{"id":1303709,"date":"2022-02-16T16:37:43","date_gmt":"2022-02-16T21:37:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1303709"},"modified":"2022-02-16T16:37:59","modified_gmt":"2022-02-16T21:37:59","slug":"mutually-beneficial-major-news-outlet-expands-climate-change-reporting-funded-by-left-wing-activist-groups","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mutually-beneficial-major-news-outlet-expands-climate-change-reporting-funded-by-left-wing-activist-groups\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Mutually Beneficial\u2019: Major News Outlet Expands Climate Change Reporting Funded By Left-Wing Activist Groups"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fmutually-beneficial-major-news-outlet-expands-climate-change-reporting-funded-by-left-wing-activist-groups%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1303709&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><ul>\n<li><strong>The Associated Press announced Tuesday that it had secured funding from several progressive interest groups to hire two dozen climate change reporters.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>\u201cThis far-reaching initiative will transform how we cover the climate story,\u201d AP executive editor Julie Pace said.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>The five organizations \u2014 the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Rockefeller Foundation, Quadrivium and the Walton Family Foundation \u2014 are well known for pushing a variety of left-wing causes and funding Democratic political campaigns.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The Associated Press announced Tuesday that it had secured funding from several progressive interest groups to hire two dozen climate change reporters.<\/p>\n<p>The outlet referred to the groups\u2019 funding as \u201cphilanthropic grants\u201d and promised that the groups wouldn\u2019t have any editorial control over the climate change content published, <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/science-business-arts-and-entertainment-journalism-united-states-087d1d5dd7189c529fe5d7a21a1ffb5f\">according<\/a> to an announcement. But the five organizations \u2014 the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Rockefeller Foundation, Quadrivium and the Walton Family Foundation \u2014 are well known for pushing a variety of left-wing causes and funding Democratic political campaigns.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is a mutually beneficial arrangement,\u201d said Brian Carovillano, the vice president of the AP\u2019s news partnerships and grants.<\/p>\n<p>The AP\u2019s expansion of its climate change reporting will lead to about 20 new hires worldwide while other journalists will be reassigned, the outlet said. The reporters will be based in Africa, Brazil, India and the U.S., and they will reportedly write about climate change\u2019s impact on various sectors, including the economy, agriculture and culture.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis far-reaching initiative will transform how we cover the climate story,\u201d AP executive editor Julie Pace said. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2021\/10\/19\/leftist-james-murdoch-climate-change-reporting-associated-press\/\">(RELATED: Leftist Millionaire To Fund Associated Press Climate Change Reporting: REPORT)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The five groups agreed to give the AP an $8 million grant lasting three years.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFunders have no influence over AP\u2019s reporting on this topic or any other,\u201d AP spokesperson Lauren Easton told the Daily Caller News Foundation in a statement. \u201cAP has long provided accurate, factual coverage of climate and the environment. This initiative is an expansion of that fact-based journalism. AP retains all editorial control.\u201d<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_7374574\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\">\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-7374574\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">An entrance to the ExxonMobil headquarters is pictured on Feb. 1 in Houston, Texas. (Brandon Bell\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h3><strong>\u2018Extremely well-funded and includes paid media coverage\u2019<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The Hewlett Foundation has long supported leftist causes, including abortion provider Planned Parenthood and Defending Democracy Together, <a href=\"https:\/\/capitalresearch.org\/article\/the-hewlett-foundation-the-liberal-mega-funder-you-should-watch-out-for\/\">according<\/a> to the Capital Research Center. The organization has also funded several climate groups and causes like the <a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2021\/06\/09\/sierra-club-colorado-western-energy-alliance-golf-outing-protest-plane\/\">Sierra Club<\/a>, Urban Environment Foundation and ClimateWorks Foundation.<\/p>\n<p>Hewlett has also funded the Niskanen Center, which has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.niskanencenter.org\/oil-companies-should-be-held-accountable-for-climate-change\/\">argued<\/a> in favor of punishing oil companies for climate change and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.niskanencenter.org\/niskanen-litigation-holding-power-to-account\/\">provided<\/a> legal support in a Colorado case against ExxonMobil and Suncor Energy seeking environmental damages. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2021\/06\/10\/james-murdoch-news-corporation-rupert-murdoch\/\">(RELATED: James Murdoch Gave $20 Million To Biden, Progressive Groups In 2020: REPORT)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Howard Hughes Medical Institute, meanwhile, gave 98% of its political contributions for federal candidates to Democrats in 2020, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.opensecrets.org\/orgs\/howard-hughes-medical-institute\/recipients?toprecipscycle=2022&amp;id=D000034555&amp;candscycle=2020\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">according<\/a> to OpenSecrets. The group has historically given the vast majority of its political donations to Democrats, including President Joe Biden, OpenSecrets data <a href=\"https:\/\/www.opensecrets.org\/orgs\/howard-hughes-medical-institute\/summary?id=D000034555\">showed<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The third group, the Rockefeller Foundation is a \u201cpillar of the liberal philanthropic establishment,\u201d a report from InfluenceWatch, which tracks non-profit organizations, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.influencewatch.org\/non-profit\/rockefeller-foundation\/\">said<\/a>. The group has funded liberal think tanks, including the Urban Institute, the New America Foundation, PolicyLink and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.