WorldNetDaily
Encyclopedia
WorldNetDaily is an American web site that publishes news and associated content from a U.S. conservative perspective. It was founded in May 1997 by Joseph Farah
with the stated intent of "exposing wrongdoing, corruption and abuse of power" and is headquartered in Washington, D.C.
created the news website WorldNetDaily as a division of the Western Journalism Center
. It was subsequently spun off in 1999 as a for-profit organization with the backing of $4.5 million from investors, Farah owning a majority of the stock. The site describes itself as "an independent news company dedicated to uncompromising journalism." In 1999, WorldNetDaily.com, Inc. was incorporated in Delaware
with offices in Cave Junction
, Oregon
. According to its website, World Net Daily has a staff of approximately 25 people. In 2007 it was headquartered in Medford, Oregon
.
Seeking credentials to cover the U.S. Congress in 2002, WND was opposed by the Standing Committee of Correspondents
. This panel of journalists was charged by Congress with administering press credentials. Until 1996, internet-only publications had been deemed unacceptable. It was argued by some that the conservative position of the publication may also have been a stumbling block. WND turned to the United States Senate Committee on Rules and Administration
for help, arguing that the panel's decision had violated the site's constitutional rights to due process, equal protection, and freedom of the press." Faced "with legal threats and negative publicity, the panel reversed itself, voting 3-2 to award WorldNetDaily its credentials." Shortly after, the rules were formally adjusted to clarify the participation of online publications.
or conservative perspective. Besides providing articles authored by its own staff, the site links to news from other publications. Notable staff includes Jerusalem Bureau Chief Aaron Klein
, White House Correspondent Lester Kinsolving
, and Staff Writer Jerome Corsi
. Its commentary pages feature editorials from the site's founder, Joseph Farah
and other social conservative
authors such as Pat Buchanan
, Ann Coulter
, David Limbaugh
, Bill O'Reilly
, and Chuck Norris
. It also has featured weekly columns by libertarians
Walter Williams
, Vox Day, Ilana Mercer
, as well as liberals such as Maralyn Lois Polak
, Bill Press
and pro-life
moderate Nat Hentoff
. WND also offers products for sale, typically these are products sold by its related book service, WND Book Service, by its publishing house, WND Books, or by its retail operation, ShopNetDaily. The site also runs a printed magazine, Whistleblower
, and other companies such as the G2 Bulletin, a subscription-only website described as an "intelligence resource" for "insights into geo-political and geo-strategic developments."
(a Christian publishing house) and released books by politicians and pundits like Katherine Harris
, Michael Savage
and Farah himself. The partnership with Thomas Nelson Publishing ended shortly before the 2004 election; Thomas Nelson continued the division for a time under the Nelson Current imprint. The WND Books imprint was subsequently published under a partnership with Cumberland House Publishing and released books by Jerome Corsi
, Tom Tancredo
and Ken Blackwell
, among other authors. In 2007, Los Angeles-based conservative publisher World Ahead Publishing became the publisher of WND Books. In January 2008, WND announced it had acquired World Ahead Media. In April 2011, the liberal British newspaper, The Guardian, called WND Books "a niche producer of rightwing conspiracy theories, religious books and 'family values' tracts".
of Reason
magazine and James Taranto
of the Wall Street Journal criticized LoBaido and Joseph Farah for the piece and called for columnists Hugh Hewitt
and Bill O'Reilly
to sever their ties with WND, prompting Farah to respond with a column of his own explaining that the article did not reflect the viewpoint of WND, and that it, like most other commentary pieces, had not been reviewed before being published.
