On July 7 and July 11 the conservative “news” website FacetheState.com linked to an editorial in The Daily Sentinel of Grand Junction and an article in The Pueblo Chieftain using headlines that misrepresented the content of the pieces. The website's headline for the July 6 Daily Sentinel editorial misleadingly asserted, "[Colorado] Division of Wildlife may use [the] sage grouse to block oil and gas drilling." In fact, the editorial described a Division of Wildlife (DOW) plan to preserve the sage grouse's habitat in order to prevent the bird from receiving a federal “endangered” or “threatened” species designation, which the editorial noted could be “a major obstacle to development” for the oil and gas industry.

Similarly, Face the State linked to the July 11 Chieftain article with a headline that falsely asserted that a Colorado Department of Corrections (DOC) program through which inmates work the fields of private farms is “pushing undocumented workers out of a job.” In fact, the article reported that the program is “using prison inmates to replace migrant farm workers who are avoiding Colorado this year” because of the state's “stringent” immigration law, enacted in 2006.

Face the State's founder and managing editor, Brad Jones, reportedly has called for higher “journalistic standards” in political reporting, and Face the State describes itself as “a one-stop-shop for political news affecting Coloradans.” On the July 1 broadcast of KTVD Channel 20's Your Show, Jones stated that “if ... your [website] content is regularly incorrect you will lose credibility.” But as Colorado Media Matters has pointed out repeatedly (here, here, here, here, here, and here), Face the State frequently publishes misleading headlines on its aggregated news articles.

From Face the State on July 7:

Division of Wildlife may use sage grouse to block oil and gas drilling

Contrary to Face the State's implication that the DOW would create “a major obstacle to development” by making the sage grouse's habitat off-limits to oil and gas drilling, the Daily Sentinel editorial to which the website linked stated its approval of DOW's efforts to preserve multiple uses for sage grouse habitat. The Daily Sentinel noted that the oil and gas industry has indicated willingness to cooperate:

When it comes to the greater sage grouse, the Colorado Division of Wildlife is hoping to protect the bird -- before it merits listing under the federal Endangered Species Act -- without also endangering other land uses in the state.

That's an approach which could pay dividends for the energy industry, for ranching and for recreation in areas deemed important sage grouse habitat.

If the greater sage grouse were to be designated a threatened or endangered species under federal law, it could severely curtail the kinds of activities that might be allowed in areas of critical habitat. The oil and gas industry in particular could find the designation a major obstacle to development in some areas. But grazing, hunting and fishing, along with other types of outdoor recreation might also be significantly restricted in critical habitat areas.

The Division of Wildlife hopes to avoid that with a greater sage grouse conservation plan that is aimed at protecting habitat while ensuring that other uses of the land are also recognized and allowed. To do this, it suggests changes in the ways that the sage habitat is used.

For instance, the state agency is proposing that energy companies cut their impact on the bird's habitat by reducing the number of new roads that are built, designing roads away from streams and establishing seasonal road closures when sage grouse are most likely to use an area. In addition, the DOW recommends the energy companies look for ways to reduce noise, coordinate habitat planning among various companies and reclaim drilling areas in ways that help restore habitat.

Representatives of energy companies, private landowners and recreational groups have indicated their willingness to work with the DOW and Department of Natural Resources to protect habitat for the greater sage grouse. Some are already serving on working groups helping the state formulate the conservation plan. [emphasis added]

Similarly, another Face the State headline misrepresented the content of a Chieftain article about the farm labor program.

From the Face the State on July 11:

Inmates get over $3 per day raise to work in fields ... pushing undocumented workers out of a job

The Chieftain article to which Face the State linked described a pilot program proposed by state Rep. Dorothy Butcher (D-Pueblo) in which inmates at DOC facilities work in the fields of private farms, under the supervision of DOC personnel. Contrary to Face the State's assertion that the program displaces “undocumented workers,” the Chieftain reported that Butcher proposed the program in response to a shortfall in migrant labor that resulted from immigration reform legislation that Colorado enacted July 31, 2006, following a special session of the legislature:

A pilot program using prison inmates to replace migrant farm workers who are avoiding Colorado this year is working well, state officials and participating farmers said Tuesday.

The program will add a second crew of 10 women starting today, with the possibility of three more crews by harvest time, according to Katherine Sanguinetti, spokeswoman for the Department of Corrections.

State Rep. Dorothy Butcher proposed the inmate program after large numbers of migrant farm workers opted not to deal with Colorado's stringent new immigration laws after a special session of the Legislature last summer . Butcher also spoke at a press conference in Avondale on Tuesday.

“I felt the state of Colorado was sending the message, 'We're closed to business,' ” she said. “This is about commerce. If a farmer can't get his crop to a customer this year, the customer will be gone next year.” [emphasis added]