More questions arise about college’s ‘pink slime,’ conservative PAC-backed publisher hire

The recently released job application for a Tennessee Tech University journalism lecturer has raised more questions about the new hire associated with conservative PAC-backed “pink slime” publications, according to documents obtained by Raw Story through a Tennessee Public Records Act request.

Kyle Barnett, publicly cited as a publisher and general manager associated with Metric Media — a network of more than 1,300 local “pay-for-play” media websites reportedly funded by conservative and specialist interest PACs to push political agendas, is scheduled to teach four journalism classes at Tennessee Tech starting Jan. 11.

Barnett did not list any employment with Metric Media on his application.

Barnett’s application said he works for Advantage Informatics, which, like Metric Media, is a company associated with former reporter turned conservative businessman Brian Timpone, whose media companies have come under fire for questionable journalistic practices, including fake bylines, made-up quotes and lack of transparency around political influences.

Barnett’s application said he joined Advantage Informatics in Nov. 2011 and currently serves as director of product development.

Barnett said on his application that through his work at Advantage Informatics he “developed algorithm-based writing programming,” “oversaw the acquisition of two newspapers serving as general manager and publisher” and was “involved at the executive level in acquiring a struggling publisher, making it profitable and later selling it.”

The Herald Citizen based in Cookeville, Tenn., reported on the release of Barnett’s employment information on Wednesday.

Neither Timpone nor Barnett responded to Raw Story’s request for comment.

Tennessee Tech stands by its hire of Barnett

Since Raw Story broke the news on Dec. 14 of Barnett’s hire at Tennessee Tech, a public university with a student body of just over 10,000, Barnett’s teaching load has increased, according to a Raw Story review of an online course catalog.

Barnett is listed as the instructor for “mass comm/changing society,” and “multimedia storytelling,” as originally reported on Dec. 14, but now he is also listed as the instructor for “fundamentals: photojournalism” and “media and social institutions.” He previously was listed as the instructor for “advanced reporting” but no longer appears to be teaching the class, according to a Raw Story review of the course catalog on Thursday.

“The university routinely adjusts instructor course loads prior to the start of the semester based on class sizes, scheduling availability and other factors,” said Jonathan Frank, director of news and public relations for Tennessee Tech, via email.

The Jacket Journal, the student newspaper for Mount Vernon High School in Ohio, accused the Mount Vernon News, a Metric Media publication where Barnett has been publicly listed as its publisher, of plagiarism for using its photos without permission or credit.

Frank did not respond to Raw Story’s emailed questions about Barnett’s application or concerns about plagiarism.

“The university has no further comment about Mr. Barnett at this time,” Frank said.

Following the publication of Raw Story’s initial investigation, Frank shared a statement on Dec. 15 from Scott Christen, associate professor of communication studies and interim chair of the Department of Communication at Tennessee Tech.

"I appreciate the diligent work of my colleagues on the hiring committee who reached a decision to offer appointment to Mr. Kyle Barnett as a lecturer in our communication department next semester," Christen said.

"Mr. Barnett is a Louisiana Press Association award-winning communicator who brings more than 15 years of experience to his role, ranging from his time as a reporter and producer for Clear Channel Media (now iHeartMedia), to his roles as lecturer at Grambling State University and professor of journalism at Oklahoma City Community College."

Barnett’s Aug. 17 offer letter from Tennessee Tech, shared with Raw Story through a Tennessee Public Records Act request, indicated that Barnett would be serving in a non-tenure track lecturer role with a nine-month salary of $50,250 effective Jan. 1, 2024 through May 14, 2026.

His application pointed to his “active byline,” but the information was redacted when shared with Raw Story.

Read the original investigation: ‘Too preposterous to be real’: College hires ‘pink slime’ publisher as journalism prof