<\/p>\n<p>The foundation has also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nybooks.com\/articles\/2016\/12\/08\/the-rockefeller-family-fund-vs-exxon\/\">promoted<\/a> anti-fossil fuel activism such as the <a href=\"https:\/\/exxonknew.org\/\">\u201cExxonKnew\u201d campaign<\/a>, which alleges that ExxonMobil has hidden data about climate change for half a century. In 2016, the Rockefeller Family Fund <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rffund.org\/divestment\">announced<\/a> it would divest from fossil fuel companies and accused Exxon of \u201cmorally reprehensible conduct.\u201d<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_7374577\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7374577\" class=\"size-full wp-image-7374577\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/GettyImages-1182951948-scaled-1.jpg\" alt=\"James Murdoch speaks during Vanity Fair&#039;s 6th Annual New Establishment Summit on Oct. 23, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. (Matt Winkelmeyer\/Getty Images for Vanity Fair)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/GettyImages-1182951948-scaled-1.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/cdn01.dailycaller.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/GettyImages-1182951948-180x120.jpg 180w, https:\/\/cdn01.dailycaller.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/GettyImages-1182951948-620x413.jpg 620w, https:\/\/cdn01.dailycaller.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/GettyImages-1182951948-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn01.dailycaller.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/GettyImages-1182951948-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn01.dailycaller.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/GettyImages-1182951948-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-7374577\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">James Murdoch speaks during Vanity Fair\u2019s 6th Annual New Establishment Summit on Oct. 23, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. (Matt Winkelmeyer\/Getty Images for Vanity Fair)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cExxonKnew is a coordinated campaign perpetuated by activist groups with the aim of stigmatizing ExxonMobil,\u201d the fossil fuel company said in a February 2021 <a href=\"https:\/\/corporate.exxonmobil.com\/Sustainability\/Environmental-protection\/Climate-change\/Understanding-the-ExxonKnew-controversy#WhatisExxonKnew\">statement<\/a>. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2020\/07\/31\/james-murdoch-resigns-news-corp-disagreements-editorial-content\/\">(RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: Top Conservative Group Slams Aspen Institute\u2019s Disinformation \u2018Hypocrisy\u2019 In Letter)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cFunders of the \u2018#ExxonKnew\u2019 campaign have placed \u2018pay to play\u2019 news stories, released flawed academic reports and coordinated with public officials to launch investigations and litigation, creating the false appearance that ExxonMobil has misrepresented its company research and investor disclosures on climate change to the public,\u201d the company statement said.<\/p>\n<p>The company specifically noted that Rockefeller funds were involved in promoting the campaign, which the statement said was \u201cextremely well-funded and includes paid media coverage.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Quadrivium was founded by James Murdoch, the son of billionaire media mogul Rupert Murdoch, and his wife Kathryn. The couple&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2021\/06\/10\/james-murdoch-news-corporation-rupert-murdoch\/\">donated<\/a> $20 million to Biden\u2019s election campaign and other progressive political groups in 2020.<\/p>\n<p>The foundation, which <a href=\"http:\/\/www.qdvm.org\/#quadrivium\">lists<\/a> climate change as among its priorities, has been active during recent federal elections, often giving millions of dollars to progressive groups and candidates, OpenSecrets data <a href=\"https:\/\/www.opensecrets.org\/industries\/contrib.php?ind=W02&amp;Bkdn=Source&amp;cycle=2020\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">showed<\/a>. The Murdochs funneled $100 million into the organization in 2019, but it\u2019s unclear how much was doled out during the 2020 election, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2021\/06\/08\/james-murdoch-spent-100-million-to-fund-political-causes-during-2020-election.html\">according<\/a> to tax documents obtained by CNBC.<\/p>\n<p>James Murdoch previously <a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2020\/07\/31\/james-murdoch-resigns-news-corp-disagreements-editorial-content\/\">resigned<\/a> from the board of Fox News parent company News Corp in 2020, citing \u201cdisagreements over certain editorial content published\u201d as the reason for his departure.<\/p>\n<p>Finally, the Walton Family Foundation is an active donor to multiple environmental groups, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.waltonfamilyfoundation.org\/grants-database?f0=00000169-91e5-d2a9-a7eb-bffd48390000&amp;p=3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">including<\/a> the Environmental Defense Fund, World Wildlife Fund, Natural Resources Defense Council and the Meridian Institute. The foundation also funded the <a href=\"https:\/\/newventurefund.org\/who-we-are\/mission-and-values\/\">New Venture Fund<\/a>, which helps grow left-wing advocacy groups, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.influencewatch.org\/non-profit\/walton-family-foundation-inc-walmart\/\">according<\/a> to InfluenceWatch.<\/p>\n<p>Lukas Walton, who chairs the foundation\u2019s environment program committee, has a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fec.gov\/data\/receipts\/individual-contributions\/?contributor_name=lukas+walton&amp;two_year_transaction_period=2022&amp;max_date=12%2F31%2F2022\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">history<\/a> of donating to Democrats, and he owns a major stake in <a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2022\/01\/19\/oversight-republicans-solar-farm-probe-joe-biden-donor\/\">First Solar<\/a>, a large solar panel manufacturer.<\/p>\n<p>Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact <a href=\"mailto:licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org\">licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Associated Press announced Tuesday that it had secured funding from several progressive interest groups to hire two dozen climate change reporters. \u201cThis far-reaching initiative will transform how we cover &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2315279,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1303709","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1303709","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1303709"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1303709\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2315279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1303709"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1303709"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1303709"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}