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MORE LINKSAmerican Street Jeff Gannon, Talon News and the Leadership InstituteJeff Gannon is a graduate of the Leadership Institute Broadcast School of Journalism Also see:UPDATE from Americablog Feb 9: GOP pseudo-journalist quits! What are the chances that a media whore like Gannon would turn out to be an actual whore?
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RECIPIENT PROFILELeadership InstituteSpringfield, VA 22151 The Leadership Institute's purpose is to foster conservatism on college campuses across the nation and to train young conservative journalists for future journalistic professions. A June 11, 2001 story in the New York Times led with the fact that "The art of selling conservatism as compassion is taught here...at boot camp for young conservatives who aspire to power." The New York Times reporter described a class at the Institute as "seven eager Republicans in their 20s." Yet, on its website, the Insitute informs visitors that it is indeed an IRS 501(c)(3) organization - a tax-exempt educational non-partisan (emphasis added) foundation. As if that weren't bad enough, the New York Times report says that the teacher was emphasising form over substance, encouraging the young Republicans to "appear" genuine: "The words you say are important," he said, "but they are much less important than the visuals and vocals," and that your audience will know that you are genuine because you "appear" genuine. The Times also reported that the Institute is financed by "about $8 million a year in contributions from wealthy conservatives, most of whom are Republicans. Major donors include Joseph Coors, the beer magnate." Republicans involved also include the Black Republican Congressman from Oklahoma, J.C. Watts Jr., whose name was beneath a fundraising letter sent out by the Institute which assailed the "liberal news media," accusing it of hatred of "traditional American ideals." One influential graduate of the school in the mainstream media is Patrick B. McGuigan, editorial page editor of The Daily Oklahoman, and a regular on the NewsHour on PBS. Perhaps the most indicting statement in the New York Times story comes when the president of the Institute, Morton C. Blackwell (who by the way makes his living as president of a company that manages Republican campaigns), informs the reporter that he teaches "political technology." Given that his students are all Republicans, why is that not illegal for a 501(c)(3)? Is he not teaching Republicans how to win elections? Finally, the Times reports that the Institute completes its purpose as a Republican training ground by operating a job bank that Republicans in Congress, including Watts and Dick Armey of Texas (the Republican whip) tap when looking for staffers. [From People for the American Way] House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-TX) recently (Nov 12 1999) lent his name and official letterhead to a mailing from the Leadership Institute. The Leadership Institute's purpose is to foster conservatism on college campuses across the nation and to train young conservative journalists for future journalistic professions. In the letter, the Majority Leader casts the employees of colleges and universities as left-wing radicals seeking to subvert America's children into supporting a leftist agenda. An excerpt: "The liberals who control our colleges and universities don't hesitate to silence students they spot as conservative... liberals enjoy a near stranglehold on American college campuses. They often overwhelm students with a flood of leftist propaganda. Liberals usually control the textbooks, the course selection, the 'official' student newspaper, the student government and, of course, what's taught in the classes. They aggressively promote their failed socialist economic policies, work to undermine traditional moral values and mask their 'blame America first' agenda with 'politically-correct' multi-culturalism. Liberals want impressionable young people to believe their radical viewpoint is the new, true 'intellectual' viewpoint. Campus leftists know the culture of our nation depends largely on the young people of today. And it seems they'll stop at nothing to end conservative challenges to their control." [Emphasis in original]
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OTHER LINKSMediaMatters.org Jeff Gannon's alma mater: The Leadership InstituteThe only journalism-related credential listed on former Talon News Washington bureau chief and White House correspondent Jeff Gannon's Talon News bio -- which was removed from Talon's website after Media Matters for America drew attention to Gannon and Talon News -- was The Leadership Institute Broadcast School of Journalism. While Talon News appears to be more of a Republican political advocacy group than a media outlet, The Leadership Institute Broadcast School of Journalism appears to be more of a training ground for Republican advocacy in the media than a school of journalism.
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