When word circulated through Tennessee Tech University that media executive Kyle Barnett would serve as the school’s newest journalism instructor, administrators began receiving anonymous hate mail from purported former colleagues.
Barnett is “devoid of professional ethics,” one wrote late last year.
“Propaganda machines,” not journalism, is Barnett’s specialty, charged another.
So concerning were these and other unsolicited warnings that professor Brenda Wilson, Tennessee Tech’s director of journalism, emailed her department peers that Barnett posed a direct threat to their school’s integrity.
“In light of this, I hope the university can understand the concerns surrounding this potential hire and the effects to enrollment and credibility of our program,” Wilson wrote on Dec. 8 to Scott Christen, interim chair for the Department of Communication and associate professor of communication studies, and Russ Witcher, professor of communication.
“This needs to be addressed quickly and with the journalism program's reputation in mind. We have an established and respected reputation for delivering quality and truthful news to campus,” Wilson continued in her email. “I would never want to see that jeopardized.”
More than 150 communications and internal documents, obtained by Raw Story through a Tennessee Public Records Act Request, reveal how Barnett’s presence has roiled this public school of roughly 10,000 students, nestled among the hills surrounding bucolic Cookeville, Tenn.
Barnett’s academic sin, according to detractors: his deep ties to Advantage Informatics and Metric Media, known in journalism circles as purveyors of “pink slime" news — a pejorative term first given to meat by-products used in some foods as low-quality filler.
These companies are allegedly tied to a network of more than 1,300 local “pay-for-play” media websites reportedly funded by conservative political action committees to push political agendas.
Barnett has worked with Advantage Informatics since 2011 and has worked with publications purchased by Metric Media, according to a version of his resume obtained through a public records request, as well as public announcements identifying Barnett as general manager and publisher of current and former Metric Media publications such as Mount Vernon News and Kern Valley Sun. Barnett denied ever working with Metric Media in a written statement to Nieman Lab in January.
But the controversy surrounding Barnett hasn’t derailed his career in academia. On the contrary, Barnett will continue to teach at Tennessee Tech this fall, according to an online course catalog.
Barnett taught four classes during Tennessee Tech’s spring term: “Media and Social Institutions,” “Mass Communication in a Changing Society,” “Multimedia Storytelling” and “Fundamentals: Photojournalism,” according to the catalog and internal documents received by Raw Story.
This autumn, Barnett is scheduled to teach the same courses he taught during the spring, excluding the multimedia storytelling class.
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“Mr. Barnett’s dean and interim department chair report that he has provided valuable contributions to the Department of Communication since his hire earlier this year,” said Jonathan Frank, director of news and public relations for Tennessee Tech, in an emailed response to multiple questions submitted by Raw Story.
“The university looks forward to his continued role in helping our students succeed,” Frank continued. ”Tennessee Tech respects the free speech of all students, faculty and staff. The university does not make a practice of commenting on personnel matters and has no further comment here.”
Christen, Wilson and Witcher did not respond to numerous requests from Raw Story.
The first email expressing concerns about Barnett came on Nov. 29 from an emailer identifying herself as “Elle,” who claimed to have previously worked with Barnett, who did not respond to Raw Story’s repeated requests for comment.
Raw Story interviewed “Elle” in April, but she would not confirm her identity citing concerns about legal and professional retribution.
“Elle,” who showed Raw Story evidence of her former employment, said Barnett oversaw her former supervisor when she worked at Local Labs, a “network of websites that rely mainly on aggregation and automation, blasting out conservative-leaning hyper-local news,” she said.
Local Labs has recently been investigated for its questionable voter records request practices, according to nonprofit investigative outlet, Arizona Mirror.
“Elle” emailed Mike Gotcher, dean of the College of Interdisciplinary Studies at Tennessee Tech, and Christen.
“I know just how important it is for professors to not only have relevant professional experience in the field they teach, but a solid sense [of] ethics and professional integrity: Barnett has next to none of either,” “Elle” wrote in the email.
