I have formed a 501(c)(3) in order to provide what America desperately needs right now: Journalism. Specifically, investigative journalism.
The extent to which there’s public corruption is the extent to which there’s a lack of real journalism. This applies in our cities, counties, states, and of course, at the national level.
Journalism itself has been severely corrupted over the past decade. There are three main reasons why.
First, 90 percent of the media is owned by six corporations, which are acting more like PR firms than anything else. Companies like Disney, Comcast, and AT&T focus on controlling the narrative rather than reporting news or telling the real story.
That’s why a 2022 Gallop Poll shows that only 16 percent of Americans have a “great deal/quite a lot of confidence” in newspapers now. It’s even worse for TV News, which shows 11 percent of Americans having “some degree of confidence.” Only Congress did worse among America’s institutions.
Second, local governments have become public-private partners with news outlets. It’s become commonplace for news outlets to receive revenue from local governments and quasi-government entities. This financial relationship perverts the primary purpose of journalism: To be a watchdog of power.
This dangerous coupling was celebrated in a 2018 Nieman Journalism Lab article titled, “Government Funds Local News – and it’s a Good Thing.”
No it isn’t.
Third, the federal government is funding corporate media outlets. “The Biden Administration made direct payments to nearly all major corporate media outlets to deploy a $1 billion taxpayer-funded outreach campaign designed to push only positive coverage about COVID-19 vaccines and to censor any negative coverage,” according to an article by The Vault Project (March 2022).
The collapse of news reporting combined with growing public apathy has created an urgent need for independent watchdog journalism. That’s where we step in.
The Society for Watchdog Journalism strives to hold government officials accountable through maximum transparency by way of investigative journalism, education, and entertainment.
As I stated earlier, “The extent to which there’s public corruption is the extent to which there’s a lack of real journalism.” We aim to close that gap and force local government to be more accountable.
I’m asking for your help.
Will you please make a generous donation to help launch our watchdog nonprofit right now? We are authorized to raise a maximum of $50,000 per calendar year according to our tax-filing status. Our goal is to raise it as quickly as possible so we can get to work right away.
We plan to focus on two major issues right away.
1. Uncovering the truth about discharging stormwater into the Gulf near the end of the pier in Panama City Beach. The City received a $21 million grant to dig underwater trenches 40-feet deep in order to install a pipe big enough to drive a car through it. The consultants said that during the construction phase, people will see flatbed trucks with rocks the size of Volkswagens. Rainwater would be diverted into the Gulf from wetlands north of Back Beach Road where it normally absorbs into the soil. This will cause environmental havoc to the plant life, wildlife, and natural springs. It will certainly invite dreaded saltwater intrusion underground that will negatively affect people’s well-water. The consultants have called the unprecedented Outfall Project “the Guinea Pig of the Gulf.” This massive project has only been conducted with mixed results in the Atlantic Ocean, which is much deeper and more suited for such an endeavor. Another major concern is the likelihood of a hypoxic zone (“dead zone”) where the contaminated freshwater is introduced into the saltwater. Finally, the consultants said that keeping the pipe in place during a hurricane is a serious challenge. Now the City says they need another $10 million for construction. The City hopes to have permits approved early next year. We will ensure that more citizens know the facts so that their input will be considered in the decision-making process.
2. Producing a feature documentary about the indictment and prosecution of Lynn Haven Mayor Margo Anderson. In the aftermath of Hurricane Michael in 2018, a crackdown of public corruption led to several officials pleading guilty. But Mayor Anderson and her lifelong friend, developer James Finch, maintain their innocence and insist that they were set up by malicious investigators and a sadistic prosecutor. In a rare twist, the federal judge released the secret Grand Jury transcripts and FBI investigation notes to the defendants. The documents revealed shocking misconduct by investigators and prosecutors, who were rebuked by the judge for being “unprofessional, haphazard, and reckless.” The overarching story is much bigger, however. More than 99 percent of defendants facing federal indictments never see the allegations made to the Grand Jury in the first place. The identity of the Grand Jury is confidential, and rightly so. But Grand Jury transcripts should be provided to every defendant in order to mount a strong defense and deter investigators and prosecutors from misleading Grand Juries with impunity from the outset. Our journalism will show the need for that reform. The trial is scheduled for Feb. 27, 2023.
Here’s what I’m asking for
Your tax-deductible anonymous donation will help us pay for the following things: Website (WatchdogSociety.org), public records education, documentary production, miscellaneous video production, email newsletter, scholarship awards, salary, office space, legal services, bookkeeping services, liability insurance, and much more.
We plan to expand into communities outside of the Florida Panhandle and create a model for others to follow. Our vision is far reaching, and our initial steps begin a noble journey to inform citizens at a local level first.
I’m proud to have volunteer board members dedicated to our cause: Mike Hill (former Florida state representative), Arlan Daniels (digital research examiner), Bill Davenport (retired Navy Chief), and Michele Negri (Radio and TV producer).
I’ve attached our legal documents for your review. We registered the nonprofit in Nevada in order to provide for anonymous donations, and we are authorized to do business in Florida. It is our policy to keep all donations anonymous unless otherwise requested by the donor. You’ll see that our 501(c)(3) is currently listed on sunbiz.org, the official website of Florida’s Division of Corporations.
Remember this: When news outlets no longer try to scoop each other, it’s not news. It’s coordinated PR. Let’s scoop the corporate media and make a difference together!
Sincerely,
Burnie Thompson
President and Founder
The Society for Watchdog Journalism
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