How bad is the media at fact-checking? For the third time, an obviously false story from the satirical entertainment news website Dateline Hollywood, which my friend Ben Fritz co-edits, was picked up in the mainstream press.

First, a Los Angeles Times op-ed claimed the Reverend Jerry Falwell had blamed Ellen DeGeneres hosting the Emmy Awards for Hurricane Katrina and 9/11. Then the Baltimore CBS affiliate reported that Michael Richards had appeared in blackface at a roast for Whoopi Goldberg. Both were based on DH articles.

The latest offender is the British tabloid The Sun, which picked up on an item claiming Tori Spelling had cast her newborn son in a TV series she was producing. Here’s the report:

Tori pushes her newborn to act

By NADIA MENDOZA
April 10, 2007

BEVERLY HILLS 90210 star Tori Spelling may soon have to compete for roles – with a one month old baby!

Her newborn Liam Aaron (son to Dean McDermott), has landed a role in a new soap opera InnSanity.

But as mummy is producing the show, hopefully there’s no jealousy.

Tori told Dateline Hollywood: “My son got this role on his own merits. His talent is just as genuine as mine”.

The show centres around a bed and breakfast and Liam will play Trip, the mysterious infant son of B&B owners Rebecca and Dylan.

Because of his innocence, many guests share their dark secrets with him… But Liam has a dark secret of his own.

According to casting director Anna McGarrah: “Liam was the first actor to audition for the role of Trip and he nailed the role so perfectly that there was no point in considering other actors.”

“The other producers and I were shocked to find out he was Tori’s son, as he auditioned under a fake name.”