Battling Misinformation in the Age of AI

Pink Slime Journalism and How We Can Combat It

I’ll be honest—writing this week’s newsletter has been a challenge. As librarians, one of our biggest jobs is helping people spot misinformation, giving them the tools and resources to navigate what’s real and what isn’t. But lately, it’s hard not to feel like we’re losing ground. AI has made it easier and faster for disinformation to spread, and sometimes it feels like we’re playing catch-up.

This week, I’m digging into both sides of AI—the helpful and the harmful. I recently came across the term “pink slime” journalism, which is a new one for me, but it’s a powerful example of how misinformation can look like real, trustworthy news. I’m also sharing some tools we can use to fight back and help our communities think more critically about what they see. It’s a tough road, but we’re in it together!

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NotebookLM Podcast

What is Pink Slime Journalism?

Pink slime journalism is a term that describes news outlets that mimic traditional local journalism in appearance but often lack journalistic rigor and integrity. These outlets produce articles with a facade of local news coverage while promoting specific political, corporate, or ideological agendas. Like "pink slime" in processed meat, which combines fillers and additives to resemble real meat, pink slime journalism blends real or semi-factual content with biased or misleading information, often pushing an underlying agenda.

The origins of pink slime journalism date back to the decline of traditional local newspapers, which left news deserts across many regions. In response to these voids, certain organizations—often funded by political action committees or private interests—launched news sites that look legitimate but are designed primarily to sway public opinion rather than provide balanced reporting. This phenomenon has particularly surged in recent years due to the cost-effective production of digital content and the influence of social media algorithms that amplify sensationalized or biased stories.

Why is Pink Slime Journalism Problematic?

These outlets mislead readers by presenting opinion-based or biased content as objective journalism, undermining public trust in the media. Readers may believe they are engaging with impartial local news when, in reality, they are consuming content crafted to promote specific viewpoints. This can distort public perceptions on issues and complicate efforts to foster informed civic engagement.

Examples of How It Works

Some pink slime sites use algorithm-driven content to create articles that appeal to specific demographic or regional biases, presenting skewed perspectives on local events or policies. They may also borrow journalistic aesthetics—like datelines, local names, or innocuous-sounding publication titles—to convey a sense of authenticity.

Read more about it here:

An Illustrated Guide to 'Pink Slime' Journalism - Poynter Institute

A great video for students on Pink Slime Journalism:

With local news media sites disappearing at alarming rates, these AI-generated news outlets are becoming more prolific. Miranda Green provides a masterclass breakdown in this Twitter thread

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How Do We Combat This?

1. NewsGuard
   NewsGuard is a browser extension that provides credibility ratings for thousands of news sites. It assigns a "Nutrition Label" to each site, detailing its trustworthiness and transparency, allowing users to understand the reliability of various sources.
   How it Helps: By displaying clear ratings and explanations, NewsGuard helps educators teach students to distinguish credible sources from biased or misleading ones.
   Link: NewsGuard

2. Media Bias/Fact Check
   This platform assesses the bias and reliability of news sources based on a mix of human analysis and automated processes. Media Bias/Fact Check is a useful reference for librarians and educators to analyze the potential bias of websites and articles.
   Link: Media Bias/Fact Check

3. Hoaxy
   Developed by Indiana University, Hoaxy visualizes the spread of articles and claims on social media, helping users track how misinformation proliferates.
   Link: Hoaxy

4. Fakey
   Fakey is an interactive game created by Indiana University’s Observatory on Social Media. It simulates a social media news feed where players identify trustworthy sources and flag misinformation.
   Link: Fakey

5. ClaimBuster
   ClaimBuster is an AI tool that identifies factual claims in text and checks them against verified information, useful for real-time fact-checking.
   Link: ClaimBuster

6. AllSides
   AllSides presents news stories from multiple perspectives (left, center, and right), allowing students to compare biases in reporting.
   Link: AllSides

7. Checkology by The News Literacy Project
   Checkology offers interactive lessons in news literacy, teaching students to distinguish between information types, analyze sources, and recognize reliable journalism.
   Link: Checkology

8. Project Look Sharp
   Project Look Sharp is a media literacy initiative by Ithaca College that offers lesson plans, activities, and resources to help students critically analyze media.
   Link: Project Look Sharp

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Reading List

Here’s a collection of articles and resources to help understand pink slime journalism and teach critical media literacy skills:

1. "An Illustrated Guide to 'Pink Slime' Journalism" - Poynter Institute
   This article provides an in-depth explanation of pink slime journalism, covering its origins and how it has spread across the U.S. It sheds light on the deceptive tactics these outlets use to mimic legitimate local news sources.

2. "'Journalistic Meat or Fraudulent Filler': What is Pink Slime Journalism?" - Poynter Institute
   This piece explores the insidious nature of pink slime journalism, explaining how it misleads audiences with content that appears genuine but serves hidden agendas. It provides strategies to help readers identify and challenge these sources.

3. "Be MediaWise Lesson 9: Identifying News Sites That Aren't Actually Legit" - PBS
   This lesson plan teaches students to recognize misleading news sources that look credible but lack real journalistic standards. It provides educators with tools to guide students through the identification and questioning of “fake” local news sites.

4. "'Pink Slime': Partisan Journalism and the Future of Local News" - Columbia Journalism Review
   This report examines the rise of partisan news sites that masquerade as local journalism, exploring their funding sources and the broader impact on media literacy. It encourages readers to critically assess the intentions behind the content they consume.

5. "The Consumption of Pink Slime Journalism: Who, What, When, Where, and Why?" - Cyber Policy Center
   This study analyzes patterns of engagement with pink slime journalism, revealing demographic insights and behavioral trends. It provides valuable context for educators aiming to understand and address misinformation in different communities.

6. "'It's Really Muddying the Waters': NLP's Covington on Pink Slime" - News Literacy Project
   This article highlights the challenges pink slime journalism presents, emphasizing the need for strong news literacy skills to combat its influence. It offers educators insights into the importance of media literacy in navigating today’s media landscape.

7. "An Illustrated Guide to 'Pink Slime' Journalism - NewsLab" - NewsLab
   NewsLab offers a visual breakdown of pink slime journalism, helping readers identify fake news sites and understand their tactics. It’s a valuable resource for visually-oriented learners and educators alike.

8. "'Pink Slime' Sites | Fact-Checking Fact-Checkers" - News Literacy Project
   This piece examines how pink slime sites position themselves as “fact-checkers,” misleading readers into thinking they are reliable. It underlines the importance of scrutinizing the origins and funding of purported “fact-checking” organizations.

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BONUS:

I created this Combating Pink Slime Journalism Infographic for You:

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Navigating the sea of information today feels like an uphill battle, and it’s easy to feel disheartened as new AI tools emerge that make it easier than ever to create misleading or biased content. But we’re not powerless. By using tools like these and continuously educating ourselves and our communities, we’re taking small but meaningful steps toward a more informed world. We can make a difference in the fight against misinformation—one critical thinker at a time.