Media Matters claims its goal is to highlight what it considers [[conservative]] misinformation in mass media organizations. Media matters operates as a perpetual clintonesque "war room" by targeting prominent conservative public officials, public television personalities, [[Fox News]], and [[conservative talk radio]].
Within the 90 page 3-year strategic plan Media Matters distributed to its donor base and potential conributorscontributors, the document reveals that the non-profit entity has an enemies list which includes organizations like [[Fox News]], [[Cato Institute]], and [[Heritage Foundation]]. The list also targets numerous individuals and executives such as [[Rupert Murdoch]], [[Roger Ailes]], [[Peter Theil]], and [[Richard Mellon Scaife]].<ref>[http://dailycaller.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/MMFA-2012-full.pdf Media Matters' Strategic Plan]</ref>
Further deviating from its tax exempt status, a recently discovered internal strategy memo from Media Matters Senior Fellow Karl Frisch to David Brock and Eric Burns, suggests that Media Matters "hire private investigators to look into the personal lives of Fox News anchors, hosts, reporters, prominent contributors, senior network and corporate staff,” as well as "look into contracting with a major law firm to study any available legal actions that can be taken against Fox News, from a class action law suit to defamation claims for those wronged by the network. I imagine this would be difficult but the right law firm is bound to find some legal ground for us to take action against the network.”<ref>[http://dailycaller.com/2012/02/13/media-matters-memo-called-for-hiring-private-investigators-to-look-into-the-personal-lives-of-fox-employees/ Media Matters memo called for hiring private investigators ‘to look into the personal lives’ of Fox employees]</ref>
==The MSNBC – Media Matters Connection==
Media Matters for America is a very popular source of information within MSNBC’s prime time lineup. Some might argue [[MSNBC]] is a defacto de facto mouth piece for the organization.<ref>[http://bigjournalism.com/sright/2011/07/12/media-matters-propaganda-watch-the-tax-exempt-research-department-of-msnbc-martin-bashir-edition/ Media Matters Propaganda Watch: The Tax-Exempt Research Department of MSNBC, Martin Bashir Edition]</ref><ref>[http://dailycaller.com/2012/02/12/inside-media-matters-sources-memos-reveal-erratic-behavior-close-coordination-with-white-house-and-news-organizations/ Inside Media Matters: Sources, memos reveal erratic behavior, close coordination with White House and news organizations]</ref>
In prime time alone, since 2005 Media Matters has either been booked as a guest and/or mentioned on the network nearly 200 times. Media Matters has been particularly popular with MSNBC’s producers during the last 2 years.
In 2010, Media Matters for America raised $10,682,649 in contribution through its fundraising consultant [[Bonner Group]], who also raises money for several George Soros-backed organizations such as The [[Center for American Progress]], [[Center for Responsibilty and Ethics]], [[People for the American Way]], and [[American Foundation for Equal Rights]]. Media Matters total revenues for 2010 were $13,237,875.<ref>California Attorney General [http://ag.ca.gov/charities/publications/2010cfr/cfr2010.pdf Summary of Results of Charitable Solicitation by Commerical Fundraisers for Year Ending 2010]</ref><ref>[http://www2.guidestar.org/ Media Matters 990 IRS Tax filing via Guidestar]</ref> For 2009, Media Matters of America showed assets of $2,774,565 and income of $6,711,993.<ref>[http://www2.guidestar.org/organizations/b/47-0928008/media-matters-america.aspx Media Matters 990 tax filings, 2003 - 2009]</ref>
Since its inception, they've received over $50 million dollars in contributions from several sources including wealthy liberal activists such as [[George Soros]]<ref>[http://www.politico.com/blogs/onmedia/1010/Soros_gives_1_million_to_Media_Matters.html "Soros gives $1 million to Media Matters"], Politico.com October 20, 2010</ref> and hedge funds.<ref>[http://nymag.com/news/media/david-brock-media-matters-2011-5/index3.html "If I Take Down Fox, Is All Forgiven?"], By Jason Zengerle, ''New York Magazine'', May 22, 2011</ref> Left-wing foundations have also been a rich source of funding as well, accounting for over $17 million in donations. Below are the list of foundations who've helped to fund Media Matters over the years. The data is culled from publicly available tax filings made by these foundations as of October 25, 2011.
'''Top Foundations Donating Funds to Media Matters for America Operations''' (> $50,000):<ref>[http://www2.guidestar.org/ Guidestar database of IRS filings filed by non-profit organizations]</ref>