American Enterprise Institute published "Jeff Gannon"

The American Enterprise, the monthly magazine of the conservative think tank American Enterprise Institute (AEI), published a "Short News and Commentary" article by former Talon News White House correspondent Jeff Gannon (aka James Guckert) in its March 2004 issue.

Media Matters for America demonstrated that Gannon has served as a lifeline for White House press secretary Scott McClellan at press briefings and that Gannon copied GOP documents and releases verbatim and without attribution for use in his articles.

The American Enterprise describes itself as "fiercely independent" and boasts that "we gather the best and brightest writers and thinkers -- from wherever. We don't have a party line -- just a requirement for non-wishy-washy, tightly reasoned, bravely honest arguments. We believe that being well-informed is more important than being proselytized." In the article, which is about a former opponent of the U.S.-led war in Iraq who now supports it, Gannon is identified as the "Washington bureau chief for Talon News." Karl Zinsmeister, J.B. Fuqua Fellow at AEI, has served as editor-in-chief of The American Enterprise since 1994.

Scholars and fellows at AEI include former House of Representatives Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA); author, National Review contributing editor and former George W. Bush speechwriter David Frum; Lynne Cheney, wife of Vice President Dick Cheney; and author John R. Lott Jr., who has been criticized for using disputed research, embellishing his credentials, and writing under a pseudonym to respond to criticism of him, as Media Matters has noted.

—S.S.M.