Incoming President. - the Franklin Center the Franklin Center }}</ref> In April 2017, the Franklin Center acquired the non-profit Illinois News Network and its associated assets from the ], a conservative ] led by ].<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Partisan media grows in NC. Do you know who’s funding your news? \|url=https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article248832319.html#storylink=cpy \|access-date=2024-10-24}}</ref> INN publisher Chris Krug was named President of the Franklin Center and the headquarters moving to ].<ref>{{cite web\|last=Newswire\|first=PR\|title=Chris Krug to lead Franklin Center and Watchdog.org \|url= https://www.marketwatch.com/story/chris-krug-to-lead-franklin-center-and-watchdogorg-2017-04-17\|work=Market Source\|access-date=July 2, 2018 }}</ref><ref name=":1">{{cite web\|title=Franklin Center for Government & Public Integrity Contact Page\|url=https://franklincenterhq.org/contact/\|publisher=Franklin Center for Government & Public Integrity\|access-date=12 December 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|last=Center \|first=The Franklin \|title=Chris Krug to lead Franklin Center and Watchdog.org \|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chris-krug-to-lead-franklin-center-and-watchdogorg-300440159.html \|access-date=2024-09-26 \|website=www.prnewswire.com \|language=en}}</ref>

			By April 2017, the Franklin Center ran just five news bureaus, in Wisconsin, Vermont, Florida, Mississippi and Arizona, at which point it underwent "reorganization".<ref name=":3">{{Cite web\|url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/wisconsin/2017/04/14/lights-out-wisconsin-watchdog/100463852/\|title=Is it lights out for Wisconsin Watchdog?\|last=Spicuzza\|first=Mary\|website=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel\|language=en\|access-date=2019-08-17}}</ref> In January 2018, Krug announced that Watchdog.org would be resuming statehouse coverage based upon the Illinois News Network model.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/op-ed-stay-tuned-as-dogged-watchdog-org-returns-to/article_56cb9066-c3f8-11e7-bc2f-174416de93e2.html\|title=Op-Ed: Stay tuned as dogged Watchdog.org returns to statehouses, core fundamentals\|last=Watchdog.org\|first=Chris Krug {{!}}\|website=The Center Square\|language=en\|access-date=2019-08-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|date=2019-05-30 \|title=Franklin's Right-Wing Watchdog.org Rebrands as The Center Square \|url=https://www.prwatch.org/news/2019/05/13475/franklins-right-wing-watchdogorg-rebrands-center-square \|access-date=2024-09-26 \|website=PR Watch \|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|last=Redjai \|first=Isabella S. \|date=2018-10-04 \|title=Q & A with Watchdog.org president Chris Krug speaks to Hillsdale students \|url=https://hillsdalecollegian.com/2018/10/q-chris-krug/ \|access-date=2024-09-26 \|website=Hillsdale Collegian \|language=en-US}}</ref>

			In May 2019, the organization was renamed the Franklin News Foundation, while Watchdog.org and INN's website were replaced with ].<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.sj-r.com/opinion/20190518/bernard-schoenburg-glad-to-see-new-name-for-that-organization\|title=Bernard Schoenburg: Glad to see a new name for that organization\|website=The State Journal-Register\|language=en\|access-date=2019-08-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite web \| url=https://www.robertfeder.com/2019/05/15/robservations-cbs-2-losing-newsroom-veterans-buyouts/ \| title=Robservations: CBS 2 losing newsroom veterans to buyouts \| Robert Feder }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/op-ed-welcome-to-thecentersquare-com/article_1a2f08c0-7588-11e9-98e1-774610e5dbb1.html\|title=Op-Ed: Welcome to TheCenterSquare.com\|last=Square\|first=Chris Krug \| The Center\|website=The Center Square\|language=en\|access-date=2019-08-17}}</ref> The website's name was chosen to signify a move towards "shorter, more timely and faster-moving content" and away from long-form investigative reporting.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.localmedia.org/how-the-center-square-has-created-a-successful-state-wire-service-and-how-you-can-use-their-content-for-free/\|title=How The Center Square has created a successful statewide wire service and ways to use their content\|date=2019-06-16\|website=Local Media Association\|language=en-US\|access-date=2019-08-17}}</ref>

	==Activities==		==Activities==
	~~The~~ Franklin Center ~~provides~~ training for investigative reporters, state-based news organizations, public-policy institutions, and watchdog groups.<ref>{{cite ~~news~~\|title=Franklin Center aims investigative reporters at states\|url=http://washingtonexaminer.com/franklin-center-aims-investigative-reporters-at-states/article/38081\|~~accessdate~~=11 August 2014\|~~publisher~~=Washington Examiner\|date=2010-11-24}}</ref>		In the past, the Franklin Center provided training for investigative reporters, state-based news organizations, public-policy institutions, and watchdog groups.<ref>{{cite magazine\|title=Franklin Center aims investigative reporters at states\|url=http://washingtonexaminer.com/franklin-center-aims-investigative-reporters-at-states/article/38081\|access-date=11 August 2014\|magazine=Washington Examiner\|date=2010-11-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal \|last=Houston \|first=Brant \|date=2010 \|title=The future of investigative journalism \|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/20749823 \|journal=Daedalus \|volume=139 \|issue=2 \|pages=45–56 \|issn=0011-5266}}</ref>

