I'm friends with a chief reporter for the Times who for years worked in New York. One evening he and other reporters were having a beer when they decided to set up one of the newbies with a "scoop". They concocted this huge political story. Suitably armed with the info the newbie wrote an exclusive article. Within 24 hours this was being reported Worldwide on all news channels. It was complete rubbish.Seems an entirely reliable source.
They got some of them right.
If you have got an audience you can tell them anything.