FactaVue
Media caught out
The times media outlets published something false or invented. Each case is classified by what is proven (an admission, a retraction, a press council ruling, a court judgment, a public correction) and cites its proof. We judge no intent.
A case appears here only if the act that establishes it is public and cited. A person is named only if that proof names them.
7 cases
Ethics rulingThe National · November 15, 2025
“Trump received an apology. Gaza got silence: Why I quit as a BBC correspondent”In Moshelian v The National, the Independent Press Standards Organisation found inaccurate the claim in this column by a former BBC correspondent that the BBC had “refused to broadcast” a documentary narrated by the son of a Hamas official: the documentary had been broadcast, then removed from the BBC’s platforms. The organisation concluded that this breached the accuracy rule and ordered the publication of a correction. The complainant’s other grievances were not upheld.
Established by: Independent Press Standards Organisation (September 24, 2026)
Ethics rulingNewbury Weekly News · May 15, 2025
“Thatcham man Daniel Read denies sending obscene or menacing message”IPSO’s committee found that the article had described the release on bail as subject to conditions, whereas HMCTS information indicated an unconditional bail release. It concluded that Clause 1 on accuracy had been breached and required a correction.
Established by: Independent Press Standards Organisation (April 16, 2026)
Ethics rulingThe Gazette (North East, Middlesbrough & Teesside) · July 12, 2019
“Glum-looking pimp used threats to keep his sex enterprise secret”IPSO indicates that the media outlet inaccurately reported the court case and the conviction of a man by reproducing a police press release without verification.
Established by: IPSO’s Complaints Committee (June 4, 2020)
Ethics rulingLa Presse canadienne · November 7, 2017
“Débat sur un projet de loi conservateur pour assouplir le port d’armes”The Quebec Press Council found that the headline conflated carrying weapons with possessing weapons and was therefore not faithful to reality. It upheld the complaint of inaccuracy but granted absolution after a prompt correction.
Established by: Le Conseil de presse du Québec (October 19, 2018)
Ethics rulingLa Presse · May 7, 2014
“Un élève de second ordre – Un jeune autiste de Pointe-Claire est écarté de la cérémonie de remise des diplômes de l’école qu’il fréquente depuis cinq ans, même s’il y a achevé son cheminement scolaire”The Quebec Press Council concluded that the headline gave the event disproportionate prominence and suggested, without justification, discriminatory treatment.
Established by: Conseil de presse du Québec (February 26, 2016)
Admitted fabricationThe New York Times Company · April 26, 2003
“Family Waits, Now Alone, for a Missing Soldier”According to this summary, the New York Times investigation uncovered four years of fabrications by Jayson Blair. The newspaper subsequently published an account of his acts of fabrication and plagiarism.
Established by: The New York Times (2003)
Admitted fabricationThe New York Times Company · April 19, 2003
“In Military Wards, Questions And Fears From the Wounded”According to the report published by The New York Times on May 11, 2003, a review of the articles by Jayson Blair, a journalist who had resigned on May 1, uncovered falsifications, plagiarism and similar problems.
Established by: New York Times (2003)