OPERATIVES WITH BYLINES: Who’s Paying for Climate Reporting in the Mainstream Media?

Over the years, the lack of trust in journalism led to fewer subscribers, resulting in fewer newspapers and, naturally, fewer outlets subscribing to the Associated Press news service.

To fend off complete obliteration, the AP adopted a model that includes accepting “support” to help fund its reporting. For instance, a recent story on an appeals court ruling against the Trump administration regarding Biden-era clean energy projects included this note: “The Associated Press receives support from the Walton Family Foundation for coverage of water and environmental policy.”

The Walton Family Foundation is an organization devoted, in part, to environmental causes. Its political position is clear – back in 2022, it applauded passage of President Biden’s so-called Inflation Reduction Act, a giveaway of billions to the climate crusade.

“The challenges of climate change have and will continue to impact every aspect of our lives,” the Walton Foundation declared at the time. “Government, business, tribal nations, philanthropy, advocates, and others will all need to build on this historic investment together to continue to build momentum for a more resilient future.”

The AP insists, of course, that it is editorially independent and “solely responsible for all content” of its climate stories. But consider this – the Walton Foundation’s original two-year $785,000 grant in 2021 funded three AP reporters (and, presumably, related expenses), according to the foundation. Just two years later, the grant had grown to a three-year commitment totaling $2.5 million.

From there, things get worse.