	On May 10, 2011, Franklin Center journalist Lynn Campbell of IowaPolitics.com was named moderator for the 2012 Presidential Candidate Series.<ref>{{cite news\|title=IOWA CAPITAL DIGEST\|url=http://qctimes.com/news/local/government-and-politics/iowa-capital-digest/article_9f25210e-7b5e-11e0-9295-001cc4c03286.html\|~~accessdate~~=11 August 2014\|~~publisher~~=Quad City Times\|date=May 10, 2011}}</ref>		On May 10, 2011, Franklin Center journalist Lynn Campbell of IowaPolitics.com was named moderator for the 2012 Presidential Candidate Series.<ref>{{cite news\|title=IOWA CAPITAL DIGEST\|url=http://qctimes.com/news/local/government-and-politics/iowa-capital-digest/article_9f25210e-7b5e-11e0-9295-001cc4c03286.html\|access-date=11 August 2014\|newspaper=Quad City Times\|date=May 10, 2011}}</ref>

	In June 2012 the Franklin Center ~~teamed up with the~~ ] ~~to host~~ the first annual Breitbart Awards dinner.<ref>{{cite news\|last1=Byers\|first1=Dyland\|title=Heritage, Franklin to host Breitbart Awards\|url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2012/06/heritage-franklin-center-host-breitbart-awards-125438.html\|~~accessdate~~=11 August 2014\|publisher=Politico\|date=2012-06-06}}</ref> The awards honored the life and work of the late ] ~~who "pioneered a new media revolution that transformed journalism and the political landscape~~."<ref></ref> The 2012 award winners included ] journalist Philip Klein, Citizen Journalist Andrew Marcus, and the Ace of Spades blog.<ref>{{cite news\|last1=Lee\|first1=Tony\|title=Inaugural Breitbart Award Winners Honored\|url=http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Journalism/2012/06/10/Inaugural-Breitbart-Award-Winners-Honored\|accessdate=11 August 2014\|publisher=Breitbart\|date=June 10, 2012}}</ref> ] and ] contributor ] took home the honors in 2013.<ref></ref>		In June 2012, the Franklin Center and ] hosted the first annual Breitbart Awards dinner.<ref>{{cite news\|last1=Byers\|first1=Dyland\|title=Heritage, Franklin to host Breitbart Awards\|url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2012/06/heritage-franklin-center-host-breitbart-awards-125438.html\|access-date=11 August 2014\|publisher=Politico\|date=2012-06-06}}</ref> The awards honored the life and work of the late ].<ref></ref> ] and ] contributor ] took home the honors in 2013.<ref></ref>

	At ] 2013, Erik Telford of the Franklin Center served on a panel discussing "Current trends in technology."<ref>{{cite news\|title=CPAC 2013 Schedule\|url=~~http~~://~~online~~.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/CPAC2013schedule.pdf\|~~accessdate~~=11 August 2014~~\|work=CPAC 2013 Schedule~~\|publisher=Wall Street Journal}}</ref> ~~During the two-day conference the~~ Franklin Center ran a promotion ~~using~~ an ~~over-sized~~ ~~costume~~ of ~~Ben~~ ~~Franklin~~ ~~meeting~~ ~~and~~ ~~greeting~~ ~~conference~~ ~~participants~~.<ref name=ben>{{cite web\|url=~~http~~://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2013/03/live-updates-conservatives-rally-at-first-day-of-cpac-2013/ \|title=ABC News Live CPAC update \|publisher=Abcnews.go.com \|date=2013-03-14 \|~~accessdate~~=2013-05-07}}</ref~~> Individuals who had their picture taken with the mascot and tweeted the photo received free drink tickets.<ref name=ben/~~>		At ] 2013, Erik Telford of the Franklin Center served on a panel discussing "Current trends in technology."<ref>{{cite news\|title=CPAC 2013 Schedule\|url=https://www.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/CPAC2013schedule.pdf\|access-date=11 August 2014\|publisher=Wall Street Journal}}</ref> The Franklin Center ran a promotion with a Ben Franklin mascot handing out free drink tickets in exchange for tweets.<ref name=ben>{{cite web\|url=https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2013/03/live-updates-conservatives-rally-at-first-day-of-cpac-2013/ \|title=ABC News Live CPAC update \|publisher=Abcnews.go.com \|date=2013-03-14 \|access-date=2013-05-07}}</ref>

			Reports in '']'' in 2013 and 2015 said the Franklin Center was leading a "campaign against wind and solar power" and that it had not disclosed the sources of its funding.<ref name="Guardian021513" /><ref name="guardian20150609" />
⚫	==Awards and recognition==

