Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity
From Ballotpedia
The Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to offering training for investigative reporters and non-profit organizations at the state and local level and to provide them with the expertise and technical support necessary to pursue journalistic endeavors to better the lives of American citizens.
The Franklin Center was founded in January 2009 through a sponsorship grant given by the Sam Adams Alliance.
The group is based on the philosophies of Benjamin Franklin, a printer by trade, who said that “a newspaper in every home” was the “principle support of…morality” in civic life.[1]
New media and technology
The Franklin Center believes that new technology can advance the cause of transparency in government. Journalists of tomorrow must effectively master this new media in order to do their job of holding government accountable for its actions.
The Franklin Center aims to educate, advise and train individuals and organizations from all backgrounds to become thorough, unbiased and accurate reporters well-versed in new media techniques and journalistic integrity. As there are more than 220 million personal computers in a country of about 300 million people, the Franklin Center takes on the duties that Benjamin Franklin exalted in his philosophy of the importance of news through the written word.[1]
Mission
The Franklin Center works promote social welfare and civil betterment by executing programs to promote journalism and the education of the public about corruption, incompetence, fraud, or taxpayer abuse that elected officials commit at all levels of government. Through networking and training independent investigative reporters, as well as journalists from state-based news organizations, public-policy institutions & watchdog groups, the Franklin Center will accomplish these goals.[2]
Non-profit organizations looking to begin or expand journalism programs can contact the Franklin Center. The Franklin Center adheres to the Code of Ethics outlined by the Society of Professional Journalists.[1]
Research
Of the numerous journalist research projects, education programs and training programs designed to provide the network of investigative reporters and the general public access to information and news, the core is the ability for reporters to network and effectively portray information in the media across the nation.
Donations
Any donations made to the Franklin Center are tax-deductible under Internal Revenue Service Code Section 501(c)3. The Franklin Center choses to protect the identification of its donors and keeps all contributions anonymous.[1]
