CNN destroyed by huge asteroid

[jakeXT]

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/

[dixiegrrrrl]

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

Anyone got good story ideas?

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

[wandy]

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

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.

[deutsey]

4. That's hilarious

Glad to know their crack team of fact checkers are on the job...smoking crack instead of checking facts, apparently.

[Fred Sanders]

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

[rock]

3. How is this different from their usual brand of news?

Better known as pure speculation (see coverage for MH370 for example).

[GOLGO 13]

5. If this were ever to be true then...

Nothing of value will be lost.

[Eleanors38]

6. Why would it have to be huge? nt

[Fred Sanders]

7. Fear mongering is the goal, a fear based rumour is good enough when fear is what you sell.

Scientists have every large asteroid detected as not threatening the planet.....ever. More may be detected, but....freaking idiots.