		⚫	=== GreenTech Automotive investigation and libel lawsuit ===
	In November 2010, Franklin Center reporters at Marylandreporter.com and Illinois Statehouse News were honored by the National Association of Capitol Reporters and Editors.<ref>{{cite news\|title=Congrats to our 2010 Cappie Winners\|url=http://capitolbeat.wordpress.com/2010/11/16/congrats-to-our-2010-cappie-winners/\|accessdate=11 August 2014\|publisher=Association of Capitol Reporters and Editors\|date=2010-11-16}}</ref>{{third-party inline\|reason=reliable third party secondary source needed for noteworthiness\|date=October 2015}} MarylandReporter.com editor and publisher Len Lazarick won the first place Cappie award for coverage in the online news category.”<ref name=cappie>{{cite web\|url=http://capitolbeat.wordpress.com/2010/11/16/congrats-to-our-2010-cappie-winners/ \|title=Cappie Awards \|publisher=Capitolbeat.wordpress.com \|date=November 16, 2010 \|accessdate=January 12, 2012}}</ref>{{third-party inline\|reason=reliable third party secondary source needed for noteworthiness\|date=October 2015}} The judges also gave Lazarick a third place award in the category "Online: In-depth." Journalist Kevin Lee of Illinois Statehouse News won the Online In-depth Reporting Award for his investigation into the General Assembly Scholarship Program in Illinois.<ref name=cappie/>{{third-party inline\|reason=reliable third party secondary source needed for noteworthiness\|date=October 2015}}
		⚫	The Franklin Center published a series of articles that raised questions about ], founded by company CEO ], and its presumed chairman, ] ].<ref> ''The Washington Free Beacon''.</ref> The articles focused in part on the company’s reliance on a controversial fundraising program, ], that had been criticized for its lax oversight and subject to abuse.<ref>{{cite magazine\|title=Judge dismisses GreenTech suit in win for First Amendment: Examiner Editorial\|url=http://washingtonexaminer.com/judge-dismisses-greentech-suit-in-win-for-first-amendment-examiner-editorial/article/2551426\|access-date=12 August 2014\|magazine=Washington Examiner\|date=2014-07-29}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|date=2013-05-02 \|title=The GreenTech Automotive, Inc. v. Watchdog.org Libel Suit \|url=https://patch.com/virginia/herndon/bp--the-greentech-automotive-inc-v-watchdogorg-libel-suit \|access-date=2024-10-01 \|website=Herndon, VA Patch \|language=en}}</ref> The investigation also revealed that McAuliffe’s public projections, starting back in 2010, of how many cars would be built and jobs created had not come to fruition.<ref>{{cite news \|last1=Sherfinski \|first1=David \|date=August 11, 2013 \|title=McAuliffe's overstated production levels for GreenTech mar business-savvy image \|newspaper=] \|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/aug/11/mcauliffes-overstated-production-levels-for-greent/ \|access-date=12 August 2014}}</ref>{{BSN\|reason=The current source is insufficiently reliable (]).\|date=July 2023}} In April 2013, it was revealed that McAuliffe had left the car-maker in December 2012.<ref>{{cite web \|date=2013-04-07 \|title=Terry McAuliffe left car firm in December \|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2013/04/terry-mcauliffe-left-controversial-car-firm-in-december-89684.html?hp=l4 \|access-date=2013-05-07 \|publisher=]}}</ref>

			GreenTech Automotive filed an $85 million ] lawsuit (noting among other things the website's characterization of GreenTech's company headquarters as "a broom closet") against Franklin Center (and a journalist for the company) in 2013.<ref name=ien> ''Industrial Equipment News'', February 28, 2018.</ref> <ref>Jim Geraghty (April 17, 2013). ''The National Review''.</ref><ref>, ''Patch'', May 2, 2013.</ref><ref>{{cite news \|author=Fredrick Kunkle \|date=2013-04-12 \|title=Car company founded by McAuliffe files $85 million suit over Web site articles \|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/va-politics/car-company-founded-by-mcauliffe-files-85-million-suit-over-articles/2013/04/12/89059c00-a2df-11e2-82bc-511538ae90a4_story.html \|access-date=2013-05-07 \|newspaper=]}}</ref> However, in 2014 a federal judge in Mississippi dismissed GreenTech's lawsuit. Wang then allegedly claimed, falsely, that Watchdog.org had paid $1.2 million in damages.<ref> Virginia, Circuit Court of Fairfax County.</ref>{{Non-primary source needed\|date=December 2024}}
⚫	The Franklin Center's Maryland affiliate, Maryland Reporter, has won awards from the Washington chapter of the ] and from CapitolBeat, the national Association of Capitol Reporters and Editors. In 2012, Maryland Reporter was named Maryland's best political website by '']''. Maryland Reporter was also named one of the best state-based political blogs in the nation by the '']''.<ref>{{cite news\|title=Baltimore magazine names MarylandReporter.com best political website\|url=http://baltimorepostexaminer.com/baltimore-magazine-names-marylandreporter-com-best-political-website/2012/07/25\|~~accessdate~~=12 August 2014~~\|publisher=Baltimore Post-Examiner\|date=2012-07-25~~}}</ref><ref>{{cite news\|last1=Cassie\|first1=Ron\|title=2013 Best of Baltimore: News\|url=http://www.baltimoremagazine.net/2013/8/2013-best-of-baltimore-news\|~~accessdate~~=12 August 2014~~\|publisher=Baltimore Magazine~~}}</ref><ref>{{cite news\|last1=Cillizza\|first1=Chris\|title=The ~~Fix’s~~ best state based political blogs — extended edition!\|url=~~http~~://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2013/03/12/the-fixs-best-state-based-political-blogs-extended-edition/\|~~accessdate~~=12 August 2014~~\|publisher=Washington Post\|date=March 12, 2013~~}}</ref>

