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44-444: Defunct Newspapers Journals TV channels Websites Other Economics Gun rights Identity politics Nativist Religion Watchdog groups Youth/student groups Miscellaneous Other The Washington Free Beacon is an American political journalism website launched in 2012. While the website is explicitly conservative and dedicated to "combat journalism"; Politico Magazine reported that it

88-561: A conspiracy theorist, without disclosure, wrote stories citing him and introduced him to Steve Bannon . Gertz was subsequently fired, with a disclaimer appended to his affected stories. In 2023 and 2024, The New York Times credited the Free Beacon with breaking, together with Chris Rufo , and subsequently expanding, reportage on the plagiarism accusations against Harvard President Claudine Gay , who resigned shortly thereafter. The Washington Post called Gay's resignation "a major win" for

132-424: A long hard look at the currently political climate, and how exactly the media can play a positive role in that climate. Rhetoric in political journalism has been gaining popularity since the 60s, and has become more of an artform than anything since then. Many titans have leapt across the industry in various forms, whether it be Hunter S. Thompson 's " Gonzo journalism " style of following the political campaigns on

176-435: A lot of heat for certain stories or narratives they push which are built upon fallacies. People argue for participatory democracy, but politics now is largely considered a popularity contest and consists of politicians making decisions to ensure their reelection. Proponents of civic journalism believe that this philosophy will allow individuals to have a greater say in decision-making and in the broader political sphere. Given

220-456: A scapegoat for the issues with democracy. Including this, there are four key concepts that political journalism can be boiled down to. These concepts are the framing of politics as a strategic game, interpretive versus straight news, conflict framing and media negativity, and finally, political or partisan bias. In essence, these can be viewed as the four quintessential pillars of civic journalism. The goal of civic journalism, or public journalism,

264-417: A variety of reasons. Overall, democracy is beginning to fail as there is a lack of civic engagement and even interference with democratic processes, such as Russia's involvement with the 2016 United States election, and even electronic voting (e-voting) machines that are being hacked and altering results. All in all, proponents of civic journalism believe that for democracy to regain its traction and glory in

308-402: Is "somewhat grudgingly respected in liberal circles." Eliana Johnson is the website's editor-in-chief. The Free Beacon has broken stories about states using racial preferences in rationing Covid-19 drugs, exposed Columbia Law School 's plans to evade the banning of consideration of race in admissions, and uncovered Yale administrators' bullying of a student, which led to personnel changes at

352-639: Is a broad branch of journalism that includes coverage of all aspects of politics and political science , although the term usually refers specifically to coverage of civil governments and political power . Political journalism aims to provide voters with the information to formulate their own opinion and participate in community, local or national matters that will affect them. According to Ed Morrissey in an opinion article from theweek.com, political journalism frequently includes opinion journalism, as current political events can be biased in their reporting. The information provided includes facts, its perspective

396-443: Is ensuring that the information received by the public is all accurate and fact-checked. That is an important aspect that sometimes gives journalism, and certain news sources, a bad reputation, as previously mentioned. Accuracy in political news and journalism can enable voters to be more involved in the democratic process. Civic journalism itself is the process of integrating journalism into the democratic process and allowing voters and

440-499: Is known for its conservative reporting, with the intention of publicizing stories and influencing the coverage of the mainstream media , and modeled after liberal counterparts in the media such as Think Progress and Talking Points Memo . The site has roots in the neoconservative wing of the Republican Party. In 2019, Politico journalist Eliana Johnson , described by Ben Smith as "a leading political reporter" assumed

484-469: Is not hard to see how far we have come as political journalists from the early works of Thompson and Walters. Proponents of civic journalism are steadfast on certain issues. They believe that integrating journalism into the democratic process helps to inform voters and makes them more aware of what is occurring in the political sphere. Including this, it could make a difference in the democratic process if all voters were equally informed. An important aspect

