Fraud allegations fuel scandal at Christian Post and Christian Today
by Andrew Carey, Global Christian News:
Evangelical news websites, Christian Post and Christian Today face embarrassment and scandal after two leading chief executives were arraigned this month in New York on charges of fraud, conspiracy, money laundering and falsifying business documents.
William C. Anderson, formerly CEO of Christian Media Corporation (CMCI) responsible for Christian Post and Christian Today, and Etienne Uzac, CEO of IBT Media (International Business Times and until recently Newsweek) have been caught up in a long-running investigation by the Manhattan district attorney’s office.
The claim is that the two companies committed fraud by securing millions of dollars in loans to purchase high end servers. The companies bought cheaper servers and the money was spent differently including $1.5 million to CMCI to make up for deficits. Both executives strenuously deny the charges.
Christian Post calls itself the No. 1 Christian website in the world. The British website, Christian Today, which was for several years was regarded as influential was previously edited by Ruth Mawhinney, now working for the Archbishop of Canterbury and then the leading religion writer, Ruth Gledhill.
Earlier this year Christian Today laid off most of its staff. Current editor, Mark Woods refused to answer questions about connections between Christian Today and the fraud allegations. Christian Today is now listed as a micro-company at Companies House in the UK meaning that it has less than £10,000 turnover. This leaves unanswered questions over how it can afford to employ any staff at all in the UK.
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