Funding Mystery in Online News: Political Backing Hides Behind Independent Fronts
The lack of transparency around funding sources in online news outlets is causing concern. Recent studies have revealed politically backed 'local news websites' masquerading as independent sources, with search engines like Google and Facebook struggling to maintain consistent standards.
The Tow Center's investigation uncovered over a thousand politically funded local news sites producing automated stories. One such network, Metric Media, has only one of its 268 sites indexed by Google News, while 35 of 36 Local Government Information Services (LGIS) sites are included. Google uses seven standards to rate news, but inconsistencies in indexing fuel public confusion about news provenance.
Facebook relies on self-identification for news sources, making it difficult to detect political motives. The platform has announced a crackdown on news pages tied to political organizations, but scrutinizing tens of thousands of titles is challenging. Meanwhile, Google proactively identifies news sources, but its policies against duplicate content are not consistently enforced.
The blurred lines between independent and politically backed news sources pose a threat to informed decision-making. While Google and Facebook strive to improve their standards, the lack of transparency in funding sources persists. Further research and stricter enforcement of policies are needed to ensure the integrity of online news.
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