, claiming that Obama is not a natural-born American citizen and is thus not eligible to serve as president. Such claims are considered unsubstantiated or debunked by most news sources. After the 2008 presidential campaign, WND began an online petition to have Obama's Hawaiian birth certificate released to the public. The website also unsuccessfully urged Supreme Court justices to hear several lawsuits aiming to release Obama's birth certificate.
car dealer, and fund-raiser for then-Vice President Al Gore
, had interfered with a criminal investigation, had been a "subject" of a criminal investigation, was listed on law enforcement computers as a "dope dealer," and implied that he had ties to others involved in alleged criminal activity. In 2001 the car dealer, Clark Jones, filed a lawsuit
against WND; the reporters, Charles C. Thompson II and Tony Hays; the Center for Public Integrity
, which had underwritten Thompson and Hays' reporting on the article and related ones and various Tennessee publications and broadcasters who he accused of repeating the claim, claiming libel and defamation. The lawsuit had been scheduled to go to trial in March 2008; but, on February 13, 2008, WND announced that a confidential out-of-court settlement had been reached with Jones. A settlement statement jointly drafted by all parties in the lawsuit stated that a Freedom of Information Act
request showed that the allegations had been false, and that WND had misquoted sources.
accepted the invitation to attend and speak at GOProud
's Homocon 2010 event, Farah announced the withdrawal of Coulter's name from the list of speakers at the company's Taking America Back conference. Coulter responded by saying that speaking engagements do not imply endorsement of the hosting organization; however, after Farah published private emails between himself and Coulter, Coulter called him a “publicity whore” and a “swine” in an email to the Daily Caller blog.
Joseph Farah
-External links:* Official website* *...
with the stated intent of "exposing wrongdoing, corruption and abuse of power" and is headquartered in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
History
In 1997, Joseph FarahJoseph Farah
-External links:* Official website* *...
created the news website WorldNetDaily as a division of the Western Journalism Center
Western Journalism Center
The Western Journalism Center was founded in 1991 by Joseph Farah and James H. Smith. It is based in Sacramento, California.-Projects:...
. It was subsequently spun off in 1999 as a for-profit organization with the backing of $4.5 million from investors, Farah owning a majority of the stock. The site describes itself as "an independent news company dedicated to uncompromising journalism." In 1999, WorldNetDaily.com, Inc. was incorporated in Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
with offices in Cave Junction
Cave Junction, Oregon
Cave Junction, incorporated in 1948, is a city in Josephine County, Oregon, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,883. Its motto is the "Gateway to the Oregon Caves," and the city got its name by virtue of its location at the junction of Redwood Highway and Caves Highway...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. According to its website, World Net Daily has a staff of approximately 25 people. In 2007 it was headquartered in Medford, Oregon
Medford, Oregon
Medford is a city in Jackson County, Oregon, United States. As of the 2010 US Census, the city had a total population of 74,907 and a metropolitan area population of 207,010, making the Medford MSA the 4th largest metro area in Oregon...
.
Seeking credentials to cover the U.S. Congress in 2002, WND was opposed by the Standing Committee of Correspondents
Press gallery
The press gallery is the part of a parliament, or other legislative body, where political journalists are allowed to sit or gather to observe and then report speeches and events...
. This panel of journalists was charged by Congress with administering press credentials. Until 1996, internet-only publications had been deemed unacceptable. It was argued by some that the conservative position of the publication may also have been a stumbling block. WND turned to the United States Senate Committee on Rules and Administration
United States Senate Committee on Rules and Administration
The Senate Committee on Rules and Administration is responsible for the rules of the United States Senate, with administration of congressional buildings, and with credentials and qualifications of members of the Senate, including responsibility for dealing with contested elections.The committee...
for help, arguing that the panel's decision had violated the site's constitutional rights to due process, equal protection, and freedom of the press." Faced "with legal threats and negative publicity, the panel reversed itself, voting 3-2 to award WorldNetDaily its credentials." Shortly after, the rules were formally adjusted to clarify the participation of online publications.
Description
WND provides news, editorials, commentaries, letters to the editor, forums and conducts a daily poll. It claims its editorial content has a diverse range of viewpoints, though predominantly from a right wingRight-wing politics
In politics, Right, right-wing and rightist generally refer to support for a hierarchical society justified on the basis of an appeal to natural law or tradition. To varying degrees, the Right rejects the egalitarian objectives of left-wing politics, claiming that the imposition of equality is...
or conservative perspective. Besides providing articles authored by its own staff, the site links to news from other publications. Notable staff includes Jerusalem Bureau Chief Aaron Klein
Aaron Klein
Aaron Klein is an American author, Middle East correspondent, head of the Jerusalem bureau for WorldNetDaily , columnist for The Jewish Press, and a radio talk show host who, among other things, is known for interviewing middle eastern political figures, along with various leaders of terrorist...
