Southend News Network

Southend News Network
Type of site
Entertainment website
Created bySimon Harris
URLsouthendnewsnetwork.net
LaunchedOctober 2015; 9 years ago (2015-10)
Current statusInactive

Southend News Network was a news parody website that aimed to "have a dig at the powers that be". Starting as a local spoof news site from the UK, it shot to national, and then international, fame after several cases where an SNN story caused confusion by being taken as fact,[1] including by the English Defence League, a far-right network.[2] Another claim to fame was their recognition as an "official media outlet" by local government.[3]

Following a news article on the Essex Live news website revealing the owner, Mr Simon Harris, had received almost £500,000 over the course of three years for "community engagement" during the pandemic that primarily included running a Facebook page, the Southend News Network site was no longer accessible.[4]

In January 2018, journalist Milo Yiannopoulos read out during a live YouTube broadcast an article from the site prompting questions about his source checking.[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ Lynch, Alison (24 February 2016). "Facebook users turn on mum who put £50 minimum spend on presents for son's birthday party, but the joke's on them". Metro. Associated Newspapers Limited. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
  2. ^ Sandhu, Serina (7 March 2016). "EDL falls for story on hot cross buns without crosses published on spoof news site Southend News Network". The Independent. Independent Print Limited. Archived from the original on 2022-05-24. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
  3. ^ "Spoof news site 'becomes official' after Facebook and Twitter success". BBC. 20 February 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
  4. ^ Lee, Matt (10 January 2024). "Essex Council paid social media prankster £500k to run Facebook group during pandemic". Essex Live. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  5. ^ Nesling, Jodie (16 January 2018). "Kent 'celebrity' mocked for falling for spoof news article". Kent Online. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
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