Depending on the news outlet, it’s very likely that the person who wrote the article didn’t write the headline, and someone else entirely might be in charge of composing the tweets.
That arrangement usually doesn’t present much of a problem, especially if everyone in the newsroom is happy with the narrative being pushed. It’s too bad, then, that after so many journalists announced their recommitment to honest, no-holds-barred truth-telling after an eight-year vacation, so many fake news headlines are being retweeted.
For example:
Woman convicted for laughing during Jeff Sessions' confirmation hearing https://t.co/3Nr2K77E3N pic.twitter.com/FALRmNQYT1
— Mother Jones (@MotherJones) May 3, 2017
@MotherJones No way! This is a SNL skit, right? Our country is fucking off the hinges right now. ?
— Tracy Moore (@TracyRock669) May 3, 2017
@MotherJones We have become a third world country. Absolutely ridiculous.
— Petti Cash (@petti_cash) May 3, 2017
@MotherJones DoJ won't prosecute dirty cops but WILL prosecute women for laughing at a clearly laughable man. Got it.
— mon mzz (@missmeoow) May 3, 2017
The only prosecution that should have been considered after this hearing was a perjury charge against Jeff Sessionshttps://t.co/Otj5B3HJ2Z
— Brian Fallon (@brianefallon) May 3, 2017
@brianefallon Dystopian
— transplant girl (@karenannmilo) May 3, 2017
@brianefallon This is an ominous redefinition of Free Speech.
— Debby Watson (@DebbyPepWatson) May 3, 2017
There is no justice in this DOJ. https://t.co/ySw20By9Vz
— Janet Johnson (@JJohnsonLaw) May 3, 2017
@MotherJones HOW THE HELL IS THIS LEGAL?? Where is the @ACLU on this??
— Eileen Miller (@EileenMMiller) May 3, 2017
This story has fascism, totalitarianism, misogyny … everything! We know that dystopian fiction is hot right now, but how about a little less fiction in the news?
That's a lie. https://t.co/ltMlnHei2g
— Jim Treacher (@jtLOL) May 4, 2017
@MotherJones This tweet is misleading. I'm not a Sessions supporter but it's things like this that make people not trust the media.
— ParalegalinPA (@ParalegalinPA) May 3, 2017
Huh?
@MotherJones She was not convicted for laughing, come on editor
— JMc (@JermaineOM) May 3, 2017
@JermaineOM @MotherJones Then what happened?
— T.O. McDermott (@myblkheart) May 3, 2017
@MotherJones Try actually reporting the whole story. pic.twitter.com/frYelGqS8R
— Karolyn Smith (@karolynsmithMP) May 3, 2017
The Huffington Post quoted the foreperson of the jury as saying, “She did not get convicted for laughing. It was her actions as she was being asked to leave.” Again, that’s straight from a juror. But the notion that people are being jailed for laughing at Trump and his cabinet makes a much more compelling account of America’s descent into fascism.
The @GOP wants to:
1) lock you up for laughing at them and
2) allow people to kill you if you protest in the streets https://t.co/NaPulO1xhd— Pé Resists (@4everNeverTrump) May 3, 2017
Won't prosecute the murder of an unarmed black man, will send a woman to jail for laughing. Our Justice Department, ladies and gentlemen.
— Shayera Tangri (@shayera) May 3, 2017
Appalling: Woman who dared giggle at confirmation of racist pig Jeff Sessions sentenced to prison. https://t.co/307tJ9lIBM
— Steve Silberman (@stevesilberman) May 3, 2017
Um, sentenced to prison? Her sentencing hearing isn’t even scheduled until June 21.
We live in times where women are jailed for laughing but men are given the presidency for sexual assualt https://t.co/v5gVRnmVEk
— Alice Driver (@DriverWrites) May 3, 2017
We’ll go out on a limb here and predict she serves no jail time, though she’ll probably be fined.
Why it's so important for journalists to be more honest in their headlines. Democrats will believe any terrifying thing you write right now. pic.twitter.com/ngu38uGvjq
— Gabriel Malor (@gabrielmalor) May 3, 2017
@gabrielmalor Their clickety, click, click business model demands otherwise
— The H2 (@TheH2) May 3, 2017
I could write about how the "laughing woman" coverage is misleading. But days like today I wonder – whats the point? People want to feel.
— RobustPopehatAgenda (@Popehat) May 3, 2017
* * *
Update:
Here’s Slate’s take.
Protester convicted of crime for laughing out loud during Jeff Sessions hearing: https://t.co/phvuneSCfm pic.twitter.com/ieU8jvbRRU
— Slate (@Slate) May 4, 2017
* * *
Related:
Shocker: WaPo writer whose false tweet about Jeff Sessions went viral doesn't like Sessions one little bit https://t.co/Y4iMDOh4rF
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) April 14, 2017
