Partisan-backed Websites vs Local Newspapers in the U.S.

SOURCE www.axios.com
Partisan-backed websites designed to look like impartial news outlets now outnumber real local newspapers in the U.S., indicating a clear attempt to influence politics. There are over 1,200 such websites identified, with eight primary organizations supporting most of them. The decline of local newspapers has created an opportunity for political actors to exploit the media landscape.

Key Points

  • Over 1,200 websites identified as partisan-backed or masquerading as local news outlets
  • Eight primary organizations support most of these sites, with four leaning conservative and four leaning progressive
  • Some sites are more transparent about their funding and political motives
  • The decline of local newspapers has created an opportunity for partisan actors to exploit the media landscape

Pros

  • Raising awareness about the prevalence of partisan-backed websites masquerading as local news outlets
  • Highlighting the impact of declining local newspapers on the media landscape

Cons

  • Potential for misinformation and biased reporting to influence public opinion
  • Threat to the credibility of local journalism and independent news sources