05 March 2008

How to torque a headline

First -- You need a scary premise... and at the Canadian Press that has never been a problem...
PM’s libel case could be costly for taxpayers

By TIM NAUMETZ The Canadian Press
Wed. Mar 5 - 6:06 AM

OTTAWA — Taxpayers may be on the hook for over $1 million in legal fees if Prime Minister Stephen Harper forges ahead with his threat to sue Liberal Leader Stephane Dion and two other Liberals for libel.
Don't worry about whether or not your argument is actually valid... the point here is not honest reporting... it's to administer a jolt to your readers.

Second -- Further down the article you can slip in some actual facts... to avoid being sued for libel.
The Conservative party will be paying Harper’s legal fees, spokesman Ryan Sparrow said.

And...

The Commons board of internal economy has paid legal fees for 12 unidentified MPs since April 2006, records of its minutes show. In each case, the board agreed to pay the legal costs "subject to the matter being resolved in the member’s favour."
Hopefully, though... your readers are still enraged by your misleading headline.

The last thing to remember, is that you are not obligated to point out any blatant fallacies in your article... like the fact that an apology wouldn't cost "taxpayers" anything.

(h/t reader maureen)