Most journalism is compost for a community. The manure of words can be toxic for sure (e.g., FOX News), but if it’s done right, journalism lays the groundwork for debate, inspires new ideas, stimulates broader perspectives, and kills infectious societal diseases like misinformation, conspiracies, lies, inconsistencies, and more.
Sometimes, a journalist writes a story, and it triggers an immediate action, beyond the usual laying of compost. It’s a form of “impact journalism” that can be shocking — and gratifying to produce. Below are a few examples from the Colorado Times Recorder in 2024.
Editor of Conservative News Outlet, Which Founder Ganahl Says Will Support GOP, Also Serves as President of CO Press Association
In March, the editor of the Colorado Press Association resigned after the Colorado Times Recorder revealed that he was serving as the editor of a news platform run by GOP election denier Heidi Ganahl, who’s also denounced professional journalism as fake news.
State Ed Board Rejects Elizabeth School District Request to Hire Unlicensed Substitutes
Also in March, citing a Colorado Times Recorder story about an anti-LGBTQ lawyer’s conflict of interest, the Colorado Board of Education denied a conservative school board’s request for a substitute teacher licensure waiver.
Controversial Evangelist Announces ‘Transfer of Leadership’ After Colorado Times Recorder Investigation
In August, we completed our three-part expose of the abuse of students at Charis Bible College, founded by leading anti-LGBTQ activist Andrew Wommack. Shortly after our series came out, he announced his retirement.
In Wake of Colorado Times Recorder Report, Sheriff Backs out of Children’s Story Hour Reading of Conspiracist’s Book
Also in August, following a Colorado Times Recorder story, Eagle County Sheriff James van Beek canceled his children’s story time reading of a book by far-right extremist and “Pizzagate” conspiracy theorist Jack Posobiec, which had been set for the following day at the Eagle Library.
CO Congressional Candidate Evans Fires Political Director Following Colorado Times Recorder Reporting on Antisemitic & Violent Posts
In September, a leading Colorado congressional candidate fired his chief of staff, Jessica Spindle, after the Colorado Times Recorder exposed the staffer’s antisemitic, racist, and conspiratorial Facebook posts.
After CTR Story, Anschutz’s Denver Gazette Stops Paying for Some Ads Promoting Falsehoods About Venezuelan Gangs in Aurora
Also in September, after we revealed that it had launched an ad campaign with misinformation about Venezuelan immigrants, the Anschutz-owned Denver Gazette stopped paying for two Facebook advertisements, which promoted misinformation and hysteria about Venezuelan migrants. However, the online news site continued to pay for ads with similar anti-immigration, pro-Republican themes.
