Massachusetts News Media Donating To Democrats This Year

By Tom Joyce | July 21, 2023, 19:20 EDT

Some members of the news media from Massachusetts have donated money to politicians in the first half of this year.

To which political party did those politicians belong?

Take a guess.

If you guessed Republican, you were wrong. However, if you guessed Democratic, you would be correct.

NewBostonPost examined political donations of writers, reporters, journalists, editors, producers, and news contributors at media outlets in the state. NewBostonPost limited the reach to contributions made during this current election cycle, starting with January 1, 2023, and ending July 16, 2023. The search applied to people who are still employed by a news outlet, so former employees will not be mentioned. 

In those six months alone, NewBostonPost found three members of the news media who gave money to Democratic politicians.

Boston mayor Michelle Wu, a progressive Democrat, was the largest recipient of media money. She received a $200 donation from Myong Chang, founder and editor of The Boston Korea, according to the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance. 

Chang’s publication is a weekly Korean-language newspaper.

Here is a description of the publication posted on Issuu:

The Boston Korea is weekly Korean newspaper, covering Korean community news, Korean-American’s life style, and cultural issues, national and local politics, economy, entertainment and education. The publication devotes to providing education and advocacy for the Korean community of New England.

We are especially interested in issues seldom touched by mainstream press including Korean American’s life, housing, immigration legislation, education, healthcare access, and civil rights. These are extremely important to Korean immigrants, non-English proficient, and working people.

The Boston Korea’s goal is to be the only comprehensive chronicle of issues and events that uniquely affect the local Korean community and represent the voice of community. The Boston Korea is bilingual Korean-English newspaper for 2nd Korean American generation and is intend to expand English section in the near future.

Another weekly newspaper editor also donated to a Democratic politician.

Whitman-Hanson Express editor Tracy Seelye gave $10 to recently-elected state representative John Moran (D-South End), according to the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance. Moran effectively ran unopposed in the Ninth Suffolk District special election in May. Moran’s primary opponent dropped out two weeks before election day and there were no other candidates on the May 30 special election ballot. He succeeded Jon Santiago (D-South End), who now serves as the Massachusetts secretary of veterans’ services.

Jeffrey North, managing editor of the Belmont Citizens Forum, gave $50 to state representative David Rogers (D-Cambridge), according to the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance. Belmont Citizens Forum is an online news web site that covers the town of Belmont, Massachusetts. It also has a bimonthly print publication with a circulation of about 2,200.

The findings are comparable to past reports conducted by NewBostonPost that have concluded most news media donations in the Bay State go to Democratic politicians. 

Chang, Seelye, and North could not be reached for comment on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday.

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