I think if the MSM is reporting it, we've proved it wasn't factual. ;-)Interestingly, some of the speculation I previously posted from another sources, and was called on for no sources identified, is now being reported on the news as fact.
Seriously, some reporter might have picked it up from the same source you did, and not bothered fact-checking. That happens all the time. Your source might still be right, of course, but that it has been widely reported doesn't prove it is.
I, personally, have been on the site of a couple of things that have made local news. NOT ONCE has the story reported matched what I saw happen.