			GreenTech filed for ] in 2018, stating that articles from Watchdog.org “negatively affected governmental, investor and public perception of GreenTech” and led to investigations by the ] and the ]. GreenTech also blamed U.S. Senator ], who had raised concerns about the company's use of the visa program, among others.<ref>{{cite news \|last1=Oliver \|first1=Ned \|date=February 27, 2018 \|title=GreenTech, the electric car company once led by McAuliffe, files for bankruptcy \|newspaper=] \|url=https://www.richmond.com/news/local/government-politics/greentech-the-electric-car-company-once-led-by-mcauliffe-files/article_bf83ede4-ae12-5561-ad3b-b0a29c2b0984.html \|access-date=2 July 2018}}</ref>
⚫	In August 2011, ~~MarylandReporter.com~~ was awarded a $50,000 grant by the ] to provide "in-depth coverage of Maryland state government and politics and to expand capacity by giving those who plan on entering journalism as a career real-world experience in investigative reporting supervised by veteran journalists."<ref>{{cite news\|title=Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation announces $1.6 million in awards\|url=http://www.journalismfoundation.org/news49.html\|~~accessdate~~=11 August 2014~~\|publisher=Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation~~}}</ref>{{~~third~~-party inline~~\|reason=reliable third party secondary source needed for noteworthiness~~\|date=~~October~~ ~~2015~~}}

		⚫	==Funding==
⚫	Franklin affiliates CapitolBeatOK in Oklahoma, ~~HawaiiReporter.com~~, and New Jersey Watchdog have ~~been presented~~ awards by ~~the~~ respective state chapters of the ].<ref>{{cite news\|title=The City Sentinel wins honors from Society of Professional Journalists; Community publication wins second in Best Newspaper category\|url=http://city-sentinel.com/2011/05/the-city-sentinel-wins-honors-from-society-of-professional-journalists-community-publication-wins-second-in-best-newspaper-category/\|~~accessdate~~=12 August 2014~~\|publisher=City Sentinel\|date=May 1, 2011~~}}</ref><ref>{{cite news\|title=Star-Bulletin staff earns 30 SPJ journalism awards\|url=http://archives.starbulletin.com/2006/06/12/news/story07.html\|~~accessdate~~=12 August 2014~~\|publisher=Honolulu Star-Bulletin~~}}</ref><ref>{{cite news\|title=Winner, 2013 NJSPJ Excellence in Journalism\|url=http://www.njspj.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ourwinners.combined.updated_with_special_awards.2013.pdf\|~~accessdate~~=12 August 2014~~\|agency=NJSPJ~~}}</ref>~~{{third-party inline\|reason=reliable third party secondary source needed for noteworthiness\|date=October 2015}}~~ New Jersey Watchdog has also won two ] awards.<ref>{{cite news\|last1=Caruso\|first1=Debra\|title=Winners Announced in 2014 New York Press Club Awards for Journalism\|url=https://www.nypressclub.org/docs/j-awards/2014-jawards-winners-news-release.pdf\|~~accessdate~~=12 August 2014\|~~publisher~~=~~New~~ ~~York~~ ~~Press~~ ~~Club~~\|~~date~~=2014-05-~~13}}</ref>{{third~~-~~party~~ ~~inline~~\|~~reason~~=~~reliable third~~ ~~party secondary source needed for noteworthiness\|date=October 2015~~}}
		⚫	As of 2012, much of the funding for the Franklin Center came from ] and ], two affiliated ]s<ref name="governing201411" /> whose funds cannot be traced to individual donors.<ref name="guardian20150609" /> In 2011, the two funds granted the Franklin Center {{usd}}6.3 million.<ref name="Guardian021513">{{cite news\|title=Media campaign against windfarms funded by anonymous conservatives\|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/feb/15/media-campaign-windfarms-conservatives\|access-date=February 16, 2013 \|newspaper=] \|date=February 15, 2013 \|authorlink=Suzanne Goldenberg \|first=Suzanne \|last=Goldenberg \|quote=Conservatives used a pair of secretive trusts to fund a media campaign against windfarms and solar projects, and to block state agencies from planning for future sea-level rise}}</ref> The grants were 95% of the Franklin Center’s revenue that year and was the second-largest grant made by Donors Trust that year.<ref name="nbc">{{cite news \|last1=Abowd \|first1=Paul \|title=Koch-funded charity passes money to free-market think tanks in states \|work=] \|agency=] \|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/investigations/koch-funded-charity-passes-money-free-market-think-tanks-states-flna1c8370335 \|access-date=March 11, 2015}}</ref> In 2012, the two funds granted the Franklin Center nearly {{usd}}9.5 million, more than 80% of the Franklin Center’s revenue that year.<ref name="governing201411">{{cite news \|title=How Political Donors Are Changing Statehouse News Reporting \|first=Daniel C. \|last=Vock \|date=November 2014 \|magazine=] \|access-date=October 28, 2015 \|url=http://www.governing.com/topics/politics/gov-political-donors-statehouse-news.html}}</ref> For tax years 2011 through 2013, the Franklin Center received {{usd}}22 million from the two funds.<ref name="guardian20150609">{{Cite web \|last1=Goldenberg \|first1=Suzanne \|last2=Bengtsson \|first2=Helena \|date=June 9, 2015 \|title=Secretive donors gave US climate denial groups $125m over three years \|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jun/09/secretive-donors-gave-us-climate-denial-groups-125m-over-three-years \|access-date=2015-06-11 \|website=]}}</ref> In 2019, ''Mlive.com'' described Franklin as "connected to GOP mega-donors".<ref name=":4">{{Cite web \|last=Barrett \|first=Malachi \|date=2019-11-08 \|title=News Websites with Political Ties Spread Across Michigan \|url=https://www.governing.com/news/headlines/News-Websites-with-Political-Ties-Spread-Across-Michigan.html \|access-date=2023-08-29 \|website=] \|language=en \|via=]}}</ref> Around 2021, DonorsTrust announced a $50,000 grant to the Franklin News Foundation to "offer an alternate perspective" on ] policies.<ref>{{Cite news \|last=Stanley-Becker \|first=Isaac \|date=2021-04-05 \|title=Inside a stealth 'persuasion machine' promising Republican victories in 2022 \|language=en-US \|newspaper=Washington Post \|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/republicans-midterms-digital-influence/2021/04/03/391103a8-8c0e-11eb-a730-1b4ed9656258_story.html \|access-date=2023-08-06 \|issn=0190-8286}}</ref>

