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AP expanding 'checkbook journalism'

AP expanding 'checkbook journalism'


AP expanding 'checkbook journalism'

As more will be said in the coming months about man-made climate change, a skeptic says not everyone will believe what they see and hear.

The Associated Press is reportedly assigning more than two dozen journalists across the world to cover what AP calls climate issues. It is the news organization's largest single expansion paid for through philanthropic grants.

Climate Depot's Marc Morano calls it "a new form of checkbook journalism."

Morano, Marc (Climate Depot) Morano

"The old form of checkbook journalism is where you paid people for information and interviews, like a celebrity interview or some exclusive, and that was frowned upon for journalistic ethics," Morano explains. "Now, this new form is where essentially you do the bidding of billionaires or billionaire foundations or climate activist foundations, and they give you money. You hire the largest expansion in AP's climate history, set up a whole new desk, and you write stories that make your donors happy."

American Family News sought comment from AP and did not receive a response.

"Fake news is what's going to be passed as Associated Press climate news reports," adds Morano.