Watch out for local news sites that aren't what they appear to be – WFAE

Watch out for local news sites that aren’t what they appear to be  WFAE

WFAE’s Gwendolynn Glenn spoke with Katie Peralta Soloff, editor of Axios Charlotte, about the rise of these potential misinformation networks. It’s a phenomenon called “pink slime.” When it comes to the news online, the onus is often on viewers to make sure what they’re seeing is real. But that’s getting harder as local media struggle in many communities and new, partisan networks of websites peddling dubious stories take their place. And these sites can be convincing. They have legitimate-sounding names like the “Mecklenburg Herald” and websites that look like those of many other news outlets. But they’re operated by partisan groups pushing an agenda. WFAE’s Gwendolynn Glenn spoke with Katie Peralta Soloff, editor of Axios Charlotte, about a recent article detailing the rise of these potential misinformation networks.

It’s a phenomenon called “pink slime.” “Some of them appear to be little more than press releases basically regurgitated,” Soloff said. “I think that the scary part is readers don't always have the media savvy to tell the difference. You know, something that looks legit has the look and feel of a newspaper masthead on its website. And unfortunately, it does take a rather discerning eye to tell the difference.” Soloff said the sites appear to be local, with a mix of generic lifestyle content and stories rewritten from press releases. But