Must-read: How ‘Pink Slime’ Publishers Are Weaponizing FOIA

Must-read: How ‘Pink Slime’ Publishers Are Weaponizing FOIA

From Mirada Green and the Tow Center for Digital Journalism:

"Metric Media filed more than nine thousand public records requests last year. It used the data to target Democratic politicians and private citizens."

If you're unfamiliar with Metric Media, they own thousands of local "news" sites that mostly republish drivel until election time rolls around they're all partisan conservative publications masquerading as local news.

"Founded in 2019, Metric has been criticized for jury tampering and tied to pay-for-play political schemes and fake newspapers that land in mailboxes ahead of key elections. Recently, it has focused on obtaining troves of public records. In the past year, an investigation by the Tow Center for Digital Journalism has found Metric filed more than nine thousand Freedom of Information Act requests across all fifty states."

"Many of the requests are for data at the forefront of America’s culture-wars, from allegedly rigged elections to banned books to transgender inmates. With public records in hand, Metric has targeted liberal politicians with negative reporting, criticized the funding of nonprofit organizations, and published personally identifying details about small-town residents who spoke up at school board hearings. Unlike traditional journalism, Metric’s stories do not air dueling perspectives or offer targets a chance to comment."

https://www.cjr.org/tow_center/pink-slime-networks-are-weaponizing-foia.php