Fort Collins Now article uncritically quoted Pueblo Chieftain reporter's inaccurate statements about Media Matters

Summary: Reporting on the Colorado legislature's new rules for granting Capitol press credentials, an article published January 16 on the website of Fort Collins Now uncritically allowed Pueblo Chieftain reporter Charles Ashby to claim that "Media Matters" is a "Democratic effort[]." In fact, Colorado Media Matters and its parent organization, Media Matters for America, are independent progressive organizations not funded by or affiliated with any candidate or political party.

An article by Rebecca Boyle published January 16 on the website of Fort Collins Now about the Colorado General Assembly's new rules for issuing Capitol press credentials uncritically quoted Pueblo Chieftain Capitol bureau chief Charles Ashby's claim about "Media Matters" when he stated that the online political daily news site Colorado Confidential "is funded by Democrats. It is our understanding that they are coordinating with Democrats, and other Democratic efforts, like (watchdog group) Media Matters for instance." In fact, Colorado Media Matters and its parent organization, Media Matters for America, are independent progressive organizations and are not funded by or affiliated with any candidate or political party.

Further, Boyle did not contact Colorado Media Matters to verify the accuracy of Ashby's statement, according to Colorado Media Matters editorial director Bill Menezes.

Ashby is a member of the Colorado Capitol Press Association (CCPA), which was created to help govern media access to the state House and Senate floors. As Fort Collins Now reported, "Under the [CCPA] rules, a standing committee of correspondents -- including Ashby, Rocky Mountain News reporter April Washington, Durango Herald reporter Joe Hanel, radio reporter Bente Birkland and 9News reporter Adam Schrager -- reviews applications for credentials and makes a recommendation to [House Speaker Andrew] Romanoff [D-Denver] and Senate President Peter Groff, D-Denver."

Noting that Colorado Confidential "is part of the Center for Independent Media, whose leaders have worked for Democratic candidates and identify themselves as progressives," the article reported on how the new procedure for obtaining press credentials at the state Capitol came about:

Last year, when [Colorado Springs Independent columnist and Colorado Confidential reporter Cara] DeGette came onto the floor with her Independent credentials but was also there representing Colorado Confidential, Republicans balked.

Ashby said Rep. Larry Liston, R-Colorado Springs, complained about DeGette's presence to fellow Springsian Minority Leader Mike May, who took the matter to House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, D-Denver. Romanoff told full-time Capitol reporters to figure out a system to determine who's allowed on the floor, Ashby said. If they didn't, all reporters might be kicked out.

The article later noted Ashby's rationale for denying Colorado Confidential Managing Editor Wendy Norris' application for floor credentials:

Ashby said the choice not to credential Norris was not unanimous, but he declined to say what the vote was or how individuals voted. Ultimately it was a consensus decision, he said.

"There is a line that we tried to draw. But you have to keep in mind that that line is very wide, very blurred and very difficult to draw. It's not a definitive line," he said. "The decision to not recommend Colorado Confidential was not an easy one; it was not even a unanimous one. There was some sentiment of giving them access ... it's all very subjective, where you want to put them on or near that line."

What's more, objectivity can be subjective.

What if, for argument's sake, Focus on the Family felt a reporter from the Colorado Springs Gazette was biased against their interests, and initiated a letter-writing campaign to Romanoff and Groff, trying to get him kicked off the floor?

That would be a First Amendment issue too, but it raises questions about the fairness of the rules. Who's to decide whether a reporter is partisan or not, a "real" reporter or not?

Ashby said it's not about the content.

"It's not just the individual that is being credentialed, it's the organization that you work for," he said. "It is a grouping of a bunch of stuff. For one thing, it's who pays your bills. It has to do with how you present yourself, and what you do in the name of your job. It's also how you are funded. Colorado Confidential is funded by Democrats. It is our understanding that they are coordinating with Democrats, and other Democratic efforts, like (watchdog group) Media Matters for instance."

Norris said Colorado Confidential rented office space from Media Matters for a brief time, but that was the extent of the relationship, and she said the non-profit groups which fund the Web site are barred from partisan activities.

—C.H.