“Elle” said in the Nov. 29 email that Barnett has “for at least a decade” worked with Brian Timpone, a journalist-turned-conservative businessman who is the leader of Local Labs, Metric Media and, formerly, Journatic, a digital news service that came under fire in 2012 for alleged unethical journalistic practices including plagiarism and fake bylines.
Timpone registers such companies under other various names including Content Services and Franklin Archer, “Elle” said in the email. The Illinois Secretary of State shows that Timpone has been a registered manager for various media companies including BlockShopper, Content Services Group, Pipeline Media and Newsinator.
An investigation from the Columbia Journalism Review has connected Timpone to several media entities that mimic traditional news sites but are often backed by political organizations without transparency about funding.
Among them: Metric Media, Locality Labs (or LocalLabs), Franklin Archer, the Record Inc. and Local Government Information Services (LGIS).
“I’m certain Barnett has some other company name I haven’t mentioned listed on his resume, but I assure you he still works there. And that company is a journalistic dystopian nightmare,” “Elle” said in the Nov. 29 email.
“It’s very upsetting to know that this position has been offered to somebody who is not only devoid of professional ethics, but to somebody who looks at it as his side gig,” the emailer continued. “Barnett’s loyalty will always be with Timpone.”
“Elle” said in the email to Gotcher and Christen that Timpone networks with “wealthy conservative political candidates” and representatives from political action committee representatives who ask for his advice on winning elections. Timpone then recommends services, which often includes setting up fake news sites in the location where candidates are running, “Elle” said.
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“Barnett’s job is to make sure that the phony websites are filled with conservative slanted hit pieces aimed at both democratic and conservative politicians running for office, disguised as news articles, and to do it at the cheapest rate possible,” “Elle” wrote in the email. “The point of these articles isn’t to report the news; it’s to put out biased information to support the people who are paying for Timpone’s services. The goal is to run a smear campaign about their opponents in a fake news format, and Barnett is very aware of, and completely in support of, this.”
“Elle” emailed again on Dec. 5, this time to Kevin Vedder, associate vice president of Human Resources; Philip Oldham, president of Tennessee Tech; Lori Mann Bruce, provost and vice president for academic affairs; Lee Wray, chief of staff to the president; and the Board of Trustees.
Barnett denied any connection with Metric Media in response to questions from Steven Monacelli, an investigative reporter who wrote about Advantage Informatics and Metric Media’s connections to news publishing giant Gannett for Nieman Lab.
“I am not and have never been employed as General Manager or any other role with Metric Media. Editorial production for that company and its affiliated publications has been under the oversight of other executives and editorial professionals since its inception, not me. I've also never worked for or been affiliated with Journatic,” Barnett wrote to Monacelli on Jan. 17, according to emails Raw Story obtained through the Tennessee Public Records Act.
In response to Raw Story’s multiple questions about Barnett and allegations about his companies, Timpone this week emailed: “You are quite the neo-Marxist lunatic. Stalin could have used a press secretary with your neurotic determination.”
In early December, a week before Raw Story broke the news of Barnett’s hire, a person using the pseudonym “Hadden” emailed staff of the Herald-Citizen, the local newspaper in Cookeville, Tenn., and undisclosed recipients, according to documents shared with Raw Story.
Subject line: “PAC-funded fake news publisher to teach TTU journalism courses, explore purchase of H-C,” referencing the local newspaper.
Raw Story interviewed “Hadden,” who requested anonymity citing employment concerns, and confirmed their identity and former employment.
The email from “Hadden” was forwarded among several Tennessee Tech officials: Karen Lykins, vice president for enrollment and communication; Sherry Howard, director of HR services; and Christen, Vedder, Wray and Wilson.
“Hadden” said in the Dec. 8 email that Barnett is connected to Timpone’s companies, including Advantage Informatics, Local Labs, Metric Media, Franklin Archer, The Record Network and DirecTech, calling them “interconnected propaganda machines disguised as media organizations.”
Barnett’s resume lists that he worked with Advantage Informatics starting in November 2011, holding roles including editor, writer and director of product information. Since July 2023, he held the role of president, according to his resume.
