Nonprofit group boasted to Feds it suppressed advertising for alternative media

Published: Tuesday, May 27, 2025 at 7:30 pm

Nonprofit Group Boasted of Suppressing Ads for Conservative Media, Documents Reveal

A recent report reveals a leftist nonprofit group, the Global Disinformation Index (GDI), used federal funds to suppress advertising revenue for independent and conservative media outlets. The group, operating through its U.S.-based affiliate, AN Foundation, received grants from the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), a taxpayer-funded agency. These grants were ostensibly intended to combat foreign disinformation.

Newly disclosed memos show GDI boasted about its success in reducing advertising revenue for targeted media, including outlets like the *New York Post*, *The Daily Wire*, and *Newsmax*. The group employed a "Dynamic Exclusion List" to identify and flag websites deemed to spread disinformation, urging advertisers to cut off funding. GDI estimated that its efforts resulted in a $100 million loss in collective revenue for the targeted sites between March 2020 and September 2021.

The memos, obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, indicate that while the NED's stated goal was to address foreign propaganda, its funding was used to suppress American speech, primarily from conservative voices. Critics, including Michael Chamberlain of Protect the Public's Trust and anti-censorship activist Mike Benz, have condemned the actions, calling for accountability and questioning the NED's funding. Benz expressed disgust at the revelations, arguing that the U.S. government was actively funding a campaign to undermine independent news sources.

BNN's Perspective: This situation raises serious concerns about the potential for government-funded organizations to influence the media landscape. While combating disinformation is a valid goal, the targeting of specific viewpoints and the suppression of advertising revenue raise questions about censorship and the protection of free speech. A balanced approach that addresses misinformation without stifling diverse perspectives is crucial.

Keywords: Global Disinformation Index, GDI, National Endowment for Democracy, NED, censorship, disinformation, advertising revenue, conservative media, independent media, AN Foundation, Michael Chamberlain, Mike Benz, free speech, media bias, taxpayer funding, suppression, propaganda, WorldTribune.com, New York Post, The Daily Wire, Newsmax, The Federalist, The Blaze

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