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528-656: Is provided through different mediums, in print, broadcast, or online reporting. Digital media use has increased and it provides instant coverage of campaigns, politics, event news, and an accessible platform for the candidate. Media outlets known for their political journalism like The New York Times and the Washington Post , have increased their use of this medium as well. Printed, online, and broadcast political humor presented as entertainment has been used to provide updates on aspects of government status, political news, campaign, and election updates. According to Geoffrey Baym,

572-439: Is subjective and leans towards one viewpoint. Brendan Nyhan and John M. Sides argue that "Journalists who report on politics are frequently unfamiliar with political science research or question its relevance to their work". Journalists covering politics who are unfamiliar with information that would provide context to their stories can enable the story to take a different spin on what is being reported. Political journalism

616-495: Is the future, we could do worse than the Free Beacon ". Jeet Heer wrote in The New Republic : "Much of the conservative press is terrible but the Free Beacon is far superior to propagandist fare like The Daily Caller . Unlike other comparable conservative websites, the Free Beacon makes an effort to do original reporting. Its commitment to journalism should be welcomed by liberals". In 2015, Mother Jones wrote that

660-491: Is to allow the community to remain engaged with journalists and news outlets, restore democratic values, and rebuild the public's trust in journalists. The concept of fake news arose due to the fact that it is so easy to manipulate or twist information these days and create a certain narrative that might be entirely incorrect. This has led to an overall decrease in the credibility that people have for journalists and media sources. Certain media sources or news outlets often come under

704-454: The Free Beacon was "[a]lternately parodic and wire-service serious", and had "broken major political news, mostly negative" (although its focus was mainly directed against Democrats). Smith continued that the Free Beacon ' s hard news reporting differentiated it from other conservative outlets which were either opinion focused or did not produce journalism which met mainstream standards. Political journalism Political journalism

748-638: The Free Beacon was far better than contemporary conservative outlets such as The Daily Caller but that "the Beacon hasn't always steered clear of stories that please the base but don't really stand up", and that it tends towards inflammatory pieces that "push conservatives' buttons". That same year, the Washingtonian wrote that " The Beacon ' s emphasis on newsgathering sets it apart among right-facing publications". Ben Smith wrote in BuzzFeed News that

792-515: The Free Beacon , which it described as "the rare conservative media outlet that does significant reporting of its own." In May 2024, the Free Beacon reported that the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA has continued to evaluate applicants based on race rather than qualifications despite the practice of race-based affirmative action being illegal in California since 1996 . According to

836-584: The Washington Free Beacon hired Fusion GPS to conduct opposition research on "multiple candidates" during the 2016 presidential election , including Donald Trump. The Free Beacon stopped funding this research when Donald Trump had clinched the Republican nomination. Fusion GPS would later hire former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele and produce the Steele dossier that alleged links between

880-606: The Trump campaign and the Kremlin. Paul Singer , a billionaire and hedge fund manager, who is a major donor to the Free Beacon , said he was unaware of this dossier until it was published by BuzzFeed News in January 2017. On October 27, 2017, the Free Beacon publicly disclosed that it had hired Fusion GPS, and stated that it "had no knowledge of or connection to the Steele dossier, did not pay for

924-499: The University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Journalism and Mass Communications, civic journalism is a polarizing philosophy and has a collection of opponents as well. Such opponents of civic journalism find it to be risky and ineffective. They also find the practice to bring about conflicts of interest and believe that it necessitates involvement in public affairs deemed to be unethical. John Bender, assistant professor of new editorial at

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968-439: The University of Nebraska-Lincoln, claimed that journalists who are the most esteemed and high regarded play active roles in helping their community thrive. That practice would be an example of how civic journalism is indeed beneficial for the future of democracy as proponents believe. The University of Washington also delves into the world of political journalism with the article entitled "Where Media and Politics Meet". This takes

1012-412: The audience's ability to form their own opinion or beliefs of what has been reported. This type of reporting is subjective with a possible social or political purpose. Civic journalism has begun to develop a strong following again after first emerging as a philosophy in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Those who find civic journalism to be a new, progressive, and profound method for the media to engage with

