AP mistakenly reports on fake GE press release

[devilgrrl]

:rofl:

NEW YORK – The Associated Press mistakenly published a story Wednesday about General Electric Co. that was based on a fake press release.

The fake release said that General Electric, responding to criticism over the amount of taxes it pays, would repay a $3.2 billion tax refund for 2010 to the Treasury Department.

The fake release, which was emailed to the AP, included a GE logo and a link to a website designed to look like GE's website. The AP published a 90-word story based on the release. Thirty-five minutes later, AP withdrew the story and advised its customers that the story was a hoax.

more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110413/ap_on_bi_ge/us_ge_tax_refund

[joeybee12]

1. I saw that headline...I think on yahoo! The one where they said they

were going to give the money back...doesn't anyone at AP call to confirm anything?????

[Modern_Matthew]

2. Brought to you by US Uncut and The Yes Men. Excellent stuff. nt

[pacalo]

3. Must have been Heart Attack City in the GE suites when they first saw it. Love it.

[rabs]

4. Urgent! Kill kill kill

The Associated Press moved "urgent kill" bulletin:


"The Associated Press has withdrawn its story about General Electric repaying its entire $3.2 billion tax refund to the US Treasury on April 18. The story was based on a press release that GE says was a hoax."

------------
So, AP covers its butt by saying GE "says" it was a hoax.

Some AP writer is about go get "hoaxed" from the job.