[Ads-l] metaphorical pink slime

[Amy West]

I remember the literal "pink slime" -- finely ground red meat bits mixed 
into a sludge/slurry -- and the uproar over its use in foodstuffs for 
human consumption. But now I've spotted (and this is likely old news to 
those who follow Among the New Words) the extended, metaphorical use of it:

 From a LINCS discussion board posting by Jennifer Gagliardi:

https://community.lincs.ed.gov/group/152/discussion/news-literacy-pink-slime-sites-fake-local-news

[begin quote]

/Read this week full issue *NewsLit: *//*The Sift: Pink Slime Sites and 
Fact Checking the Fact Checkers*/ 
<https://newslit.org/educators/sift/the-sift-pink-slime-sites-fact-checking-fact-checkers/>


*Pink slime sites masquerading as local news *are spreading ahead of 
this year’s presidential election. The number of partisan pink slime 
sites (1,197) posing as local news but lacking the ethics of legitimate 
news organizations is now *_nearly equivalent_* 
<https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/04/pink-slime-local-news-outlets-erupt-all-over-us-during-election-year/> (link 
warning: language) to the number of real local news sites in the U.S. 
(1,200), according to misinformation watchdog NewsGuard. *_This 
Philadelphia Inquirer piece_* 
<https://www.inquirer.com/politics/pink-slime-news-sites-pennsylvania-west-montogomery-times-20240405.html> highlights 
a local pink slime site that had 18 stories on its home page — 14 of 
which were dedicated to the accomplishments of a single state 
legislator. With the rise of generative AI technology, pink slime sites 
can create content quickly, spew misinformation and advance partisan 
agendas — especially in places that lack local news. The phrase “pink 
slime” comes from the cheap filler byproduct used in meat processing to 
resemble meat, which can fool consumers.

[end quote]

---Amy West

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