Gary McCullough

Gary McCullough is the director of the nation's leading religious newswire Christian Newswire, part of the Christian Communication Network.

Over 700 public policy groups, government agencies, PR firms, religious organizations, think-tanks, watchdog groups, advocacy groups, coalitions, foundations, colleges, universities, activists, politicians, and candidates use Christian Newswire to distribute their press releases. In 2006 the Christian Communication Network created a second newswire to service the press release distribution needs of non-religious clients, Standard Newswire to fill the vacancy created by the closing of USNewswire by its new owner, PRNewswire.

Standard Newswire is nation's leading conservative newswire, considered the "Fox News of newswires."

McCullough Brings Religious Right and Neo-conservatives to Media Dominance

In 1989, McCullough worked for the anti-abortion group Operation Rescue founded by Randall Terry. McCullough arranged the first interviews for jailed cell-mates by keeping details of media interview times and phone numbers written with soap on his jail cell's concrete floor. McCullough has been arrested for peaceful sit-ins (called Rescues) in front of abortion clinics over 30 times ( See McCullough's bio).

For 19 years Gary McCullough's work has been a driving force behind the media coverage of conservative battles. He has been the voice and/or strategist behind battles on behalf of anti-abortion, religious liberty, and political campaigns. Projects of note include the confirmation of Ashcroft, several Supreme Court battles, protecting the public display of faith and the symbols of faith, the Terri Schiavo family, the formation of Operation Rescue, and the resurrection of the White House Office of Special Media (Catholic, Christian, & Minority Media) for Bush 43; this department had been eliminated by President Clinton.

In 1990 McCullough led the first anti-abortion sit-ins in a post-communist eastern Europe. -- In 1995, participated in Ireland's anti-abortion rescues "sit-ins." -- In 1997 he accompanied ministers to Hong Kong to fight so-called "forced abortion" -- In 1999, he addressed international anti-abortion leaders on the "art of media manipulation" in Africa's first continental anti-abortion convention, held in Durban, South Africa.

McCullough was Media Adviser for the Schindler Family

Diana Lynne's March 24, 2005, World Net Daily story "The whole Terri Schiavo story", which includes a photo of Bob Schindler credited as being taken by Gary McCullough, Christian Communication Network. McCullough was a spokesman for the Schindler family and a media adviser to another Schindler family spokesman, Randall Terry. McCullough told The Washington Post [March 23, 2005,] that he "advised the family to make regular but concise statements that would drive the story."

Sean Hannity and Jesse Jackson were among the long list of national leaders drawn-in to side with the Schindler family.

Both McCullough and Terry were also involved with the Terri Schiavo case and the Schindler family in October of 2003 when Gov. Jeb Bush ordered Schiavo's feeding tube be reinserted.

In 2005, though the US Congress and President George Bush (43) held an emergency session to override the judge's order -- this time Schiavo's feeding tube was never reinserted.

According to Randall Terry's account, he received phone calls from Alan Keyes who told Terry "Terri Schiavo is going to die; we've got to do something. Randall, you've got to go to St. Petersburg and help the family." On the same day, October 11, 2003, Terry and his media man, Gary McCullough, visited the Schindlers for the first time. [1]

Cybercast News Service announced on October 13, 2003, that "Randall Terry, the founder of Operation Rescue, and Gary McCullough of the Christian Communication Network have joined the effort to save a disabled woman from a court ruling that will end her life." [2]

"Terri's parents, Robert and Mary Schindler of Gulf Port, who had not completely given up hope that somehow their daughter's life will be spared, invited [Randall Terry] and Gary McCullough to organize round-the-clock vigils and draw national press to Terri Schiavo's cause."

"Terry, well-known as an anti-abortion activist and for his efforts with Operation Rescue, explained his reasons to WorldNetDaily for becoming involved in the major euthanasia case. ... 'The fundamental right that all of us have is the right to life,' he said. 'Whether we're pre-born or disabled or in old age, no one has the right to summarily execute us.' ... He and McCullough hope to draw 'statewide and national attention to this cruel execution,' said Terry." World Net Daily, October 14, 2003.

Issues

Terri Schiavo

"McCullough owns a service called the Christian Newswire and said he learned about Schiavo from Randall Terry, founder of Operation Rescue, and another of his clients, former Republican Presidential candidate Alan Keyes." Washington Post, March 24, 2005.

At the time Gary McCullough "sent as many as five news releases on the Schiavo case to 6,000 reporters every day." [3]

Anti-Abortion

McCullough often teaches media skills at pro-family and pro-life conferences in the USA and around the globe. After a media workshop with a pro-life youth group, Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust, McCullough and 20 teenage "survivors" invaded a Los Angeles clinic passing out literature. Police responded but made no arrests. McCullough describes "Survivors" as those born after 1973, who "survived the abortion holocaust." He told police that this was part of the group’s pro-life training. California, July 7, 2000.

Anti-Gay Rights

McCullough's newswire was the only media relations group to set up on-location to fight same-sex marriage in Hawaii, Vermont, and Massachusetts.

Islam

McCullough's newswire was the only US based newswire to publish the cartoons that mocked Muhammad and is consistently by anti-Islam activist groups. He also published an editorial that attacked Islam titled The 'Prophet' Mohammad is Naked

Articles and resources

Related SourceWatch articles

• Marketing Terri Schiavo
• Planned Parenthood
• religion and empire
• Religious Right
• social conservative

External articles

• "Hawaii Green Party, Others to Demonstrate for Peace," qrd.org, February 27, 1996.
• "anti-abortion activism on trial," worsethanqueer.com, February 5, 1999.
• Susan Jones, "Woman's Family Launches Vigil to Save Her Life," Cybercast News Service, October 13, 2003.
• "Randall Terry, Founder of Operation Rescue Invited by Family to Help Save Daughter From Court Ordered Starvation," U.S. Newswire, October 13, 2003: "Contact: Gary McCullough, 202-546-0054."
• Sarah Foster, "Joni Eareckson Tada joins vigil for Terri Schiavo. Judge rejects parents' plea, says brain-disabled woman must begin starvation tomorrow," World Net Daily, October 14, 2003.
• "Husband protests video showing alert Terri. Schindler in desperate move to save daughter facing deadline today," World Net Daily, October 15, 2003: "Gary McCullough, a media consultant who helped distribute the tape, said copies were given to about 10 media outlets."
• Art Moore, "Starvation begins for Terri Schiavo. Jeb Bush meets privately with parents, orders legal team to pursue all avenues," World Net Daily, October 16, 2003.
• Randall Terry, "Saving Terri Schiavo," Declaration Foundation/Restoring America, November 13,2003.
• Schedule of Protests and Vigils on Behalf of Terri Schindler Schiavo, February 24-27, 2005, Christian Communication Network website.
• Jeff Johnson, "Schindler Family 'Begging and Pleading' to Save Daughter's Life," Cybercast News Service, February 22, 2005.
• Art Moore, "Terri Schiavo backers hopeful. Attorney sees options, activists gearing up," World Net Daily, February 26, 2005.
• Maya Bell, "Sophisticated tactics aid Schiavo's parents," Knight Ridder, March 14, 2005.
• "Schiavo case puts spotlight on Florida politics," Tallahassee Democrat, March 24, 2005.
• Mike Allen, "Conservative Groups' Support Steady," Washington Post, March 24, 2005.