Under intense fire from the media who believed his new “JustIN” news site would be full of positive and biased articles, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence pulled the plug.
“Sad to announce that my services as Editor of Pence’s JustIN have ended before they were even required,” tweeted out Joe Walsh.
Sad to announce that my services as Editor of Pence’s JustIN have ended before they were even required…
— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) January 29, 2015
Pence sent a letter to agencies at midnight announcing his decision.
“As you are aware, concern has arisen regarding the development of a new website for the state of Indiana,” he wrote. “However well intentioned, after thorough review of the preliminary planning and careful consideration of the concerns expressed, I am writing to inform you that I have made a decision to terminate development of the JustIN website immediately.”
News outlets of all political stripes had attacked the governor’s plan, even after it was described as a plan to improve the state website to make it more interesting with Indiana stories.
The criticism was also threatening his potential 2016 presidential bid.
“The original intent of this project was to make press releases more readily available in a one-stop website for the convenience of the press and the public. At present, approximately 50 of the 90 executive branch state agencies and commissions post press releases on the state’s current public calendar website. This results in the press and the public having to visit multiple sources to stay informed about state activities,” he wrote.
“Therefore, rather than developing a new website, I have instructed the Office of Information Technology update the current public calendar website to ensure that the press and the public have unfiltered and convenient access to all press releases and public meeting notices,” he concluded.
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected].
