21st century wire say washington post catch lie deceive public twice last weeks push unfounded mainstream media meme russia invade u.s. electric grid another claim russia behind explosion so-called fake news consider power grid story prove fake news story washpost late retract consider legitimacy claim outlet russia particularly dubious.the intercept interest analysis outlets washpost deceive public push false state sponsor talk point also profit financially collusion glenn greenwald interceptin past six weeks washington post publish two blockbuster stories russian threat go viral one russia behind massive explosion fake news invade u.s. electric grid article fundamentally false bear humiliate editor note grudgingly acknowledge core claim story fiction first note post full two weeks late top original article bury follow day bottom.the second story electric grid turn far bad realize write saturday become clear penetration u.s. electricity grid post claim addition editor note russia-hacked-our-electric-grid story full-scale retraction form separate article admit incident link russian government effort target hack utility may even malware laptop.but debacles embarrass paper also richly reward journalists include post aggressively hype promote original sensationalistic false stories ensure go viral generate massive traffic post paper executive editor marty baron recently boast profitable paper become .after spread falsehoods far wide raise fear level manipulate u.s. political discourse process russia stories widely hype cable news journalists spread false claim subsequently note retraction corrections mute way possible often result tiny fraction people expose original false story end learn retractions.baron editorial leader post perfect case study irresponsible tactic baron go twitter even november 24 announce post expos enormous reach russia fake news operation base herald find independent researchers baron tweet go place date re-tweeted 3,000 time include many journalists large follow russian propaganda effort help spread fake news election say independent researchers https //t.co/3etvxww16q marty baron postbaron november 25 2016but story face barrage intense criticism adrian chen new yorker propaganda russia propaganda matt taibbi roll stone shameful disgust article many others include legal threats sit smear russian propaganda outlets post independent researchers post finally add lengthy editor note distance anonymous group provide key claim story post vouch validity propornot find since publication post story propornot remove sit list .what baron tell followers editor note gutted key claim story hype nothing word date publicly silent revisions spread original claim tens thousands people take step ensure hear major walk back article significant inflammatory claim however ironically find time promote different post story terrible damage fake news pizzagate show fake news hurt real people https //t.co/coh7rz4rqk marty baron postbaron november 26 2016whether post false stories distinguish commonly call fake news point semantic dispute particularly since fake news cogent definition defenders fake news distinct category typically emphasize intent order differentiate bad journalism really way define fake news make definitionally impossible mainstream media outlets like post ever guilty much way terrorism define ensure u.s. government ally definition ever commit .but post motive publish two false stories russia predictably generate massive attention traffic political impact ideological political namely devotion d.c. agenda elevate russia grave threat u.s. security please audience know readers wake trump victory want feed stories russian treachery access source servitude prove serve loyal uncritical repository propaganda intelligence officials want disseminate profit generate revenue sensationalistic click-bait headline reckless disregard whether stories true institution large post numerous reporters editors participate stories impossible identify one motive definitive.whatever motives effect false stories exactly whatever one regard fake news false claim travel internet deceive huge number believe propagators falsehoods receive ample profit false viral news accountability kind would disincentivize repeat behavior post ultimately correct false story distinguish classic fake news sit also sometimes true media outlets make mistake even careful journalism sometimes err facts remotely mitigate post behavior case make good faith mistake engage careful journalism stories reckless best start glare deficiencies report immediately self-evident stories widely attack upon publication .as excellent timeline kalev leetaru document post even bother contact utility company question elementary step journalistic responsibility story publish intelligence officials insist anonymity ensure accountability whisper happen despite significant consequences would rush print verification case good journalism produce inaccurate report case media outlet publish story know would produce massive benefit consequences without slight due diligence care.the ironic aspect mainstream journalists people become obsess crusade fake news play key role enable fuel dissemination false stories uncritically spread also take little step notify public falsity.the post epic debacle weekend regard electric grid fiction vividly illustrate dynamic note saturday many journalists react story way every story russia instantly click re-tweet share story without slight critical scrutiny claim constantly base whisper anonymous officials accompany evidence whatsoever give journalists pause official claim russia putin behind global evil instantly treat truth significant reason paper like post incentivized recklessly publish stories kind know praise reward matter accuracy reliability cause agenda right one.on friday night immediately post story publish one dramatic pronouncements come new york time editorial writer brent staple say story collapse fully retract staple do note tweet false like baron absolutely nothing continue article interceptread russian hack news 21wire russian hack file washington post deceive public profit fake news