Some news agencies don’t even fact check anymore. Here’s an example from today of how several media websites just ran with an unsubstantiated rumor from a sports reporter without even checking to see if it was true. It turned out to be false.
Per Free Beacon, they explain that this sports reporter, Downtown Josh Brown, started the rumor this morning and it went viral:
NBA champion Warriors skipping the White House visit, as a unanimous team decision per reports.
— Downtown Josh Brown (@ReformedBroker) June 13, 2017
He was challenged by another sports reporter:
"per reports" – can you point to any credible ones?
— Jason McIntyre (@jasonrmcintyre) June 13, 2017
just repeated a few other verified users on twitter who had said it early this morning. I have no idea if its true, hence “per reports”
— Downtown Josh Brown (@ReformedBroker) June 13, 2017
could you link me the other verified users? Searches on twitter coming up empty
— Jason McIntyre (@jasonrmcintyre) June 13, 2017
went back and looked before, not there. deleted?
— Downtown Josh Brown (@ReformedBroker) June 13, 2017
Brown later linked to this report here:
7am this morning FYI, there were a few of them going around: pic.twitter.com/8bZUYz6vsT
— Downtown Josh Brown (@ReformedBroker) June 13, 2017
But as Free Beacon points out, that tweet he linked to came AFTER his own tweet. His original tweet that went viral came at 7:10AM. This tweet was at 8:00AM:
NBA champion Warriors skipping the White House visit, as a unanimous team decision per reports.
— Downtown Josh Brown (@ReformedBroker) June 13, 2017
EXCLUSIVE: NBA championship winning Warriors decide unanimously as a team they will boycott White House invitation to meet President Trump. pic.twitter.com/cTQoOKdiLw
— Mike Sington (@MikeSington) June 13, 2017
So that couldn’t have been Brown’s source. So where are all these reports he claims?
As Free Beacon goes on to point out, the media ran with it anyway:
Despite the lack of attribution, sports and politics websites seized on Brown’s tweet and ran with it. The New York Daily News, New York Magazine, Vogue, and Newsweek all spread the story.
The links are on their website if you want to see them.
Not only did several media websites run with it, several Democrats did too:
The @Warriors' leadership is inspiring. I'd be honored to welcome the team to the U.S. Capitol. #DubNation
— Nancy Pelosi (@NancyPelosi) June 13, 2017
The Golden State Warriors voted unanimously to skip their entire visit to Donald Trump's White House.
As woke as any team in sports.
— Shaun King (@ShaunKing) June 13, 2017
On cue, Pete Souza trolls Trump again—following reports the Golden State Warriors voted unanimously to not visit the White House. pic.twitter.com/JH8o0r6Cm4
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) June 13, 2017
The Golden State Warriors finally came out with a statement saying they haven’t received an invitation and thus have made no decision on the matter:
Warriors say they haven't received an invitation from the White House, but will decide when and if necessary on whether they'll go or not. pic.twitter.com/iRoAyfDfBh
— KPIX 5 (@CBSSF) June 13, 2017
The statement reads:
“Today is all about celebrating our championship. We have not received an invitation to the White House, but will make this decision when and if necessary.”
So there you have it. Social media rumors are now becoming big news even though they have no good sourcing whatsoever. I guess for these leftwing media outlets it falls under the category “too good to check”.