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What it pays to monitor the media

avatar by Published Aug. 16, 2011 2:54 pm Updated Aug. 16, 2011 3:19 pm

Romenesko Misc.
The conservative Media Research Center — it tells the IRS its mission is “to create a media culture in America where truth and liberty flourish” — reports in its Form 990 that it had net assets of $11,271,007 at the end of 2010. The salaries disclosed include:

Brent Bozell; president/director; $422,804
Brent Baker; vice president; $126,300
David Martin; executive vp/asst. treasurer; $215,000
Dan Gainor; Business & Media Institute vice president; $122,400
Terry Jeffrey; CNSNews.com editor-in-chief; $122,400

The liberal Media Matters for America (mission: “Dedicated to comprehensively monitoring, analyzing, and correcting conservative misinformation in the U.S. media”) reports net assets at the end of 2009 (its 2010 report has yet to be posted at Guidestar.org) of $2,774,565. Some of the salaries disclosed:

David Brock; chairman/CEO; $286,804
Eric Burns; president; $240,579
Tate Williams; chief of staff; $162,812
Eric Boehlert; senior fellow; $115,000
Ari Rabin-Havt; VP-communications and strategy; $134,484

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  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_HLHSVPBL3T7GRRKKKB3MR32PTA taxpayertoo

    AE, BS.  The media is owned by CORPORATIONS, the Republicans are the party of, by, and for those corporations.  Your claim that 95% of the media are Democrats is ridiculous,  and totally false. 

    Let me guess, you watch “fair and balanced” Fox “news”………

  • Anonymous

    I dunno about Daily Kos, since much of their content is written basically by Internet commenters. I imagine you’re right there. But Media Matters, for all its faults of rhetorical excess, wouldn’t do something like that. You’re lying.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_B5344MYI6BXUL36ADKK3JBTPJA GJPinks

    He does.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_Q7ZCJ622JNE25GCXMMFDTNKDII American Revolutionary

    I would like to see the data on how much money the media makes from political election advertisements. The media rails about the profits of the oil companies but they never talk of THEIR windfall profits which come in every election cycle. Most people don’t connect the dots but a huge portion of political campaign cash goes to the media to pay for ads; then the media, who are 95% Democrats, turn around and donate from these profits/bonuses to liberal Democrat candidates. It’s a double dip too since much of the media is unionized and the unions dip into their dues also to give Dem candidates campaign contributions. So it’s a hoot to hear the media raise a fuss about all the money in politics. Just more hypocricy from the lefts propaganda aparatus.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=604329611 Mike Merker

    And bringing up alcoholism furthers the debate how? You sound qualified to go work for the daily kos or media matters with that crap!

  • Anonymous

    Ira, once again displaying his unparalleled flair for accuracy and proper context. 

  • Jay Schiavone

    The Bozell at MRC is Buckley’s nephew.  The elder Bozell was never very well compensated, but was a very colorful personality, and alcoholic and certainly mentally ill.  Bill’s sister, Brent the younger’s mom, also had a public history of alcohol abuse.

  • http://www.poynter.org Poynter

    Ira, thanks for the question. Our media coverage is different than MRC and Media Matters, as we are nonpartisan. The top salaries for our highest-compensated staff are listed on our 990s and are available on GuideStar as well. Here’s an old story about Romenesko’s salary: http://readn.gs/oz5Bep

    The relationship between Poynter and the St. Pete Times can be confusing, so just to clarify, Andy Corty and Jana Jones are not Poynter executives unless they are considered so by virtue of being officers of the Institute. Marty Petty was a Times executive (and possibly also an officer of the Institute) but is no longer. And Paul Tash is chairman of the Times and Poynter so I would consider him a Poynter exec.

    Feel free to email me for additional info (jmoos at poynter.org).

    Julie Moos, Director of Poynter Online

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=31333 Ira Stoll

    How about an article on pay of Poynter’s own executives — Tash at $540,198, Petty at $619,133, Corty at $349,334, Jana Jones at $320,059, and Romenesko himself at $193,748 for 2009 — if these numbers are considered newsworthy for MRC or Media Matters folk?

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Larry-Lange/100000182002399 Larry Lange

    Well, hats off to these folks. They have an admirable mission but I question their kinship with journalists who make a fraction of what these folks do.  Guess I chose the wrong career path.
    Larry Lange, Seattle

  • Anonymous

    FYI

    Brent Bozell: wm. f. buckley jr.’s brother-in-law