Fake editions of The Washington Post handed out at multiple locations in D.C.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: Washington Post

Style

Fake editions of The Washington Post handed out at multiple locations in D.C.

By Emily Heil and Paul Farhi
January 16 at 11:16 AM

Fake editions of The Washington Post claiming that President Trump was leaving office were handed out Wednesday morning at multiple locations in Washington, D.C.

The print papers -- which at a quick glance look strikingly similar to actual copies of The Post -- were filled with anti-Trump stories, which also appeared on a website that mimicked the official Post site.

The Post's PR department released a statement on Twitter: "There are fake print editions of The Washington Post being distributed around downtown DC, and we are aware of a website attempting to mimic The Post's. They are not Post products, and we are looking into this."

Under the headline "Unpresidented," the fake newspaper's lead story said that Trump had left a resignation message on a napkin in the Oval Office and left Washington for Yalta, the famous Crimean resort as the site of a meeting of Allied heads of state during World War II.
....

Emily Heil is the co-author of the Reliable Source and previously helped pen the In the Loop column with Al Kamen. Follow https://twitter.com/emilyaheil

Paul Farhi is The Washington Post's media reporter. He started at The Post in 1988 and has been a financial reporter, a political reporter and a Style reporter. Follow https://twitter.com/farhip

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/fake-editions-of-the-washington-post-handed-out-at-multiple-locations-in-dc/2019/01/16/1d6a0402-19a5-11e9-88fe-f9f77a3bcb6c_story.html

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Previously at DU, and a tip of the hat to:

If only this were a REAL newspaper front page.... Maybe soon?

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100211677636

[zipplewrath]

1. Couldn't see past the paywall

But the quick look of the photo I saw suggested it was left wingers, not right wingers?

[BumRushDaShow]

6. Here's the pic at the WaPo link

[PunkinPi]

2. Ben Wikler of MoveOn says "The Yes Men" were behind it...

Link to tweet

The secret, revealed: The Yes Men were behind the satirical Washington Post edition handed out in DC today.

[red dog 1]

10. Thanks for that

Those guys are nuts!

[Marie Marie]

13. I love the Yes Men.

[Liberty Belle]

3. Funny, but this was not clearly ID'd as parody so they could be in legal trouble.

Using the real name of the paper was a bad idea. They should've used same font but changed the name to "Washington Roast" or "Washington Past" and somewhere on the page ID'd itself as satire.

The Post may let it slide, but would have grounds for a civil suit if they choose to pursue this based on past case-law precedents.

[LanternWaste]

8. I think the Fair Use doctrine of the Copyright Revision Act and case precedent allows it

I think the Fair Use doctrine of the Copyright Revision Act and the case precedent of Campbell v. Acuff-Rose Music indicates that copyrighted material in parody is "necessary, acceptable, and legal".

As per the Supreme Court decision in '94, "Parody needs to mimic an original to make its point, and so has some claim to use the creation of its victim's (or collective victims') imagination.." and "...it can provide social benefit, by shedding light on an earlier work, and, in the process, creating a new one. We thus line up with the courts that have held that parody, like other comment or criticism, may claim fair use under 107."

The 1994 decision is eye-opening stuff, and illustrates the court siding with parody more often than not. From the decision: "It does not violate copyright law, as long as it doesn't damage or harm the reputation of the original..."

[mia]

4. Code Pink

https://www.facebook.com/codepinkalert/videos/688954498165363/

The false story also reported that his abrupt departure was prompted by “massive women-led protests” around the country, suggesting that the stunt is a promotion for the planned women’s march on Saturday.

It wasn’t immediately clear who was behind the fake website and newspaper, copies of which were being handed out at locations around Washington, including outside the White House and Union Station.

Liberal activist group Code Pink posted a video on Facebook of the organization’s founder, Medea Benjamin, passing out copies of the paper at what appears to be a Capitol Hill office building.

In the video, Benjamin tells people, “The crisis is over — Trump has left the White House.” Later, she adds, “You gotta believe in the Washington Post.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/fake-editions-of-the-washington-post-handed-out-at-multiple-locations-in-dc/2019/01/16/1d6a0402-19a5-11e9-88fe-f9f77a3bcb6c_story.html?utm_term=.de1a0c3a56cd

[mahatmakanejeeves]

5. Whoa that Fake Washington Post paper was accompanied by an email blast that looked like it came from

Whoa that Fake Washington Post paper was accompanied by an email blast that looked like it came from the Post. https://www.popville.com/2019/01/did-anyone-get-a-fake-washington-post-this-morning/ …

Link to tweet

Did anyone get a Fake Washington Post this morning?

by Prince Of Petworth January 16, 2019 at 10:35 am

[mahatmakanejeeves]

7. Today, activists passed out fake versions of The Post around D.C.

Today, activists passed out fake versions of The Post around D.C. The papers pointed to a fake website that included an article titled, simply, "A look at the 64 bills."

We figured such an article might as well exist on our actual site.

So... here ya go.

Link to tweet

Sports Analysis

A look at the 64 Bills

By Philip Bump
January 16 at 12:56 PM

It’s safe to say that the Buffalo Bills' season didn’t go quite as hoped. Western New York’s finest wrapped up a 6-10 record after starting out 2-7 — closing strong, but not strong enough. Even a Week 17 rout of the hated Miami Dolphins no doubt served as little consolation.

For the team’s loyal fans, braving the early winter weather to root the Bills on, it was another season of disappointment. But few people could have been as disappointed with where the team ended up than the 64 players currently on Buffalo’s roster, including players on reserve and those who closed out the season with injuries.



(Philip Bump/The Washington Post)
....

Note: On Wednesday activists passed out fake versions of The Post at locations around D.C. The paper pointed back to a website, mocked up to look like ours. And on that website was an article titled, simply, “A look at the 64 bills.” We figured that such an article might as well exist on our actual site, and that is the sole reason this does.

Philip Bump is a correspondent for The Washington Post based in New York. Before joining The Post in 2014, he led politics coverage for the Atlantic Wire. Follow https://twitter.com/pbump

[IcyPeas]

9. remember "Not The New York Times" in 1978

that was classic. The NY Times were on strike (I think).

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Not-The-New-York-Times-Newspaper-Parody-October-1978-/292893956571

[red dog 1]

11. "Fake News!..Fake News!..Fake News!"

I love the part about him writing it on a napkin.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

12. "... [I]t took nine months of planning to do this thing."

L.A. Kauffman, who is behind today's parody Washington Post, told me it took nine months of planning to do this thing. Yes, it is a costly pain to produce and distribute a print product.

Link to tweet

[Haggis for Breakfast]

14. Is it April 1st already ?

[Talitha]

15. That front page is now my laptop's wallpaper.

And boy-howdy, does it ever look GOOD!!!