“Barnett will be pulling double duty as he continues to be the General Manager for Brian Timpone and the PAC-funded Metric Media and Advantage Informatics,” “Hadden” said.
The same day Vedder wrote to Wray and Lykins emphasizing that Barnett was made aware of onboarding requirements due in January, which were to include a background check and providing educational transcripts.
“FYI - Mr. Barnett is currently NOT a TTU employee. He is slated to start as a lecturer with the start of the spring semester,” Vedder wrote on December 8. “He will also be made aware if he has any conflict of interest or other employment, that must be reported and approved per Tech policy.”
Vedder acknowledged multiple questions Raw Story sent him but did not respond to the questions.
Christen wrote to Gotcher on December 11 that the Faculty Senate and university’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors received emails about Barnett that are “similar to the ones sent in the past.”
“It is interesting that they know so much about the university. I can talk if you want,” replied Gotcher,dean of the College of Interdisciplinary Studies.
Gotcher did not respond to Raw Story’s request for comment.
Days after Tennessee Tech administrators were informed about Barnett’s alleged connections to Metric Media and other Timpone-related companies, Raw Story received a tip on December 12 with the subject line “GOP-funded pink slime creator to teach at Tennessee Tech.”
On December 13, Raw Story began contacting Barnett and more than half-a-dozen administrators at Tennessee Tech.
This prompted what two Tennessee Tech employees called a “gag order.”
“Several faculty members have been contacted by news organizations about our new hire Kyle Barnett. I have talked to the Office of Communication and Marketing, and they have suggested that faculty refrain from commenting at this time and forward any news inquiries to [university spokesman] Jonathan Frank,” Christen wrote on Dec. 13 to members of the Department of Communication.
“There is not a lot of direct talk about him and [it’s] being swept under the rug,” a Tennessee Tech employee, who requested anonymity due to concerns about their employment, told Raw Story. “That's the kind of thing that kind of creates a little bit of fear, I think, maybe to discuss openly. It sets up a secretive sort of attitude about it or atmosphere around it.”
Frank, Vedder, Wray, Gotcher and Christen crafted a communication plan to not respond to inquiries about Barnett unless, Frank wrote, “it becomes necessary.”
In that case, the school would issue a “short comment noting some of Mr. Barnett’s credentials and standing by his hire,” Frank said.
In the meantime, the leaders worked to confirm if Barnett would still be coming to the university and if he would continue working with any other organizations, documents show.
Raw Story on December 14 broke the initial news of Barnett’s hire. The next day, the university defended hiring Barnett.
"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 in a statement shared by Frank on Dec. 15 after Raw Story’s initial investigation published.
"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,” Christen continued.
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Emails obtained through the Tennessee Public Records Act also show Tennessee Tech officials resisting the release of public records requests related to Barnett.
Raw Story submitted one such request on Dec. 14 asking for Barnett’s employment contract, resume, salary and hiring information.
“Do we have to supply if he [is] not yet an employee???” wrote Howard, the director of HR services, to Vedder on Dec. 18.
“I don’t think we should provide the documents until he is an official employee of the University. Unless there is some legal provision,” Vedder wrote on Dec. 18.
On Dec. 19, Gina Padgett, Tennessee Tech’s communications coordinator in the Department of Enrollment and Communication, informed Howard and Vedder that they must disclose the information given the existence of documents and lack of a legal exemption.
Raw Story received the records on Dec. 23.
After Raw Story’s investigation in December, Barnett’s class schedule changed: his “Advanced Reporting” class was dropped from his schedule and “Fundamentals: Photojournalism” was added.
Raw Story’s investigation prompted backlash emailed to members of the Department of Communication.
An emailer named Bob Smith, who was unable to be reached for comment because Tennessee Tech redacted his contact information, wrote to school administrators on Dec. 15 with the subject line, “Stubblefield and Hutchinson are turning over in their graves” — a reference to former Tennessee Tech faculty members.
