So often reporters have invented facts to "compliment" their story. Interviews with fictional poverty-stricken individuals were said to be true representations of how it is on the street. Jason Blair comes to mind, the poster boy for fictional journalism.
But hey, this "fake but true" standard is and always has been a phony journalistic shield for those lazy idiots who are about to get their butts fired!
Say "Goodbye" Mary.
Good ol Jason. Anybody know the where abouts of Jason these days ??