The Media Research Center gets a significant amount of money from fossil-fuel interests, so its “news” division CNSNews.com is always happy to serve as stenographers for the industry. Here are the latest examples.
A Feb. 8 CNS article by Barbara Hollingsworth uncritically repeats spin from the American Petroleum Institute that President Obama’s proposal to impose a $10 per barrel tax on oil “increases the hostile campaign the administration is waging against the American consumer.” Hollingsworth made no attempt to seek out a point of view in response.
CNS’ chief oil industry stenographer, Penny Starr, used a Feb. 9 article to tout a claim by ExxonMobil that “in the 2040 market, oil, natural gas, and coal will meet 80% of the world’s energy needs and that carbon emissions should peak by 2030.” Starr failed to disclose that ExxonMobil has donated more than $400,000 to her employer over the years.
This stenography — press releases, really — is obviously good for the API and ExxonMobil, but it does CNS’ readers a grave disservice.