http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accuracy_in_MediaAccuracy In Media (AIM) is an American organization which monitors the news media in the United States. Founded in 1969 by Reed Irvine, at the time an economist with the Federal Reserve, AIM describes itself as "a non-profit, grassroots citizens watchdog of the news media that critiques botched and bungled news stories and sets the record straight on important issues that have received slanted coverage".
It commonly attacks what it sees as liberal bias in the media. Despite AIM's claim of political neutrality, some media watchdog groups, including self-described "progressive group" Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, refer to it as a conservative organization.<1>
AIM maintains many ties to conservative groups and is known for criticizing journalists with accusations of leftist bias, but rarely (if ever) levels claims of conservative bias against reporters or news organizations. Its positions on issues would also usually be classified as conservative: AIM editorialized in support of Nicaraguan Contra leaders such as José Francisco Cardenal. It also supported the Committee for a Free Afghanistan, a US group that backed Islamic fundamentalist Afghans who fought the Soviet invasion. Also supported are Augusto Pinochet, who was called a savior of Chile, and the group often quotes from The Epoch Times, a group that publishes information on Chinese human rights abuses.....Irvine claims that 75 percent of AIM's funding comes from contributors donating US$100 or less. Only three donors of the remainder are given by name: the Allied Educational Foundation, Shelby Cullom Davis, and
billionaire Richard Mellon Scaife. Scaife gave $2 million to Accuracy in Media since 1977 -1997.<7> Other groups that have supported AIM include Mobil Oil and Union Carbide. In 1985, AIM received a $20,000 grant from the Adolph Coors Foundation, and $7,000 from the Texaco Philanthropic Foundation. In 1986, it received $5,000 from Texaco.<8>
In December 2004, the American Institute of Philanthropy gave AIM a grade of "C+" for not-for-profit effectiveness. It noted that it would have awarded a grade of "A", but reduced the grade because AIM retains 4.1 years' worth of operating expenses in assets. It feels that AIM is in a poor position to ask donors for more funding when it is already cash-rich.
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