			The ] had contributed nearly $800,000 to the Franklin Center's ''Wisconsin Watchdog'' as of 2017.<ref name=":3" />
⚫	==GreenTech Automotive investigation==

		⚫	==Awards and recognition==
⚫	The Franklin Center published a series of articles that raised questions about ] and its presumed chairman, ] ]. The ~~investigation~~ ~~exposed~~ the company’s reliance on a controversial fundraising program, EB-5, that ~~has~~ been criticized for its lax oversight and subject to abuse.<ref>{{cite ~~news~~\|title=Judge dismisses GreenTech suit in win for First Amendment: Examiner Editorial\|url=http://washingtonexaminer.com/judge-dismisses-greentech-suit-in-win-for-first-amendment-examiner-editorial/article/2551426\|~~accessdate~~=12 August 2014\|~~publisher~~=Washington Examiner\|date=2014-07-29}}</ref> The investigation also revealed that McAuliffe’s public projections, starting back in 2010, of how many cars would be built and jobs created had not come to fruition.<ref>{{cite news\|last1=Sherfinski\|first1=David\|title=~~McAuliffe’s~~ overstated production levels for GreenTech mar business-savvy image\|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/aug/11/mcauliffes-overstated-production-levels-for-greent/\|~~accessdate~~=12 August 2014\|~~publisher~~=~~Washington~~ ~~Times~~\|date=~~August~~ ~~11, 2013~~}}~~</ref>~~ In April 2013, it was revealed that McAuliffe had left the ~~green energy~~ car-maker in December ~~of the previous year~~.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2013/04/terry-mcauliffe-left-controversial-car-firm-in-december-89684.html?hp=l4 \|~~title=Terry McAuliffe left car firm in December \|publisher=Politico.com \|~~date=2013-04-07 \|~~accessdate~~=~~2013-05-07~~}}</ref>

			In November 2010, Franklin Center reporters at ''Maryland Reporter'' and ''Illinois Statehouse News'' were honored by the National Association of Capitol Reporters and Editors.<ref>{{cite news \|date=2010-11-16 \|title=Congrats to our 2010 Cappie Winners \|publisher=Association of Capitol Reporters and Editors \|url=http://capitolbeat.wordpress.com/2010/11/16/congrats-to-our-2010-cappie-winners/ \|access-date=11 August 2014}}</ref><ref name="cappie">{{cite web \|date=November 16, 2010 \|title=Cappie Awards \|url=http://capitolbeat.wordpress.com/2010/11/16/congrats-to-our-2010-cappie-winners/ \|access-date=January 12, 2012 \|publisher=Capitolbeat.wordpress.com}}</ref>{{Third-party inline\|date=August 2023\|reason=source does not have its own Misplaced Pages article}}
	Green Tech Automotive filed an $85 million libel lawsuit against Franklin Center on April 8, 2013 in a Mississippi court.<ref>{{cite web\|author=Fredrick Kunkle \|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/va-politics/car-company-founded-by-mcauliffe-files-85-million-suit-over-articles/2013/04/12/89059c00-a2df-11e2-82bc-511538ae90a4_story.html \|title=Car company founded by McAuliffe files $85 million suit over Web site articles \|publisher=Washingtonpost.com \|date=2013-04-12 \|accessdate=2013-05-07}}</ref> Franklin Center described the suit as “intimidation” and pledged to continue investigating GTA and McAuliffe.<ref>{{cite web\|first= Jason \|last=Stverak \|url=http://franklincenterhq.org/7190/president-jason-stverak-we-wont-be-intimidated/ \|title=We won't be intimidated \|publisher=Franklincenterhq.org \|date=2013-04-14 \|accessdate=2013-05-07}}</ref><ref></ref> In July 2014, a federal judge in Mississippi dismissed Green Tech's case. Green Tech's appeal is pending before a federal appeals court.<ref>{{cite news\|last1=Gerstein\|first1=Josh\|last2=Parti\|first2=Tarini\|title=Hillary's brother raised Chinese money for McAuliffe's green car venture\|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2015/03/hillary-clinton-brother-tony-rodham-terry-mcauliffe-116447.html\|accessdate=29 April 2015\|publisher=Politico\|date=March 27, 2015}}</ref>

