Maybe it’s a function of the fact that news now moves at the speed of Twitter, but the volume of reporting errors today has been staggering. First, multiple outlets misidentified the Navy Yard shooter. Next, a local ABC affiliate incorrectly reported that a separate shooting had taken place at Bolling Air Force Base. Then, relying on erroneous information provided by law enforcement sources, the Washington Post and others reported that the Navy Yard shooting involved three gunmen.
And this evening, Fox News anchor Shepard Smith’s people “confirmed” that shots were fired outside the White House when the real story was that some idiot was throwing firecrackers. Someone on Smith’s staff deleted the tweet, but that trick never works.
@AceofSpadesHQ You mean this, deleted, tweet? pic.twitter.com/RPh5eVWNe2
— Arthur Kimes (@ComradeArthur) September 16, 2013
https://twitter.com/MBoroRobert/status/379740893399351298
https://twitter.com/MBoroRobert/status/379741422821195776
https://twitter.com/MBoroRobert/status/379742266291539968
@AceofSpadesHQ Confirmed: #ActionShep is on bath salts.
— ebbid yelsreknat (@yebbid) September 16, 2013
@AceofSpadesHQ A wino in the alley said he heard gun shots. Says it was probably the mole people. Then he started urinating on my shoe.
— Dave (@dave_mears) September 16, 2013
Twitter is notorious for false rumors, but one could be forgiven for wondering if the MSM is much better.
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