“Such balderdash and failures as journalists and educators for allowing leadership to silence and speak through you to defend modern day yellow journalism,” Smith wrote. “Barnett and the Metric Media operation are accused of plagiarism by another school if you took the time to use some web search engines. AND if you truly defend this drivel, shut down the department and quit. Maybe Metric Media will hire you.”
Barnett denied accusations of plagiarism involving student journalists, according to an email Barnett sent to Monacelli, of Nieman Lab.
Eva Dingwall, an administrative associate for the Department of Communication, wrote to Frank, Christen and Gotcher: “This is very disturbing. I plan to delete the message but thought you should know they are reaching out to not only faculty, but me, too.”
The warnings from “Elle” continued.
She sent another email on Dec. 15 to the original recipients of her first emails on Nov. 29 and Dec. 5, with the subject line “Bad Headlines.”
“As a lover of education and a graduate degree holder, I tried my best to forewarn you of what ravages your institution would be victim to with Kyle Barnett in your employ; for what reasons you’ve chosen to protect and stand behind this stain upon the field of journalism, I will never understand, but I hope that whatever it is is worth the everlasting stigma it will have on your school,” “Elle” wrote.
“Elle” shared Raw Story’s investigation, warning that other media about Barnett would come and that Local Labs and Metric Media were ”under perpetual investigation,” calling Barnett “one of the three ringleaders of the organization.”
“The article made your school, and its leadership and faculty look very bad (especially from a female professional’s perspective), and I predict it’s only going to get worse from here,” “Elle” wrote in the email. “What a strange hill on which to perish, my friends.”
Bob Smith wrote another anti-Barnett email on Dec. 15 to “real educators and real student journalists” at nearby universities, including Austin Peay State University, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Middle Tennessee State University, East Tennessee State University, Belmont University and the University of Memphis, copying Department of Communication faculty at Tennessee Tech and student media.
“‘At least we're not Tennessee Tech’ can go into your marketing pamphlets,” Smith wrote. “The Cookeville J-school hired a well-known fake news publisher and provocateur that the department is defending.”
“My search engine reveals even more damning results with Brian Timpone's shoddy companies being investigated for publishing hate speech and Barnett's name attached to the entire operation,” Smith continued. “The cowards are carbon-copied but are under a gag order because fearing Human Resources and promoting yellow journalism surpasses ethics and their accreditation standards.”
A Tennessee Tech emeritus professor, Jon Jonakin, wrote to Christen on Dec. 22 with the subject line: “What/Who Next?”
“After Fitzgerald-gate, Scholarship-gate, Drag Show-gate, you'd think that TTU would be alert to avoid the next scandal. That seems not to be the case with the latest hire in the Communications Department,” Jonakin wrote. “Dr. Christian, can you tell us that you did your due diligence when investigating Dr. Barnett; an apparent purveyor of fake journalism?”
Christen forwarded the email to Frank, the university spokesperson, saying, “I am not responding, because it is break.”
Since December, Metric Media publications in California have come under fire for their “pink slime” journalism practices including a lack of bylines, publishing content directly from elected officials and government offices and using “politically charged terms,” according to KPBS, an NPR affiliate in San Diego.
Local Government Information Services, another network led by Timpone to allegedly influence conservative content, was sued by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul for illegally identifying birthdays and addresses for “hundreds of thousands of voters,” WBEZ, an NPR affiliate in Chicago, reported.
The LGIS lawsuit “in part” prompted a new Illinois law’s codification of a court order requiring the public have access to a redacted voter database – after paying a fee, according to WGLT, the NPR affiliate for Bloomington-Normal, Ill.
As for Barnett, he is still scheduled to teach in fall 2024, but his public presence at campus events, such as the 100th anniversary for the student newspaper, The Oracle, has been limited, according to the Tennessee Tech employee who spoke with Raw Story on the condition of anonymity.
“It's almost too quiet about him on campus. I think they have made a concerted effort to try to brush this under the rug and not bring it to the public's attention too awfully much,” the employee said. “They seem to be keeping their heads down and their mouths closed.”