		⚫	The Franklin Center's Maryland affiliate, ''Maryland Reporter'', has won awards from the Washington chapter of the ] and from CapitolBeat, the national Association of Capitol Reporters and Editors. In 2012, ''Maryland Reporter'' was named Maryland's best political website by '']''. ''Maryland Reporter'' was also named one of the best state-based political blogs in the nation by the '']''.<ref>{{cite news \|date=2012-07-25 \|title=Baltimore magazine names MarylandReporter.com best political website \|publisher=Baltimore Post-Examiner \|url=http://baltimorepostexaminer.com/baltimore-magazine-names-marylandreporter-com-best-political-website/2012/07/25 \|access-date=12 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news \|last1=Cassie \|first1=Ron \|title=2013 Best of Baltimore: News \|publisher=Baltimore Magazine \|url=http://www.baltimoremagazine.net/2013/8/2013-best-of-baltimore-news \|access-date=12 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news \|last1=Cillizza \|first1=Chris \|date=March 12, 2013 \|title=The Fix's best state based political blogs — extended edition! \|newspaper=Washington Post \|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2013/03/12/the-fixs-best-state-based-political-blogs-extended-edition/ \|access-date=12 August 2014}}</ref>
⚫	==Funding==

⚫	~~Much~~ of the funding for the Franklin Center is from ] and ], two affiliated ]s.<ref name=governing201411/> In 2011, the two funds granted the Franklin Center {{usd}}6.3 million.<ref name=Guardian021513>{{cite news\|title=Media campaign against windfarms funded by anonymous conservatives\|url=~~http~~://www.~~guardian~~.~~co.uk~~/environment/2013/feb/15/media-campaign-windfarms-conservatives\|~~accessdate~~=February 16, 2013 \|newspaper=] \|date=February 15, 2013 \|authorlink=Suzanne Goldenberg \|first=Suzanne \|last=Goldenberg \|quote=Conservatives used a pair of secretive trusts to fund a media campaign against windfarms and solar projects, and to block state agencies from planning for future sea-level rise}}</ref> The ~~amount~~ ~~was~~ 95% of the Franklin Center’s revenue that year and was the second-largest grant made by Donors Trust that year.<ref name=nbc>{{cite news \|last1=Abowd \|first1=Paul \|title=Koch-funded charity passes money to free-market think tanks in states\|url=~~http~~://~~investigations~~.nbcnews.com/~~_news~~/~~2013~~/~~02/14/16939114-~~koch-funded-charity-passes-money~~-to~~-free-market-think-tanks-in-~~states~~ \|~~work=] \|agency=] \|accessdate~~=March 11, 2015}}</ref> In 2012, the two funds granted the Franklin Center nearly {{usd}}9.5 million, more than 80% of the Franklin Center’s revenue that year.<ref name=governing201411>{{cite news \|title=How Political Donors Are Changing Statehouse News Reporting \|first=Daniel C. \|last=Vock \|date=November 2014 \|magazine=] \|~~accessdate~~=October 28, 2015 \|url=http://www.governing.com/topics/politics/gov-political-donors-statehouse-news.html}}</ref> For tax years 2011 through 2013, the Franklin Center received {{usd}}22 million from the two funds~~, which do not disclose the original donors~~.<ref>{{Cite web\|~~title~~ = Secretive donors gave US climate denial groups $125m over three years\|url = ~~http~~://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jun/09/secretive-donors-gave-us-climate-denial-groups-125m-over-three-years~~\|website~~ = The Guardian\|~~accessdate~~ = ~~2015-06~~-11\|~~first~~ = ~~Suzanne~~\|~~last~~ = ~~Goldenberg~~\|~~first2~~ = ~~Helena~~\|~~last2~~ = ~~Bengtsson~~\|date = ~~June~~ 9, ~~2015~~}}</ref>
		⚫	In August 2011, ''Maryland Reporter'' was awarded a $50,000 grant by the ] to provide "in-depth coverage of Maryland state government and politics and to expand capacity by giving those who plan on entering journalism as a career real-world experience in investigative reporting supervised by veteran journalists."<ref>{{cite news \|title=Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation announces $1.6 million in awards \|publisher=Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation \|url=http://www.journalismfoundation.org/news49.html \|access-date=11 August 2014}}</ref>{{Third-party inline\|date=August 2023}}

