Leftists in the allegedly legitimate media seem to think they can still get away with “fake news” however you want to define fake news (see Congressman Suggests Fighting ‘Fake News’ By… Watching MSNBC and Fake News: CNN Reports “Fearless Girl” and a Bull Have Snow On Them). Take the New York Times for example. They tried to create drama over a typical photo op, suggesting everyone hates Trump, but loved Obama. They probably weren’t expecting to get owned by the New England Patriots…
This is why folks don't trust the media. pic.twitter.com/XSrdOBIXen
— The Reagan Battalion (@ReaganBattalion) April 20, 2017
Patriots' turnout for President Obama in 2015 vs. Patriots' turnout for President Trump today: https://t.co/OxMEOqZonI pic.twitter.com/pLmJWhOw1j
— NYT Sports (@NYTSports) April 19, 2017
Still, the Patriots persisted…
These photos lack context. Facts: In 2015, over 40 football staff were on the stairs. In 2017, they were seated on the South Lawn. https://t.co/iIYtV0hR6Y
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) April 20, 2017
Comparable photos: The last time the #Patriots won two Super Bowls in three years, 36 players visited the White House. Today, we had 34. pic.twitter.com/Aslvf1RaXU
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) April 20, 2017
The Times was forced to correct their tweet, but guess which got a bigger response on Twitter?
False info tweet: 43,000 RTs
Updated tweet with correct info: 400 RTs pic.twitter.com/ThwMibkfLU— neontaster (@neontaster) April 20, 2017
Here’s what probably happened. Someone at the New York Times, maybe fresh out of J-school and who thinks John Oliver is a journalist, saw the reaction to the tweets comparing inauguration crowd sizes. And when they saw the new Patriots pictures, they rushed to Twitter because, hey, fact-checking schmact checking. Who needs context when you can just say “LOL, EVERYONE HATES TRUMP” instead?
At which point they got called by whoever runs Twitter for a football team. Which means a social media manager for an NFL team did more fact checking than someone who’s job description actually includes “checking and verifying facts.”
And the press wonders why no one trusts them.
