News24 airs comedy skit as real news, mistakes satire for report
News24 aired a satirical comedy video as authentic news, crediting it to Seven News, then apologised.
James Macpherson on The Bolt Report broadcast a comedy sketch by sports group Kick it Forward as real news. The parody was about Josh Garlepp quitting social media after receiving abuse for posting about Fremantle's finals loss on X. Macpherson presented the clip and credited it to Seven News.
Macpherson used it to argue about online abuse and government algorithm reforms. Garlepp posted that he hadn't expected News24 to be "as gullible and digitally illiterate as their target audience".
News24 issued a correction on Thursday. The segment was "not a genuine news report", it said.
News24 removed it from all online versions.
- News24
- Outlet
- The Bolt Report
- Program
- Kick it Forward
- Comedy group
- Thursday
- When removed
Why it mattersA major broadcast outlet aired fabricated content as factual reporting, raising serious questions about editorial standards and fact-checking.
