December 30, 2005

L.A. Times Publishes Phony Report

How often has the blogosphere been criticized by the mainstream media for not adequately researching stories, for being less than thorough, and for not checking facts? Way too often, I'd say. Well, check out this story.

From BreitBart.com:

A quote in a fake news release that was intended as an April Fool's joke ended up in a front-page story in the Los Angeles Times. The story in Tuesday's editions of the Times noted how successful the reintroduction of wolves had been 10 years ago, but said the predators remained controversial.

"In Wyoming, for example, Gov. Dave Freudenthal last April decreed that the Endangered Species Act is no longer in force and that the state 'now considers the wolf as a federal dog,' unworthy of protection," the story read.

The Times printed a correction Wednesday, acknowledging that the news release was a hoax.

"The reporter saw it on the Internet and had talked with the governor in the past, so she was familiar enough with the way he talks and writes that she thought it sounded authentic, and she didn't check, which she should have," Times Deputy Metro Editor David Lauter told the Casper Star Tribune.

Lauter also said, "We hate when this kind of thing happens." I don't know why. It's consistent with the new 21st Century MSM philosophy, "Fake but accurate."

Companion thoughts at Interested-Participant.

Posted by: Mike Pechar at 05:24 PM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
Post contains 234 words, total size 2 kb.

1 From the Mary Mapes school of journalism. But I think it's "feral" not "federal", and that should have tipped him off.

Posted by: Jesusland Carlos at December 30, 2005 05:27 PM (8e/V4)

2 Agent Smith likes the idea of "federal dogs".

Posted by: Agent Smith at December 30, 2005 06:26 PM (HuVhz)

3 And this surprises you? Fake but accurate, right.

Posted by: jesusland joe at December 30, 2005 07:28 PM (rUyw4)

4 Damn, JC!! You beat me to it.

Posted by: Oyster at December 31, 2005 06:02 AM (YudAC)

5 This isn't the first time an overly-earnest person has been taken in by an online hoax. In March of 2004, a paralegal working for the city of Aliso Viejo CA found the DHMO page and got taken in by it. The city almost passed a law banning styrofoam cups on the grounds that the toxic chemical DHMO was used to produce them. (I wanted to include a link to a news article about this, but your spam filter objected to the Fox News website URL.)

Posted by: Steven Den Beste at December 31, 2005 10:39 AM (CJBEv)

6 Dihydrogen monoxide is the leading cause of global warming, and should be banned immediately. Also, all manufacturers, distributors, and users of it should be fined and/or jailed in order to save the world. FREE MUMIA!!!

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at December 31, 2005 11:58 AM (0yYS2)

7 The LAT is reviving Rathergate. Lies but true. Orwell would be so proud of them.

Posted by: Angus mac G at December 31, 2005 04:12 PM (2vpLj)

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