A New Low
Jim Hoft reports on a completely fabricated news story that has been busted wide open. Several media organizations and the group Reporters Without Borders were taken in by the shocking claim that 11 members of an Iraqi "journalist's" family had been brutally murdered. The problem?
Every, last one of them is alive. And they are mad as hell at the liar.
About that horrible slaughter…
It didn't happen!!
It was just a hoaxer that Reporters Without Borders failed to fact check.** The Iraqi Interior Ministry emphatically said, "Kawwaz is lying."
** The police in Baghdad have not confirmed the attack.
** Talisman Gate reported that Al-Iraqiyya TV has "categorically dismissed reports over the murder of Dhia al-Kawwaz's family in Sha'ab City." (Thanks, BG!)
** The Multi-National Force Iraq wrote me and reported that they had found no evidence to back up the fantastic story:
And in fact, Reporters Without Borders is absolutely furious at being pwned like this:
Reporters Without Borders is astounded and angry to discover that a journalist’s claim that 11 of his close relatives were murdered last weekend is false. Amman-based Iraqi journalist Dia al-Kawwaz had claimed on 26 November that 11 members of his immediate family were shot by gunmen the previous day in Baghdad.
“We are obviously relieved to learn that the Kawwaz family is safe and sound but this journalist’s behaviour is unacceptable,” the press freedom organisation said. “We are appalled by this deceit, which is not only sordid but also dangerous as it obscures the fact that the families of dozens of journalists have been exposed to violence by Iraq’s armed groups.”
Not only is Dia al-Kawwaz a liar, he has damaged the credibility of Reporters Without Borders with his actions. The family has been shown on television, alive and kicking. This is pretty appalling.
By martian, Wednesday, 28 November , 2007 @ 3:01 pm
Reporters printed an item that would ultimately be derogatory toward the US (for not providing better security at a minimum) and harm the war effort and they didn’t bother to check the facts and verify the item? How shocking! How Dan Ratherish of them!
I’m only surprised that they’re actually admitting the false report and not trying to cover it up. Are they sure those people aren’t really dead and just don’t know it? Did anyone take EKGs of the live family members? Did anyone perform DNA tests to confirm that these are really members of al-Kawwaz’s family that are alive and not imposters? Come on, you can’t claim the original report of the murders is false without PROVING that it is with scientific testing! /kill sarcasm
Never mind that no one even made a simple phone call to confirm the truth of it before prining the story………………………..
By terrence, Wednesday, 28 November , 2007 @ 3:49 pm
“This is pretty appalling.” But, it is not at all surprising. If it was true, this kind of brutality would fit the “narrative”. It is the Dan Rather way of “reporting”.
I am sure the Reporters Without Borders are ONLY upset because the story was false, and they got caught out. I am sure they would rather (as it were) that the story was true.
By Maggie, Wednesday, 28 November , 2007 @ 7:42 pm
martian (et al) -
Ah! Yes! The new age of “Fake but Accurate” …
THIS is exactly why today’s reporters/journalists/news media HATE and practically loath the internet blogs …
The blogs have not only been “doing the leg work” on (such) stories and getting to the bottom and the facts, but in doing so have blown wide open for exposure the journalistic laziness and malpractice those news media(s) have been engaged in, especially in the last ten or so years.
terrence is spot on:
I am sure the Reporters Without Borders are ONLY upset because the story was false, and they got caught out. I am sure they would rather (as it were) that the story was true.