When checking facts ruins good stories

Posted at 11:51 AM on April 13, 2011 by Bob Collins (2 Comments)
Filed under: Media

The anti-corporate hoaxsters struck again today.

The Associated Press was the victim this time when it ran a story -- based on an authentic-looking news release from General Electric -- that it would repay a $3.2 billion tax refund for 2010 to the Treasury Department.

GE has been criticized following a New York Times story that it would pay no taxes on its domestic profits.

There's no indication -- yet -- that this was the work of The Yes Men, who made news in 2009 by pretending to be the U.S. Chamber of Commerce announcing support for greenhouse gas legislation, and last fall convinced news organizations that a large oil company was admitting to policies that damage the environment.

Comments (2)

Reading stories like this always reminds me of the advice of Arnie Dornfeld, the night news editor at City News Bureau of Chicago for decades. "If your mother says she loves you, check it out!"

Posted by Jake | April 13, 2011 1:16 PM

I wish it was the original NYTimes article that was the joke!

Posted by Jenn | April 13, 2011 1:55 PM

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