Creator of phony story works in Texas' IT department
OU Internet hoax: UT determines Conradt didn't use company computer to create fake article
Creator of phony story works in Texas' IT department
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65
By Jake Trotter
Published: July 11, 2008
There's a reason why James W. Conradt was able to lift a template off The Oklahoman's Web site, NewsOK.com, to create a phony story about Oklahoma quarterbacks Sam Bradford and Landry Jones.
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It is ok if Conradt wrote his "story/parody" and signed his blog name. Everyone reading it would know the blogger wrote it and rate its credibility/funniness accordingly.
The problem is that he appropriated a newspaper's by-line/signature which gave the story instant credibility simply because it appeared as being printed by a newspaper and thus factual.
It is defamatory. Whether the damaged parties choose to or even can ultimately recover remains to be seen.
The fact that he (Contadt) didn't use his real name on the "story/parody" clearly shows he did not want to be personally identified with it. Too many bolgs and bloggers seem to take this same attitude. Maybe if folks were required to use their real names it would raise the level of the blogs.
This is much ado about nothing much. Instead of pursuing this misguided Husker fan, Landry Jones' father and the publisher of the Oklahoman should instead direct their ire at the radio stations that took this bogus story and ran with it as fact.
Where do their responsibilities as broadcasters lie? Who is going to hold them accountable?
Anyone who thinks something posted on a college football fan Internet board is a factual, newsworthy scoop and doesn't bother to verify whether or not the so-called facts pass the red-faced test is an idiot.