• jeffw@lemmy.world
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    3 days ago

    Legitimate news outlets do pretty thorough fact-checking, if only to avoid litigation

    • Kalcifer@sh.itjust.worksOP
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      2 days ago

      Are you saying that any claims made by “legitimate news outlets” can be trusted without cited sources simply because they are deemed “legitimate”?

      • jeffw@lemmy.world
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        23 hours ago

        Sure. Anyone can challenge a legit news source through litigation. How often do you think NYTimes is sent legal threats over factual questions in their reporting? Probably dozens of letters each week. Why do those letters never result in lawsuits with real results? Because the papers keep their records tight.

        • Kalcifer@sh.itjust.worksOP
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          17 hours ago

          […] Anyone can challenge a legit news source through litigation. […]

          Oh? Would you mind citing some of those laws as examples (presumably you’re not referring to defamation, but something else entirely)? I wasn’t aware of any laws, in, for example, the USA that enforce legal action if a news outlet puts out false information.

          • jeffw@lemmy.world
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            33 minutes ago

            Wow, Google is hard, huh? /s

            I can tell you’re trolling now, but in case anybody reads this and wants a serious answer:

            Libel laws are a huge piece. Wire fraud laws, false advertising laws, various consumer protection laws, etc. have been used. There is nothing specific that prevents someone from lying in general, but it’s nearly impossible for a large outlet to get away with lying. Not only do they get shit on and then document their retractions with an apology, but because people are incredibly litigious and will attempt to sue over any perceived slight that is factually inaccurate, even when no harm is done.