1056-409: The dossier, and never had contact with, knowledge of, or provided payment for any work performed by Christopher Steele." The Free Beacon came under criticism for its reporting on Fusion GPS. Three days before it was revealed that it was the Free Beacon that had funded the work by Fusion GPS, the Free Beacon wrote that the firm's work "was funded by an unknown GOP client while the primary

1100-574: The editor-in-chief position from the WFB's founding editor Matthew Continetti. At the time, the outlet had a staff of 24. Jack Hunter , a staff member of Senator Rand Paul 's office, resigned in 2013 after a Free Beacon report detailing his past as a pro-secessionist radio shock jock known as the "Southern Avenger". The publication also broke several stories about Hillary Clinton 's successful 1975 legal defense of an accused child rapist that attracted national media attention. From October 2015 to May 2016,

1144-948: The exterior of the bulb and white or gray crystal residues on the inner surface. Alternate names include pizzo , tooter pilo , oil burner , bubble , tweak pipe , meth pipe , gack pipe , crank pipe , crack pipe , pookie pipe , chicken bone , or ice pipe – AKA “Billy” There are some legitimate uses for these pipes including applying the hole "on the top of an eucalyptus bottle" for inhaling aromas or moisture. These pipes are often sold at head shops and convenience stores , though local and national restrictions often apply and sellers may be subject to fines and/or jail time. In Modesto, California , local investigators seized thousands of oil burners from head shops. Eight people were subjected to citations which could bring up to $ 1,000 in fines and possibly six months of jail time. Pizzos are often advertised as "oil burners" or "mystic vases" designed for burning incense oils. Wish.com has listed

1188-412: The federal government from funding drug paraphernalia. The Washington Post later reported that, according to a United States Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson, "Hauf jumped to a conclusion that was not warranted" because, while the safe smoking kits were meant to reduce risk in smoking "any illicit substance", the agency funding the program "d[id] not specify the kits' elements, only

1232-523: The glass item as a "Colored Glass Oil Burner Pipe" and received criticism from the Queensland government as the region struggled to battle the rising use of methamphetamine. A fentanyl pipe is a hammer shaped pipe used to smoke fentanyl pills. A love rose is a glass tube with a paper or plastic rose inside of it, and a bit of cork or foil on the ends to keep the rose from falling out. While ostensibly intended as romantic gifts, their primary known use

1276-433: The information provided may not be considered " fake news " but the lines between entertainment and factual news may seem blurred or biased while providing political updates. This type of journalism is analyzed, interpreted, and discussed by news media pundits and editorialists. It can lack objectivity which can prevent the accuracy of the presented information. The reporting of news with a bias viewpoint can also take away

1320-415: The main distributors of information, civic journalism pivots the role of publishers from distributing information to curating information. Given one of civic journalism's central tenets - making the press a forum for discussion of community issues - a publisher is able to seek out a niche in bolstering local engagement over spreading knowledge of worldly issues readily available via a web search. According to

1364-457: The media to play a more active role rather than being witnesses and bystanders in what happens in the political sphere. Moreover, technology also plays an active role in educating voters and determining viewpoints. Crack pipe A methamphetamine pipe is a glass pipe which consists of a tube connected to a spherical bulb with a small opening on top designed for smoking methamphetamine . A pipe that has been used will have carbon deposit on

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1408-427: The modern world, the media must be more receptive to feedback from the public and take initiative to engage the public as well. According to Oxford Research Encyclopedias, the popularity of political journalism is rising, and the area is becoming one of the more dominant domains of journalism. Political journalism is meant to be more of an overseer of the democratic process as they relate to civic engagement rather than

1452-488: The once dying art to flourish again. In fact, the impact of political journalism can soon go beyond politics, as the need for political rhetoric in society has boomed the tech industry and created further opportunities in the sectors around that as well. Political journalism effects opportunities in the tech industry in different ways. For example, political journalism often reports on government initiatives pertaining to different incentives, laws, taxes, and data privacy rules. It

