ProPublica is self-described “as an independent, non-profit newsroom that produces

What Others are Saying About ProPublica
ProPublica is self-described “as an independent, non-profit newsroom that produces
investigative journalism in the public interest. Our work focuses on truly important
stories, stories with „moral force.‟ We do this by producing journalism that shines a light
on exploitation of the weak by the strong and on the failures of those with power to
vindicate the trust placed in them.”
“I might find that believable except for the fact that ProPublica is funded by Herbert
and Marion Sandler, the founders of Golden West Financial, who exploited the weak
for their personal gain through their aggressive marketing of sub-prime mortgages to
the marginally qualified. They did not „vindicate the trust placed in them,‟ either in
their behavior with sub-prime mortgages, or in their sale of their about-to-collapse
company to Wachovia, which [nearly] failed as a result.” — Cheat Seeking Missiles
“A media outlet that will produce left-wing „investigative‟ hit pieces that can be given
to cash-strapped newspapers at no cost… Unfortunately, what used to be called
„muckraking‟ is likely to produce little more than left-wing ranting and conservative
bashing. On the basis of what‟s been produced so far, ProPublica would be better
known as ProLiberal.” — Cheryl Chumley, 2008-09 Phillips Foundation
Journalism Fellow, Capital Research Center, Foundation Watch, May 2009
“ProPublica, an initiative launched last month in the United States to help revitalize
investigative journalism, is a great idea trapped in the worst aspects of the best
instincts in contemporary corporate commercial journalism.” — Robert Jensen,
Professor, School of Journalism and Director, Senior Fellows Honors Program,
College of Communication, University of Texas, Austin, February 2008
“Now if this enterprise were called a „progressive‟ nonprofit, as other projects are, it
wouldn‟t be news. But given the chairmanship of Herbert Sandler, and Steiger‟s
claim that ProPublica will be run according to the „strictest standards of journalistic
impartiality and fairness,‟ there‟s reason to wonder if this isn‟t a new bid to drive the
political agenda leftward under media disguise.” — Investors Business Daily
Editorial, October 2007
“What do the Sandlers want from their millions? Perhaps to return us to the days of
the partisan press… If I were a newspaper editor considering ProPublica copy for a
future issue, the first thing I‟d want is proof of a firewall preventing the Sandlers and
other funders from picking – or nixing – the targets of its probes. And if I were an
editorial writer, I‟d call upon Herbert Sandler to provide ProPublica with 10 years of
funding ($100 million), and then resign from his post as the organization‟s chairman
so he‟ll never be tempted to bollix up what might turn out to be a good thing.” —
Jack Shafer, Editor at Large, Slate, October 2007
“Under control of billionaire mortgage lender and founding donor Herbert Sandler,
a board of directors including the Pew Charitable Trusts, a manager from the
Rockefeller Foundation – as independent as a lapdog on a leash with allegiances
sworn in advance to left-wing causes.” — UndueInfluence.com
“ProPublica will most certainly push a liberal agenda. …Sandler, like Soros, is a
political philanthropist. His passion in life is to fund groups that counter the „vast
right-wing conspiracy.‟ There is no way he is going to waste $10 million per year on
an organization that does not advance that agenda.” — John Carlisle, Director for
Policy, National Legal and Policy Center, The American Spectator, January 2008