On November 15, The Associated Press (AP) released an article that ignited a worldwide panic. According to senior US intelligence sources, who requested anonymity, “Russian missiles crossed into” Poland and killed two civilians, according to National Security Journalist James LaPorta. Despite the organization retracting the report, the stain persisted, necessitating government action.
The AP has let LaPorta go, according to a revelation in Confider, The Daily Beast’s weekly email. Only when a tip comes from an authoritative figure who provides information so detailed, there is no doubt as to whether it is accurate, is there an exemption to the company’s guideline requiring more than one source when sourcing is anonymous. John Leicester, another journalist who shared bylines on the article, has not been sacked by the news organization.
SCOOP: The @AP has fired reporter Jim LaPorta, one of the two bylines on a retracted report last week alleging Russian missiles landed in NATO member Poland. The report relied a single anonymous source, a violation of AP's policy.
— Corbin Bolies (@CorbinBolies) November 22, 2022
w/@LachCartwright:https://t.co/h5EBwt7TTX
When the initial story was distributed to tens of thousands of news outlets around the world, it sparked widespread fear of a second world war. President Joe Biden and allies have consistently declared that a military response will be initiated if Russia attacked a NATO ally.
A day later, the AP changed its article and said the rocket most likely originated in Ukraine. The news organization’s representative declined to comment on LaPorta’s dismissal but assured the Confider that its “rigorous editorial standards and practices” guarantee the publication is disseminating material that is “accurate, fair, and fact-based.”