, White House Correspondent Lester Kinsolving
Lester Kinsolving
Charles Lester Kinsolving is a political talk radio host, currently heard on WCBM in Baltimore, Maryland. He is better known, however, as a White House correspondent for WorldNetDaily...
, and Staff Writer Jerome Corsi
Jerome Corsi
Jerome Robert Corsi is an American author, political commentator and conspiracy theorist best known for his two New York Times bestselling books: The Obama Nation and Unfit for Command...
. Its commentary pages feature editorials from the site's founder, Joseph Farah
Joseph Farah
-External links:* Official website* *...
and other social conservative
Social conservatism
Social Conservatism is primarily a political, and usually morally influenced, ideology that focuses on the preservation of what are seen as traditional values. Social conservatism is a form of authoritarianism often associated with the position that the federal government should have a greater role...
authors such as Pat Buchanan
Pat Buchanan
Patrick Joseph "Pat" Buchanan is an American paleoconservative political commentator, author, syndicated columnist, politician and broadcaster. Buchanan was a senior adviser to American Presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and Ronald Reagan, and was an original host on CNN's Crossfire. He sought...
, Ann Coulter
Ann Coulter
Ann Hart Coulter is an American lawyer, conservative social and political commentator, author, and syndicated columnist. She frequently appears on television, radio, and as a speaker at public events and private events...
, David Limbaugh
David Limbaugh
David Limbaugh is a conservative American political commentator and author.-Biography:Limbaugh was born on December 11, 1952 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. He is the younger brother of talk radio host Rush Limbaugh...
, Bill O'Reilly
Bill O'Reilly (commentator)
William James "Bill" O'Reilly, Jr. is an American television host, author, syndicated columnist and political commentator. He is the host of the political commentary program The O'Reilly Factor on the Fox News Channel, which is the most watched cable news television program on American television...
, and Chuck Norris
Chuck Norris
Carlos Ray "Chuck" Norris is an American martial artist and actor. After serving in the United States Air Force, he began his rise to fame as a martial artist and has since founded his own school, Chun Kuk Do...
. It also has featured weekly columns by libertarians
Libertarianism
Libertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
Walter Williams
Walter E. Williams
Walter E. Williams, is an American economist, commentator, and academic. He is the John M. Olin Distinguished Professor of Economics at George Mason University, as well as a syndicated columnist and author known for his libertarian views.- Early life and education :Williams family during childhood...
, Vox Day, Ilana Mercer
Ilana Mercer
Ilana Mercer is a writer, born in South Africa to Rabbi Ben Isaacson and raised in Israel, where the family decided to move after Rabbi Ben Isaacson's anti-apartheid preaching and activism led to their harassment by South African security forces...
, as well as liberals such as Maralyn Lois Polak
Maralyn Lois Polak
Maralyn Lois Polak is an American columinist, writer, poet, spoken word artist, novelist and journalist.Polak's journalistic career consists of a long stint as nationally syndicated weekly celebrity interview columnist for Knight-Ridder and The Philadelphia Inquirer, where she did over a thousand...
, Bill Press
Bill Press
William "Bill" Press is a US talk radio host, political commentator and author.-Career:Press has a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy from Niagara University and Bachelor of Sacred Theology from the University of Fribourg. He started his broadcasting career in Los Angeles for TV stations KABC-TV and...
and pro-life
Pro-life
Opposition to the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-life, or anti-abortion, movement, a social and political movement opposing elective abortion on moral grounds and supporting its legal prohibition or restriction...
moderate Nat Hentoff
Nat Hentoff
Nathan Irving "Nat" Hentoff is an American historian, novelist, jazz and country music critic, and syndicated columnist for United Media and writes regularly on jazz and country music for The Wall Street Journal....
