Metric Media Sites Spread Partisan Content in New Hampshire

The Chicago-based company operates eight news sites in New Hampshire that feature look-alike designs and identical content.

Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Corruption

Bold flat-color editorial illustration showing a stack of identical geometric blocks, evoking the replication of digital media content. — A network of digital sites based in Chicago is spreading identical, partisan-leaning content across New Hampshire, raising concerns about the future of local reporting. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Should online news sources be required to disclose their political funding and editorial bias?

Chicago-based Metric Media continues to operate eight partisan websites in New Hampshire that masquerade as local news. These sites have been identified as part of a larger network of over 1,000 conservative-leaning digital publications.

Why it matters

The rise of these so-called pink slime sites raises concerns about the erosion of local journalism as they increasingly outnumber professional daily newspapers.

NewsGuard has identified 1,181 pink slime news sites, while professional daily newspapers now number just 987. Additionally, Deb Paul was found guilty of five misdemeanor charges in 2023 for failing to properly mark political advertisements.

The players

Metric Media

This Chicago-based company operates a network of over 1,000 websites that mimic local news outlets to publish partisan content.

The Rockingham Times

This publication is one of eight websites operating in New Hampshire under the Metric Media umbrella.

NewsGuard

This organization tracks online information quality and identified the widespread growth of pink slime news sites.

Joe Sweeney

This individual had his social media posts summarized across 13 entries in the October 29 edition of the Rockingham Times.

James Spillane

This individual had his social media posts summarized across four entries in the October 29 edition of the Rockingham Times.

The details

The Rockingham Times, one of eight Metric Media sites in New Hampshire, published an October 2026 edition heavily focused on illegal aliens. The October 29 online edition featured 13 social media post summaries by Joe Sweeney and four by James Spillane, utilizing a network strategy where websites share identical content.

Metric Media was founded in 2019.
Deb Paul was found guilty of misdemeanor charges in 2023.
Media Bias/Fact Check analyzed the Rockingham Times in 2025.
The Rockingham Times published an issue in October 2026.
The online edition was released on October 29, 2026.

Legal Context

The debate over Metric Media follows a pattern set by the 2023 conviction of Deb Paul for failing to mark political advertisements. It highlights the ongoing legal challenge in classifying political content, a struggle that remains relevant as states evaluate media laws.

Residents should exercise caution when consuming local digital news, as many sites now utilize AI chatbots and look-alike designs to influence midterm elections. Official state rulings on whether these sites must adhere to political advertising transparency laws remain pending.

The takeaway

Readers should verify the ownership of local news sources to ensure they are not consuming partisan content disguised as journalism. Be particularly skeptical of websites that consistently feature identical content across multiple regions.