The media has gotten so far out of hand in the face of an increasingly quick news cycle, they no longer have any more value than blogs anymore. They can say all they want. But many of us are as, if not more diligent than them in checking sourcing today. If nothing else, we usually qualify it up front.
The Washington Post, New York Times and many more outlets, including TV were pwned by a bogus email on climate change. They've become so pathetic they don't even bother to pick up a phone if it's breaking news that fits with their and the liberal agenda. Were this the reverse, they would have sought multiple confirmations before breathing a word.
An email press release announcing the change is a hoax, say Chamber officials.
Several media organizations fell for it.
A CNBC anchor interrupted herself mid-sentence Monday morning to announce that the network had “breaking news,” then cut away to reporter Hampton Pearson, who read from the fake press release.
Pearson quickly followed up with a second report saying the “so-called bulletin” was an “absolute hoax.” Smelling a rat, CNBC’s Larry Kudlow demanded to know whether the White House had been involved.
Breaking News...
Hampton Pearson has quit her job stating that she just received an email informing her that she has won a $10,000,000 lottery. She told her coworkers that she had to run to the bank to wire a $5,ooo security fee so she could collect her prize!
Posted by: JustOneMan | Monday, October 19, 2009 at 02:17 PM
The media of today is and has been a joke. Once upon a time you got actual new items now you get fluff, and anytime they can you get the Obama cheer squad. I have come to the conclution that if you hears it on todays propaganda media it is either a lie or a distraction form something that they hope you won't notice.
Posted by: John | Monday, October 19, 2009 at 02:56 PM
"Reuters has an obligation to its clients to publish news and information that could move financial markets, and this story had the potential to do that,” said a Thomson Reuters spokesperson."
Doesn't Reuters have a greater obligation to its clients to verify the acccuracy of stories first?
Aside from the various media outlets getting it wrong, I find the other story-within-the-story interesting: the tactics being used by activists (in this case the YesMen. Is there no crime in impersonating a government agency? Certainly using the logo without permission is a legal issue.
Posted by: Black Angus | Monday, October 19, 2009 at 03:38 PM
They always have been but now more people are noticing and actually talking about it. The open protests (not propaganda media reported) are another sign that the media elite creditability has gone.
Posted by: John | Monday, October 19, 2009 at 04:31 PM