Last but not least: Newspapers with lethal effect
History is full of examples in which false news reports have served as a trigger or pretext for war. False reports announcing the deaths of prominent figures have always been a favorite.
History is not lacking in examples where untrue press reports have served as a trigger or pretext for war. False reports announcing the death of celebrities have always been popular. Recently, the Berlin daily Tagesspiegel fell for one and exclusively reported the sleeping pill suicide of pregnant actress Birge Schade. Schade could be seen at the end of October in the ZDF comedy "Krieg der Frauen" as a convinced full-time mom. Then it went blow by blow. The news agency AFP picked up the report and sent it over the ticker. 34 minutes later, however, the agency withdrew the report, as the Tagesspiegel report had turned out to be a hoax. According to her agency, the actress is in good health.
Apparently, the misinformation originated from a fake e-mail that had been circulated under the name of Schade's art publishing agency. The newspaper had omitted to have the report confirmed. The macabre report had seemed credible to them.
The correction also appeared in the Bild newspaper, among others. The Internet newspaper Netzeitung took the message from this. But the net newspaper also put Ms. Schade back to work - it let her age prematurely. The 1969 born is namely only 37 and not, as the net newspaper reported, 41 years old.
Apparently, the misinformation originated from a fake e-mail that had been circulated under the name of Schade's art publishing agency. The newspaper had omitted to have the report confirmed. The macabre report had seemed credible to them.
The correction also appeared in the Bild newspaper, among others. The Internet newspaper Netzeitung took the message from this. But the net newspaper also put Ms. Schade back to work - it let her age prematurely. The 1969 born is namely only 37 and not, as the net newspaper reported, 41 years old.