1496-458: The outlet was reviewing its editorial process to avoid similar issues in the future. In 2022, a Free Beacon article by Patrick Hauf accused the administration of President Joe Biden of planning to use federal dollars to fund safe smoking kits that included crack pipes , as part of a harm reduction initiative; this prompted outrage among Republicans in Congress, some of whom proposed a bill to ban

1540-477: The outlet's reporting, 50% of UCLA medical students now fail basic tests of medical competence. A former admissions staff member called UCLA a "failed medical school." On July 3, 2024, the Free Beacon reported that a number of senior administrators at Columbia University had exchanged text messages demeaning members of a panel on Jewish life on campus after the 2024 Columbia University pro-Palestinian campus occupations . In mid-August 2024, three deans resigned in

1584-494: The parameters"; thus, although such smoking kits often include crack pipes and (according to a Drug Policy Alliance spokesman interviewed for the Washington Post article) some of the groups planning to apply for the funding had assumed that its kits would also include them, it was not clear that the agency had intended to include them. Bill Gertz , a senior editor until October 2019, took 100,000 US dollars from Guo Wengui ,

1628-402: The public see it as an opportunity to revitalize democracy as we know it. As technological advances overtake the modern world, it is becoming less common for the general public to buy newspapers or watch TV news to inform themselves on the events in the political sphere. Including this, younger generations, such as, Generation Y (Millennials) and Generation Z, are not coming out to the polls due to

1672-472: The resignation of three deans. The Free Beacon was founded by Michael Goldfarb , Aaron Harrison, and Matthew Continetti . It launched on February 7, 2012, as a project of the Center for American Freedom, a conservative advocacy group modeled on the liberal Center for American Progress . The website is financially backed by Paul Singer , an American billionaire hedge fund manager and Republican donor. The site

1716-475: The rise in yellow journalism and search optimization algorithms that create an echo chamber among mass media, civic journalism is entering a niche role where it can shift the position of news within public reception. As of recent, most news publishers undergo more and more observation as their ethics and content come under extensive scrutiny for political biases . In a time where traditional news outlets concern themselves with how to effectively monetize and are not

1760-434: The road, or Barbra Walters hard hitting interviews. Today, with the introduction of social media the news-cycle has become a cycle of attention grabbing pieces that run for no longer than 24-hours. However, political journalism is an absolutely vital part of the society we know and love, and although there has been a small downtick in the acknowledgement of it, people devoting their time and care to politics will surely allow for

1804-463: The school. The Free Beacon also reported on plagiarism accusations against Harvard President Claudine Gay , who resigned shortly thereafter. The Washington Post called Gay's resignation "a major win" for the Free Beacon , which it described as "the rare conservative media outlet that does significant reporting of its own." The website's reporting on a number of senior administrators at Columbia University exchanging antisemitic text messages led to

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1848-557: The wake of that reporting. Jim Rutenberg of The New York Times described the reporting style of the Free Beacon as "gleeful evisceration". The Atlantic ' s Conor Friedersdorf called the Free Beacon ' s mission "decadent and unethical". Ben Howe wrote in The Daily Beast that The Washington Free Beacon established "itself as a credible source of conservative journalism with deep investigative dives and exposes on money in politics", but after Trump 's election it

1892-535: Was "producing less actual reporting" and moved "more towards the path of least resistance: spending their time criticizing the left and the media, along with healthy doses of opinion writing". McKay Coppins in the Columbia Journalism Review wrote in September 2018 that while the website contains "a fair amount of trolling… it has also earned a reputation for real-deal journalism… If a partisan press really

1936-409: Was still going on." The Free Beacon has published pieces that have sought to portray the work by Fusion GPS as unreliable "without noting that it considered Fusion GPS reliable enough to pay for its services." In an editor's note, Continetti said "the reason for this omission is that the authors of these articles, and the particular editors who reviewed them, were unaware of this relationship," and that

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