M.A.P.: HALF-TRUE: MPBN Omits King Super-PAC support In Key Article
Outlet: MPBN
Date: June 13, 2012
Topic: U.S. Senate Race
Author: Susan Sharon
Analysis: Half-True – Omits critical information
Portland – On June 13, 2012, Maine Public Broadcasting (MPBN) ran a story headlined “King Challenges Opponents to Disavow Super PAC Money”
Unfortunately, MPBN failed to disclose in their story that King is currently the only candidate for U.S. Senate receiving support from a Super-PAC.
As recorded by the FEC, the Super-PAC IcPurple, funded by the billionaire founder of Gateway Computers Ted Waitt has produced a television ad to support King’s candidacy and has run online ads driving traffic to the IcPurple.com website to support King’s run for U.S. Senate.
In total, the FEC reports that as of June 13, 2012, IcPurple had reported $23,668 in expenditures to support Angus King for U.S. Senate.
To his credit, in the letter to his new general election opponents,King did partially disclose that he was the beneficiary of Super-PAC support with this quote, “In fact one of these groups has already sprung up and created an ad on my behalf in this election.”
Unfortunately, King’s partial disclosure did nothing to spur MPBN to fully investigate and report to readers & listeners a more complete picture of the Super-PAC landscape in the U.S. Senate race.
For this reason, the Media Accountability Project rates this article HALF TRUE via the omission of critical information.
Read or download the full report with sources here. (pdf)
