Jenn here,
A rant. I just received a message (not the first) from a PR firm saying they are impressed by my progressive reporting and "have a client who is looking for a leftwing reporter"...they also said, "There is no upfront cost to you." WHAT. WHAT. WHAT.
The way this typically works: They have a client who has a reason to get a story out and wants a legit journalist to do it instead of just sending out a press release - I've received other requests like this. What I'm most upset about is that this happens in media every day, and people aren't aware of it/it isn't disclosed. They pay the PR firm to plant/give stories to journalists. It's lazy and often nefariously done.
My response: I don't do stories for PR. I do stories because they're important to tell and matter for the rights of people. "No upfront cost to me" - why on earth would there be a COST to ME???? If you actually did research on me and my journalism, you'd know that this is laughable.
On their website, they say they have landed stories in the likes of CNN, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, NBC, Newsweek, Time, Forbes, AP, etc. etc. etc.
This is not at all a surprise to me. Planted PR stories are absolutely nothing new (including by the CIA, etc. - this is not a conspiracy theory; this is just literally true).
I have made it my mission to stay uncorrupted and to always report for the people. If they have a story tip, sure! They and everyone are always welcome to pass those my way. I will independently vet and report on them. But I'm not and will never be a "PR journalist"
That is WHY I founded Courage News
Please subscribe to so I can keep my reporting going. I'd rather give up journalism than give in to the ghouls. Subscribe free or paid and give the finger to the man. If you can contribute more to my investigative stories, you can do so directly at my Courage News website or contact me at jenn@courgenews.com to discuss.
(This does give me an idea for a story, though)
~
Jenn
P.S. I can’t do the journalism I do without you, and I appreciate you! Write me if you have a story you think I should cover, if you have ideas for Courage News, etc.
Would you be a guest on my podcast The Tell with Christine Axsmith? I'm a nobody, but my 50 readers are passionate.