. WND also offers products for sale, typically these are products sold by its related book service, WND Book Service, by its publishing house, WND Books, or by its retail operation, ShopNetDaily. The site also runs a printed magazine, Whistleblower
Whistleblower (magazine)
Whistleblower, formerly WorldNet, is the monthly news magazine companion of WorldNetDaily. Every month features a different topic or event in the news, with articles from the website as well as original articles and commentary.WorldNetDaily managing editor David Kupelian is "the driving force...
, and other companies such as the G2 Bulletin, a subscription-only website described as an "intelligence resource" for "insights into geo-political and geo-strategic developments."
WND Books
WorldNetDaily also publishes books under the imprint WND Books. The imprint was launched in 2002 through a partnership with Thomas Nelson PublishersThomas Nelson (publisher)
Thomas Nelson is a publishing firm that began in Scotland in 1798 as the namesake of its founder. Its former US division is currently the sixth largest American trade publisher and the world's largest Christian publisher. It is owned by the private equity firm Kohlberg & Company...
(a Christian publishing house) and released books by politicians and pundits like Katherine Harris
Katherine Harris
Katherine Harris is an American Republican politician, former Secretary of State of Florida, and former member of the United States House of Representatives. Harris won the 2002 election to represent Florida's 13th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. She held that post...
, Michael Savage
Michael Savage (commentator)
Michael Savage is a conservative American radio host, author, and political commentator. He is the host of The Savage Nation, a nationally syndicated talk show that airs throughout the United States on Talk Radio Network...
and Farah himself. The partnership with Thomas Nelson Publishing ended shortly before the 2004 election; Thomas Nelson continued the division for a time under the Nelson Current imprint. The WND Books imprint was subsequently published under a partnership with Cumberland House Publishing and released books by Jerome Corsi
Jerome Corsi
Jerome Robert Corsi is an American author, political commentator and conspiracy theorist best known for his two New York Times bestselling books: The Obama Nation and Unfit for Command...
, Tom Tancredo
Tom Tancredo
Thomas Gerard "Tom" Tancredo is an American politician from Colorado, who represented the state's sixth congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1999 to 2009, as a Republican...
and Ken Blackwell
Ken Blackwell
John Kenneth Blackwell is an American politician and activist who served as the mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio from 1979 to 1980 and Ohio Secretary of State from 1999 to 2007. A Republican, he was the first African-American to be the candidate for governor of a major party in Ohio. In 2006, Blackwell...
, among other authors. In 2007, Los Angeles-based conservative publisher World Ahead Publishing became the publisher of WND Books. In January 2008, WND announced it had acquired World Ahead Media. In April 2011, the liberal British newspaper, The Guardian, called WND Books "a niche producer of rightwing conspiracy theories, religious books and 'family values' tracts".
Controversies
WND has published articles that have created controversies and criticism of the site by other media outlets.9/11 attacks
On September 13, 2001, WND published a commentary by Anthony C. LoBaido regarding the September 11 attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C., two days earlier. In his column, LoBaido outlined what he regarded as the moral depravity of America in general and New York in particular, asking whether, "God (has) raised up Shiite Islam as a sword against America." Commentators Virginia PostrelVirginia Postrel
Virginia I. Postrel is an American political and cultural writer of broadly libertarian, or classical liberal, views. She is best known for her two non-fiction books, The Future and Its Enemies and The Substance of Style...
of Reason
Reason (magazine)
Reason is a libertarian monthly magazine published by the Reason Foundation. The magazine has a circulation of around 60,000 and was named one of the 50 best magazines in 2003 and 2004 by the Chicago Tribune.- History :...
magazine and James Taranto
James Taranto
James Taranto is an American columnist for The Wall Street Journal, editor of its online editorial page OpinionJournal.com and a member of the newspaper's editorial board. He is best known for his daily online column Best of the Web Today...
of the Wall Street Journal criticized LoBaido and Joseph Farah for the piece and called for columnists Hugh Hewitt
Hugh Hewitt
Hugh Hewitt is an American radio talk show host with the Salem Radio Network, lawyer, academic, and author. An outspoken Republican, evangelical Christian, he comments on society, politics, and media bias in the United States. Hewitt is also a law professor at Chapman University School of Law.-...
and Bill O'Reilly
Bill O'Reilly (commentator)
William James "Bill" O'Reilly, Jr. is an American television host, author, syndicated columnist and political commentator. He is the host of the political commentary program The O'Reilly Factor on the Fox News Channel, which is the most watched cable news television program on American television...
to sever their ties with WND, prompting Farah to respond with a column of his own explaining that the article did not reflect the viewpoint of WND, and that it, like most other commentary pieces, had not been reviewed before being published.
