Media

jakeXT

(10,575 posts) Wed May 28, 2014, 11:38 AM May 2014

CNN destroyed by huge asteroid

What happens when a news org fails to fact-check or monitor user-generated content? Your brand goes boom

For at least 24 hours over the Memorial Day weekend, CNN hosted an article online that claimed a huge asteroid was on track to smash into the earth on March 35, 2041.

Astronomers have placed the odds of an impact at 1 in 2.04, which is by far the most unprecedented risk ever faced to humanity, let alone from asteroids. Such an impact could potentially end civilization as we know it.

The story turned out to be a hoax, a prank slipped into the cracks of CNN’s “iReport” project, an effort to tap CNN’s audience for stories that will help ” paint a more complete picture of the news.”

iReport is an interesting experiment, except for the part where CNN declares that “The stories here are not edited, fact-checked or screened before they post.”

http://www.salon.com/2014/05/27/cnn_destroyed_by_huge_asteroid/

8 replies

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Highlight:

CNN destroyed by huge asteroid (Original Post) jakeXT May 2014 OP

Oh, that idea ought to be interesting. Maybe we can "help" CNN? dixiegrrrrl May 2014 #1

Had to check the link to see if the OP was a Typo............. wandy May 2014 #2

That's hilarious deutsey May 2014 #4

The IReport posting rules say you must tell the truth, making stuff up is not news.....as if... Fred Sanders Aug 2014 #8

How is this different from their usual brand of news? rock May 2014 #3

If this were ever to be true then... GOLGO 13 Jun 2014 #5

Why would it have to be huge? nt Eleanors38 Aug 2014 #6

Fear mongering is the goal, a fear based rumour is good enough when fear is what you sell. Fred Sanders Aug 2014 #7

dixiegrrrrl

(60,011 posts)

1. Oh, that idea ought to be interesting. Maybe we can "help" CNN?

Reply to jakeXT (Original post)

Wed May 28, 2014, 11:51 AM

May 2014

Anyone got good story ideas?

I love the way CNn is so out of touch with people...

wandy

(3,539 posts)

2. Had to check the link to see if the OP was a Typo.............

Reply to jakeXT (Original post)

Wed May 28, 2014, 12:24 PM

May 2014

Don't know if Salon smacked the wrong keys.
Reread this part of the story (Bolding Mine)

For at least 24 hours over the Memorial Day weekend, CNN hosted an article online that claimed a huge asteroid was on track to smash into the earth on March 35, 2041.

CNN may be in worse shape than we give them credit for.