17 Times the Media Got Major Stories Completely Wrong

Journalism is built on facts, but history shows that even the biggest media companies sometimes get it very wrong. Whether due to rushing for a scoop, poor fact-checking, or relying on unreliable sources, these errors caused confusion, panic, and lasting damage. This list looks at some of the most high-profile mistakes in modern media history.

1. The Dewey Defeats Truman Headline (1948)

Byron H. Rollins on Wikimedia Commons

The Chicago Daily Tribune printed “Dewey Defeats Truman” before the election results were final. In reality, Harry Truman won the presidency. The paper had relied on early polls and rushed to print. It became one of the most famous headlines in U.S. history — for the wrong reason.

2. Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq (2003)

Falcorian on Wikimedia Commons

Multiple major outlets, including The New York Times, reported that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. These claims were based on faulty intelligence and anonymous sources. No such weapons were found after the U.S. invaded Iraq. The coverage helped build support for a war based on misinformation.

3. Richard Jewell and the 1996 Olympic Bombing

Don Ramey Logan on Wikimedia Commons

Richard Jewell was wrongly identified as the main suspect in the Atlanta Olympic bombing. News outlets painted him as guilty, despite a lack of solid evidence. He was later cleared, but his reputation suffered for years. The real bomber was found much later.

4. Rolling Stone’s UVA Article (2014)

Penske Media Corporation on Wikimedia Commons

Rolling Stone published a story about an alleged sexual assault at the University of Virginia. The story was later proven false after several major errors in reporting were uncovered. The magazine retracted the piece, and lawsuits followed. It damaged both the magazine’s credibility and public trust.

5. CNN’s Tailwind Report (1998)

Warner Bros. Discovery. on Wikimedia Commons

CNN aired a documentary claiming the U.S. military used nerve gas during a mission in Laos. The report caused major controversy. After the investigation, the claims were found to be untrue. CNN retracted the story and apologized.

6. Boston Marathon Bombing Suspect Misidentification (2013)

Aaron “tango” Tang on Wikimedia Commons

Several outlets, including The New York Post, wrongly identified suspects using photos from social media. These people had no connection to the bombing. The false reports caused panic and confusion during a crisis. The actual suspects were identified later through a proper investigation.

7. Bush’s National Guard Service Story (2004)

George Bush Presidential Library and Museum on Wikimedia Commons

CBS aired a story questioning President George W. Bush’s military service using documents that were later found to be likely fake. Dan Rather and his team stood by the story at first. After public scrutiny, CBS retracted the report. The incident hurt the network’s reputation and ended Rather’s career there.

8. Balloon Boy Hoax (2009)

Christian Vollmer on Wikimedia Commons

News channels gave wall-to-wall coverage to a story about a boy supposedly trapped in a runaway balloon. It turned out the boy was safe at home the whole time. The story was a hoax staged by his parents. They were later charged with making a false report.

9. Duke Lacrosse Case (2006)

Kwsutton on Wikimedia Commons

Several outlets covered allegations that members of Duke University’s lacrosse team had assaulted a woman at a party. The students were treated as guilty in the press. Later, the case fell apart due to a lack of evidence and misconduct by the prosecutor. The media coverage was criticized for rushing to judgment.

10. Gabby Giffords Declared Dead (2011)

Office of Raul M. Grijalva, US Congress on Wikimedia Commons

After the shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, some media outlets reported she had died. In fact, she survived the attack. The false reports spread quickly and caused widespread confusion. It was a reminder of the risks of breaking news inaccuracy.

11. COVID-19 Lab Leak Dismissal (2020–2021)

Alexey V. Kurochkin on Wikimedia Commons

Early in the pandemic, the idea that COVID-19 might have leaked from a lab in Wuhan was widely labeled as a conspiracy theory. Over time, some experts and government agencies began to take the theory more seriously. Major outlets later adjusted their coverage. The initial dismissal may have slowed deeper investigation.

12. Kavanaugh and the “Boof” Definition (2018)

Fred Schilling on Wikimedia Commons

During the Brett Kavanaugh hearings, some media outlets tried to define slang terms used in his yearbook without full context. These guesses were later challenged and debated. The focus was distracted from more serious parts of the hearing, showing how easily misinformation can spread during high-profile events.  

13. The Covington Catholic High School Incident (2019)

Warren LeMay on Wikimedia Commons

A video showed a confrontation between students and a Native American elder in Washington, D.C. Initial reports framed the students as aggressive. Longer footage revealed a more complicated situation. Several media outlets issued corrections or retractions.

14. Michael Brown’s “Hands Up” Claim (2014)

Duffman on Wikimedia Commons

After the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, the media repeated the phrase “hands up, don’t shoot.” Later investigations found that the version of events was not fully supported by the evidence. Still, the phrase became a powerful symbol. The reporting shaped a national conversation on race and policing, even as facts evolved.

15. CNN’s School Shooter “Automatic Weapon” Claim (2018)

Warner Bros. Discovery. on Wikimedia Commons

After the Parkland shooting, some news reports incorrectly claimed that an AR-15 was fully automatic. This type of gun is semi-automatic, not automatic. The mistake fueled confusion and misinformation about firearms. Accurate reporting on technical details is especially important in sensitive stories.

16. Jussie Smollett Attack (2019)

Stephen Hogan on Wikimedia Commons

When actor Jussie Smollett claimed he was attacked in a hate crime, many outlets reported the story at face value. Later, police said he staged the attack. Smollett was charged and convicted. The media faced criticism for not waiting for more facts before framing the narrative.

17. Iraq Incubator Babies Story (1990)

Headlock0225 on Wikimedia Commons

Before the Gulf War, a girl testified before Congress claiming Iraqi soldiers took babies out of incubators in a Kuwaiti hospital. The story was widely reported and helped build support for the war. It was later revealed that the girl was the daughter of the Kuwaiti ambassador, and the claim was false. The story had been part of a PR campaign.

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