Dozens of new websites look like they're local news operations in Michigan. They're not.

[EleanorR]

Link to tweet

LANSING — Dozens of websites branded as local news outlets launched throughout Michigan this fall, with monikers like Lansing Sun, Ann Arbor Times, Thumb Reporter and UP Gazette, promising local news but also offering political messaging.

The nearly 40 new sites present a challenge for readers navigating a digital media environment that has unlimited space for publishing stories that are hard to distinguish as journalism, advocacy or political messaging.

SNIP

The road story and many others on Lansing Sun appeared to be right-leaning, said Grossmann, who leads the research institute and its bipartisan political leadership training program.

Political information outlets aren't new, he said, but presenting them as non-biased local news sources is. "The big issue is this extent to which they have gone to try to confuse about this being the site of a local newspaper," he said.

SNIP

Metric Media plans to eventually launch thousands of such sites nationwide, the page says.

https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/local/2019/10/21/lansing-sun-new-sites-michigan-local-news-outlets/3984689002/

[0rganism]

1. cancer of the body politic

unfortunately we don't have a cure and it's about to metastasize.

[Stuart G]

2. Who and What is "Metrick Media?"

[EleanorR]

5. The CEO looks like a real piece of crap

https://www.situationmanagementgroup.com/brad-bio

He also directed a multifaceted litigation initiative for conservative leaders in Wisconsin to terminate home raids and an unlawful government investigation of their operations. His plan resulted in the elimination of the state’s Government Accountability Board, a new statute that bans secret “John Doe” investigations of political activities, and several federal and state court decisions that will shape election laws nationwide.

He is presently retained by national conservative leaders to direct responses to government targeting of their operations and initiatives. In 2015-17, he directed efforts against a national labor union that resulted in the first-ever multi-million dollar jury award against the union and bankruptcy of its Texas chapter.

[Kid Berwyn]

7. No wonder Trumputin asks foreigners for money all the time.

All that cheating is expensive!

[ffr]

3. The misinformation campaign for the Republicans has begun.

[MichMan]

4. People in Michigan know the names of the legitimate news outlets

This would have only fooled people in other states

[Qutzupalotl]

6. Here are dozens of similar websites across the country.

https://www.google.com/search?q=%22We+do+not+accept+unsolicited+feedback,+ideas,+documents,+suggestions+or+other+information%22&client=firefox-b-1-d&filter=0&biw=1171&bih=664

My guess is they’re posting innocuous stuff now in order to build some sort of credibility for outrageously fake stuff to come later.