Barack Obama citizenship conspiracy theories
WorldNetDaily has emerged as a leading outlet publicizing conspiracy theories about Barack Obama's citizenship statusBarack Obama citizenship conspiracy theories
Conspiracy theories about the citizenship of Barack Obama claim that Barack Obama is not a natural-born citizen of the United States and is therefore not eligible to be President of the United States under Article Two of the U.S. Constitution. Some theories allege that Obama was born in Kenya, not...
, claiming that Obama is not a natural-born American citizen and is thus not eligible to serve as president. Such claims are considered unsubstantiated or debunked by most news sources. After the 2008 presidential campaign, WND began an online petition to have Obama's Hawaiian birth certificate released to the public. The website also unsuccessfully urged Supreme Court justices to hear several lawsuits aiming to release Obama's birth certificate.
Libel lawsuit
On September 20, 2000, WND published an article claiming that a Savannah, TennesseeSavannah, Tennessee
Savannah is a city in Hardin County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 6,917 at the 2000 census and the 2007 population estimate was 7,262. It is the county seat of Hardin County. Savannah hosted the NAIA college football national championship game from 1996-2007. Savannah is home to...
car dealer, and fund-raiser for then-Vice President Al Gore
Al Gore
Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
, had interfered with a criminal investigation, had been a "subject" of a criminal investigation, was listed on law enforcement computers as a "dope dealer," and implied that he had ties to others involved in alleged criminal activity. In 2001 the car dealer, Clark Jones, filed a lawsuit
Lawsuit
A lawsuit or "suit in law" is a civil action brought in a court of law in which a plaintiff, a party who claims to have incurred loss as a result of a defendant's actions, demands a legal or equitable remedy. The defendant is required to respond to the plaintiff's complaint...
against WND; the reporters, Charles C. Thompson II and Tony Hays; the Center for Public Integrity
Center for Public Integrity
The Center for Public Integrity is a nonprofit organization dedicated to producing original, responsible investigative journalism on issues of public concern. The Center is non-partisan and non-advocacy and committed to transparent and comprehensive reporting both in the United States and around...
, which had underwritten Thompson and Hays' reporting on the article and related ones and various Tennessee publications and broadcasters who he accused of repeating the claim, claiming libel and defamation. The lawsuit had been scheduled to go to trial in March 2008; but, on February 13, 2008, WND announced that a confidential out-of-court settlement had been reached with Jones. A settlement statement jointly drafted by all parties in the lawsuit stated that a Freedom of Information Act
Freedom of Information Act (United States)
The Freedom of Information Act is a federal freedom of information law that allows for the full or partial disclosure of previously unreleased information and documents controlled by the United States government. The Act defines agency records subject to disclosure, outlines mandatory disclosure...
request showed that the allegations had been false, and that WND had misquoted sources.
Feud with LGBT conservatives
WND has also come out against LGBT participants in the Republican party and their associates. In 2010, when writer and pundit Ann CoulterAnn Coulter
Ann Hart Coulter is an American lawyer, conservative social and political commentator, author, and syndicated columnist. She frequently appears on television, radio, and as a speaker at public events and private events...
accepted the invitation to attend and speak at GOProud
GOProud
GOProud is an American tax exempt 527 organization representing conservative gays, lesbians, transgendered people, and their allies. GOProud advocates for small government conservatism at the level of federal public policy. GOProud was founded by Christopher R...
's Homocon 2010 event, Farah announced the withdrawal of Coulter's name from the list of speakers at the company's Taking America Back conference. Coulter responded by saying that speaking engagements do not imply endorsement of the hosting organization; however, after Farah published private emails between himself and Coulter, Coulter called him a “publicity whore” and a “swine” in an email to the Daily Caller blog.