Based on the following article, shouldn't we all be outraged that a corrupt, broken media network has, once again, convicted an innocent animal of a crime he/she did not commit (for an earlier example, read Little Red Riding Hood)? Shouldn't we immediately be calling for a moratorium on information delivered by print or broadcast until a blue ribbon panel of experts can examine this mistake and determine what needs to be done to prevent it from ever happening again? And, if we can't find a way to prevent such a hideous mistake, shouldn't we be moving to abolish the delivery of information in such an inconsistent manner?

L.A. Times Prints Quote From Fake Release

From Associated Press
December 28, 2005 7:05 PM EST
GREEN RIVER, Wyo. - 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 Dave Freudenthal last April decreed that the Endangered Species Act is no longer in force and that the state 'now considers the wolf as a federal dog,' unworthy of protection," the story read.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.

"We hate when this kind of thing happens, and we correct it as quickly as we can," Lauter said.
The fake press release was put together by Maury Jones, an outfitter in the community of Afton, as a joke for April Fool's Day.
"I never thought I'd get this kind of reaction," he said. "But it's got some legs."

Since this is by no means the first error by the media in recent years (Didn't Dan Rather or another anchor jump the gun a few years ago?) and given their endorsement of the death penalty moratorium in Illinois, perhaps they should be shut down while they are examined. A taste of their own! Wouldn't life be more pleasant?

The press seems to forget to make any statements of retraction when they find out they might be wrong. National media coverage of our "so-called hero" saving people from burning apartments who was arrested for a probation violation got all kinds of press. As well as calls from around the world berating our office and law enforcement. Now a couple of years later when he allegedly confessed that he set the fire, no press about that. (he was suspect in the arson all along as there was some history that he tried to start a fire so he could be a hero before)