		⚫	Franklin affiliates ''CapitolBeatOK'' in Oklahoma, ''Hawaii Reporter'', and the ''New Jersey Watchdog'' blog have won awards by from respective state chapters of the ].<ref>{{cite news \|date=May 1, 2011 \|title=The City Sentinel wins honors from Society of Professional Journalists; Community publication wins second in Best Newspaper category \|publisher=City Sentinel \|url=http://city-sentinel.com/2011/05/the-city-sentinel-wins-honors-from-society-of-professional-journalists-community-publication-wins-second-in-best-newspaper-category/ \|access-date=12 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news \|title=Star-Bulletin staff earns 30 SPJ journalism awards \|newspaper=Honolulu Star-Bulletin \|url=http://archives.starbulletin.com/2006/06/12/news/story07.html \|access-date=12 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news \|title=Winner, 2013 NJSPJ Excellence in Journalism \|agency=NJSPJ \|url=http://www.njspj.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ourwinners.combined.updated_with_special_awards.2013.pdf \|access-date=12 August 2014}}</ref> ''New Jersey Watchdog'' has also won two ] awards.<ref>{{cite news \|last1=Caruso \|first1=Debra \|date=2014-05-13 \|title=Winners Announced in 2014 New York Press Club Awards for Journalism \|publisher=New York Press Club \|url=https://www.nypressclub.org/docs/j-awards/2014-jawards-winners-news-release.pdf \|access-date=12 August 2014 \|archive-date=March 4, 2016 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054105/https://www.nypressclub.org/docs/j-awards/2014-jawards-winners-news-release.pdf \|url-status=dead }}</ref>

	==References==		==References==
	{{reflist\|2}}		{{reflist\|30em}}

	==External links==		==External links==
			* {{Official website}}
	*
	*
	* – ] (])
	* {{ProPublicaNonprofitExplorer\|264066298}}		* {{ProPublicaNonprofitExplorer\|264066298}}

	{{DEFAULTSORT:Franklin Center For Government And Public Integrity}}		{{DEFAULTSORT:Franklin Center For Government And Public Integrity}}
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Latest revision as of 03:09, 26 December 2024

American nonprofit conservative news organization

Franklin News Foundation

Formation	2009
Type	501(c)3 organization
Tax ID no.	26-4066298
Purpose	Statehouse journalism
Location	200 West Madison Street, Ste. 2100 Chicago, Illinois, 60606
Key people	Christopher Krug, President
Website	www.franklinnews.org

The Franklin News Foundation, previously the Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity, is an American online nonprofit news organization that publishes news and commentary from a conservative and free market, limited government perspective on state and local politics. Its journalism platform is called The Center Square, rebranded from Watchdog.org. Founded in 2009 in North Dakota, the organization moved to Virginia and is now based in Chicago.

It was associated with reporting in 41 states as of its second year, but it scaled back later in the 2010s. Its stated mission is "to hold government accountable through objective, balanced, citizen-focused public journalism with a taxpayer sensibility." Much of its funding has come from conservative and Republican-connected large donors, especially via Donors Trust. Chris Krug is the foundation's president.

History

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2009 founding

The Franklin Center was founded in January 2009 with an initial sponsorship grant from the Sam Adams Alliance, a conservative think tank. It was described that year by the Associated Press as "a government watchdog group led by former Republican staffers". One of its founders was Jason Stverak, a prior executive director of the North Dakota Republican Party. The organization was originally based in Bismarck, North Dakota, before moving to Alexandria, Virginia.

In September 2009, the Franklin Center launched Watchdog.org, a network of state-based journalists who investigate and report on state and local government. Stories from the state news bureaus were linked on Watchdog.org and syndicated for newspapers.

The Franklin Center is an associate member of the State Policy Network, a consortium of conservative and libertarian think tanks which focus on state-level policy. The Franklin Center partnered with the State Policy Network to help establish news websites and hire reporters in each of the State Policy Network think tanks. Thirty news bureaus were established in the first year and 41 as of the second year, almost all in State Policy Network think tanks.

2010s

In early 2012, the Franklin Center created a platform for citizen journalism under a banner called Watchdog Wire. As of 2013, many officials of Americans for Prosperity, a Koch-affiliated group known for its Tea Party rallies, were leading the Franklin Center, according to The Nation.

As of 2014, the Franklin Center owned 14 of the 33 ideological press outlets (as identified by a Pew Research Center study) that assigned reporters to state governments. Such ideological outlets were described as filling a void when financially struggling daily newspapers were cutting their statehouse reporters during and after the Great Recession. Governing described the Franklin Center outlets in 2014: "Some covered events in a relatively straightforward fashion; others made little effort to conceal their ideological bent. After some shake-ups and streamlining, most of the sites that didn’t become financially self-sufficient now appear under the Watchdog banner." Governing noted that the Franklin Center had been one of the largest recipients of money from groups connected to the billionaire Koch brothers.

