UPI's "NewsTrack" is re-editing News stories for anti-Democrat websites!

[Up2Late]

Here's the problem. As I'm sure most of you have noticed, their seems to be a bunch of anti-Democrat, anti-science, and just plain angry RW websites out on the web now. I've been trying for a while to figure out where all the "news" was coming from, and I think I found it. UPI's "NewsTrack" <http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/>

"NewsTrack" is all secondhand news that they take from a respectable newspaper, pull out a few quotes and a few facts which they attribute to a respectable newspaper or news agency, and re-write the story to fit a RW agenda.

These reports are never carry a "By line" or give enough information to actually understand the problem or issue, and I've even found a few that are cases of un-deniable plagiarism.

In most cases, these extremely re-edited stories are re-branded as UPI and almost immediately picked up by dozens of shady web "news" sites like "NewsMax," "ScienceDaily," "BigNewsNetwork" etc., were these "news" stories spread like a virus to anti-Democrat websites.

Now, when I say plagiarism, I'm not talking about the debatable type, where you "borrow" an idea or a phrase or two, I'm talking cut and paste, edit out the information and quotes you don't like, plagiarism.

See this post for an example I found this weekend: <http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1966363&mesg_id=1967657>

The "NewsTrack" version is still at this link: <http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?StoryID=20051203-094414-4342r>

That, I hope, is a rare and extreme example.

Here's what they normally do. Take this story about Illinois Democratic Rep. Bobby Rush who, according to the Chicago Sun-Times, just "resolved" two mortgage problems he was reported to have:

<http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-rush07.html>

Rep. Rush no longer facing foreclosure

December 7, 2005

BY STEVE PATTERSON Staff Reporter

Just as quickly as they were filed, a pair of mortgage foreclosures against Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) have been "resolved."

Rush was just days from losing his Michigan condo and was also facing being kicked out of his Chicago home because he hadn't been paying his monthly mortgage.

But in an e-mail, a spokeswoman for Washington Mutual said "we consider the situation with Congressman Rush's mortgage to be resolved."

Likewise, a Michigan lawyer -- set to sell Rush's condo on the steps of a courthouse Thursday -- indicated the foreclosure action there "has been closed."

<http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-rush07.html>
(continues at link above)

Here's the UPI "NewsTrack" version:

<http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?StoryID=20051207-021817-4555r>

Illinois congressman puts houses in order

CHICAGO, Dec. 7 (UPI) -- Illinois Congressman Bobby Rush reportedly has put his financial affairs in order after facing foreclosure on two home mortgages.

The Democrat, a one-time Black Panther turned preacher, was just days from losing a condominium he and his wife own in a private gated community in Buchanan, Mich. The condo was to have been auctioned this week.

The Chicago Sun-Times said Rush also was behind on the mortgage on his South Side Chicago residence but that both foreclosure actions apparently had been resolved.

Rush borrowed nearly $550,000 in two mortgages in 2001 and used much of the money to start and support a church he pastors, "Beloved Community Christian Church," the newspaper said.

Rush said through a spokesman he made personal sacrifices to launch the church, WGN-TV, Chicago, reported.

The Sun-Times said Rush's Chicago home had been subject to a series of county and federal tax liens.

This one from today, December 7, 2005, is UPI's headline conclusion that comes from a 2004, 37 page, Academic "Discussion Paper" that is "...published in the latest issue of the Journal of Human Resources...":

<http://www.williams.edu/wpehe/DPs/DP-66r.pdf>

<http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?StoryID=20051207-123435-2513r>

Higher education affordable, says study

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass., Dec. 7 (UPI) -- A study by a Williams College professor says many leading private colleges tailor prices to students' financial means.

The findings should help well-qualified low- and moderate-income students who want to go to some of the nation's top private colleges and universities.

The study, published in the latest issue of the Journal of Human Resources, says the tuition and other costs are structured to allow some students to pay only a fraction of the schools' high "sticker prices."

"We asked what students at different income levels actually pay at the leading private colleges and universities in the United States," said the study's co-author Dr. Gordon C. Winston, a professor of economics at the Williamstown, Mass.-based college.

"We found that very consistently, these wealthy, high-quality schools give large discounts to low-income kids. On average, the ultimate net prices are well under the prices of public colleges."

In the 2001-02 academic year, the schools' average "sticker price" was $33,831, yet the average amount paid by students who received financial aid was 47 percent of that amount.

<http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?StoryID=20051207-123435-2513r>

Seven sentiences, from a 37 page academic paper, all wrapped in a semi-credible UPI label. I'm including them in full, because these don't stay at the UPI page for very long, but you will probably find these all over the internet in a few hours. I'm not sure how long the links the will be good either.

There are lot's of other examples at the "NewsTrack" site (linked below) with plenty to outrage for just about everyone. Let me know if you have any questions, I'm still researching this, and I'm sure I forgot a bunch of stuff.

<http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/>