NewsAnchored claims to offer “GUARANTEED publishing services” without the hassle of “grumpy journalists.” For a monthly fee of $1,500, clients can publish content on a network of sites that closely resemble established media brands like Rolling Stone and USA Today.
This company has created imitation versions of well-known news websites, including Rolling Stone, MarketWatch, the New York Post, and Business Insider, filling them with hundreds of seemingly AI-generated articles.
Operating under a veil of anonymity, NewsAnchored promotes its 30 “reputable” websites to public relations firms and SEO agencies, aiming to generate favorable Google search results for their clients. However, many of these sites blatantly copy national news brands and are filled with low-quality, AI-generated content. For instance, Music Observer was a clear imitation of Rolling Stone, while MarketDaily‘s logo closely resembled that of MarketWatch. The Entertainment Post mimicked the New York Post’s distinctive style, and US Reporter had a logo strikingly similar to USA Today’s.
After inquiries were made about the company, at least six of these sites were redesigned to reduce their resemblance to established media brands.
“Whoever created this website seems to believe that avoiding the use of a name allows them to operate freely, but that’s not the case,” stated Eric Perrott, a trademark attorney at Gerben Perrott.
As long as search engines have existed, website owners have sought to manipulate them, but generative AI has enabled companies like NewsAnchored to produce an overwhelming volume of subpar content. On December 11 alone, five “authors” for Music Observer published 150 articles, all appearing to be AI-generated rewrites of Billboard articles.
An industry expert noted that the services provided by NewsAnchored lack real value. Eric Carrell, CEO of the SEO firm DoFollow, mentioned that the NewsAnchored sites he examined received minimal traffic and lacked credibility with search engines. The sites often link to small businesses, such as local cleaning services, which may be unwittingly exploited by SEO vendors. “These small businesses likely need SEO help and may hire someone from Fiverr, unaware that their investment is ineffective,” he explained.
A Deceptive Insider Feature
NewsAnchored targets businesses seeking publicity but struggling to obtain it. Their homepage suggests that instead of spending hours pitching to difficult journalists, publicists can offer clients “GUARANTEED publishing services” on sites that, at a glance, resemble news outlets.
Ryan Croy, who operates the Los Angeles PR firm Public Haus Agency, noted that his mention on the NewsAnchored site Influencer Daily was not sought for its content; rather, he aimed to secure backlinks to enhance his firm’s SEO. “I had no idea this was a network of sites. I simply selected from a menu of outlets — low cost, aimed solely at improving my SEO,” he recounted.
A clue to NewsAnchored’s business model can be found on a referral page linked to by Dillon Kivo, the company’s chief marketing officer. The page offers “unlimited article placements,” including “free access to Article Genie (AI writer tool),” for just $599 a month, with a normal rate of $1,500 a month.
Kivo and others at NewsAnchored never responded to inquiries. Shortly after inquiries were made, at least six NewsAnchored websites changed their logos to look less like those of established media properties.
“The way that a lot of people see the industry going is that Google is going to want to see content that’s written from firsthand experience,” he said. “And that’s just not something that AI is going to be able to do. So our clients don’t use AI content that I’m aware of.”
Kivo was the only NewsAnchored executive to use his full name and actual photo on its website. The others use first names and last initials and sketches instead of photos.
The company’s CEO is named in a press release as “Oliver T.” and it lists just five employees on LinkedIn.
The Business Model of NewsAnchored
While NewsAnchored claims to operate a network of reputable news brands, the reality is that these sites often lack genuine journalistic integrity. The articles published on these platforms are frequently devoid of original reporting, instead relying on AI-generated content that lacks depth and accuracy. The bylines on these articles often appear fabricated, with bios that provide vague and unverifiable information about the supposed authors
For instance, a bio for a contributor named “Melanie Moore” claims she comes from a family of filmmakers and attended college, yet no verifiable details are provided, and no individual matching that description could be found. This pattern of questionable authorship raises further concerns about the credibility of the content being produced.
NewsAnchored’s marketing strategy appears to capitalize on the desperation of businesses seeking visibility in a crowded digital landscape. By offering what they term “unlimited article placements” and access to AI writing tools, they lure clients into believing they are investing in legitimate media exposure. However, the reality is that many of these businesses may be wasting their resources on ineffective SEO strategies that yield little to no return.
Here is a list of all fake news websites owned by NewsAnchored:
| No. | Name | URL |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California Gazette | https://californiagazette.com/ |
| 2 | New York Weekly | https://nyweekly.com/ |
| 3 | US Reporter | https://usreporter.com/ |
| 4 | Atlanta Wire | https://atlantawire.com/ |
| 5 | Famous Times | https://famoustimes.com/ |
| 6 | CEO Weekly | https://ceoweekly.com/ |
| 7 | US Insider | https://usinsider.com/ |
| 8 | US Business News | https://usbusinessnews.com/ |
| 9 | San Francisco Post | https://sanfranciscopost.com/ |
| 10 | Real Estate Today | https://realestatetoday.com/ |
| 11 | Portland News | https://portlandnews.com/ |
| 12 | NetWorth | https://networth.us/ |
| 13 | Kivo Daily | https://kivodaily.com/ |
| 14 | Influencer Daily | https://influencerdaily.com/ |
| 15 | Entertainment Monthly News | https://emonthlynews.com/ |
| 16 | Economic Insider | https://economicinsider.com/ |
| 17 | Celebrity News | https://celebritynews.com/ |
| 18 | BLK News | https://blknews.com/ |
| 19 | Artist Weekly | https://artistweekly.com |
| 20 | World Reporter | https://worldreporter.com/ |
| 21 | Women’s Journal | https://womensjournal.com/ |
| 22 | Wall Street Times | https://wallstreettimes.com/ |
| 23 | Voyage New York | https://voyageny.com/ |
| 24 | The Chicago Journal | https://thechicagojournal.com/ |
| 25 | Texas Today | https://texastoday.com/ |
| 26 | Music Observer | https://musicobserver.com/ |
| 27 | Market Daily | https://marketdaily.com/ |
| 28 | New York Wire | https://nywire.com/ |
| 29 | Miami Wire | https://miamiwire.com/ |
| 30 | Los Angeles Wire | https://lawire.com/ |
| 31 | Entertainment Post | https://entertainmentpost.com/ |
Legal and Ethical Implications
The practices employed by NewsAnchored raise significant legal and ethical questions. By imitating established media brands and producing low-quality content, the company not only undermines the integrity of journalism but also potentially infringes on trademark rights. Legal experts suggest that affected media companies could pursue litigation, but the costs associated with such actions may deter them from doing so.
As the landscape of online media continues to evolve, the emergence of companies like NewsAnchored highlights the challenges faced by legitimate news organizations. The proliferation of AI-generated content and the exploitation of established brands for profit threaten to dilute the quality of information available to the public.
In conclusion, while NewsAnchored may present itself as a solution for businesses seeking media exposure, the reality is that its practices are rooted in deception and exploitation. As consumers and businesses become more aware of these tactics, the demand for transparency and authenticity in media will only grow, prompting a reevaluation of how information is produced and disseminated in the digital age.
Source: Business Insider
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