Nicole Neily was appointed the Franklin Center’s president in March 2016. In April 2017, the Franklin Center acquired the non-profit Illinois News Network and its associated assets from the Illinois Policy Institute, a conservative think tank led by John Tillman. INN publisher Chris Krug was named President of the Franklin Center and the headquarters moving to Chicago, Illinois.

By April 2017, the Franklin Center ran just five news bureaus, in Wisconsin, Vermont, Florida, Mississippi and Arizona, at which point it underwent "reorganization". In January 2018, Krug announced that Watchdog.org would be resuming statehouse coverage based upon the Illinois News Network model.

In May 2019, the organization was renamed the Franklin News Foundation, while Watchdog.org and INN's website were replaced with The Center Square. The website's name was chosen to signify a move towards "shorter, more timely and faster-moving content" and away from long-form investigative reporting.

Activities

In the past, the Franklin Center provided training for investigative reporters, state-based news organizations, public-policy institutions, and watchdog groups.

On May 10, 2011, Franklin Center journalist Lynn Campbell of IowaPolitics.com was named moderator for the 2012 Presidential Candidate Series.

In June 2012, the Franklin Center and The Heritage Foundation hosted the first annual Breitbart Awards dinner. The awards honored the life and work of the late Andrew Breitbart. Syndicated columnist and Fox News Channel contributor Michelle Malkin took home the honors in 2013.

At Conservative Political Action Conference 2013, Erik Telford of the Franklin Center served on a panel discussing "Current trends in technology." The Franklin Center ran a promotion with a Ben Franklin mascot handing out free drink tickets in exchange for tweets.

Reports in The Guardian in 2013 and 2015 said the Franklin Center was leading a "campaign against wind and solar power" and that it had not disclosed the sources of its funding.

GreenTech Automotive investigation and libel lawsuit

The Franklin Center published a series of articles that raised questions about GreenTech Automotive, founded by company CEO Charlie Wang, and its presumed chairman, Governor of Virginia Terry McAuliffe. The articles focused in part on the company’s reliance on a controversial fundraising program, EB-5, that had been criticized for its lax oversight and subject to abuse. The investigation also revealed that McAuliffe’s public projections, starting back in 2010, of how many cars would be built and jobs created had not come to fruition. In April 2013, it was revealed that McAuliffe had left the car-maker in December 2012.

GreenTech Automotive filed an $85 million libel lawsuit (noting among other things the website's characterization of GreenTech's company headquarters as "a broom closet") against Franklin Center (and a journalist for the company) in 2013. However, in 2014 a federal judge in Mississippi dismissed GreenTech's lawsuit. Wang then allegedly claimed, falsely, that Watchdog.org had paid $1.2 million in damages.

GreenTech filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2018, stating that articles from Watchdog.org “negatively affected governmental, investor and public perception of GreenTech” and led to investigations by the SEC and the Department of Homeland Security. GreenTech also blamed U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley, who had raised concerns about the company's use of the visa program, among others.

Funding

As of 2012, much of the funding for the Franklin Center came from Donors Trust and Donors Capital Fund, two affiliated donor-advised funds whose funds cannot be traced to individual donors. In 2011, the two funds granted the Franklin Center US$6.3 million. The grants were 95% of the Franklin Center’s revenue that year and was the second-largest grant made by Donors Trust that year. In 2012, the two funds granted the Franklin Center nearly US$9.5 million, more than 80% of the Franklin Center’s revenue that year. For tax years 2011 through 2013, the Franklin Center received US$22 million from the two funds. In 2019, Mlive.com described Franklin as "connected to GOP mega-donors". Around 2021, DonorsTrust announced a $50,000 grant to the Franklin News Foundation to "offer an alternate perspective" on COVID-19 policies.

The Bradley Foundation had contributed nearly $800,000 to the Franklin Center's Wisconsin Watchdog as of 2017.

Awards and recognition

In November 2010, Franklin Center reporters at Maryland Reporter and Illinois Statehouse News were honored by the National Association of Capitol Reporters and Editors.

The Franklin Center's Maryland affiliate, Maryland Reporter, has won awards from the Washington chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists and from CapitolBeat, the national Association of Capitol Reporters and Editors. In 2012, Maryland Reporter was named Maryland's best political website by Baltimore Magazine. Maryland Reporter was also named one of the best state-based political blogs in the nation by the Washington Post.

In August 2011, Maryland Reporter was awarded a $50,000 grant by the Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation to provide "in-depth coverage of Maryland state government and politics and to expand capacity by giving those who plan on entering journalism as a career real-world experience in investigative reporting supervised by veteran journalists."

Franklin affiliates CapitolBeatOK in Oklahoma, Hawaii Reporter, and the New Jersey Watchdog blog have won awards by from respective state chapters of the Society of Professional Journalists. New Jersey Watchdog has also won two New York Press Club awards.

References

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External links

Official website
"Franklin News Foundation Internal Revenue Service filings". ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.

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