Buzzfeed made a mockery of journalism with false Trump allegations

Trump chumps

THE Buzzfeed site styles itself the “most trusted” name in news. That’s a laugh.

It has made a mockery of ­journalism.

It came across highly damaging and sexually explicit allegations about ­Donald Trump, could not confirm them and had “serious reason to doubt” them . . . but published them in full anyway.

Why? So readers “can make up their own minds”.  And that, said their editor-in-chief, is “how we see the job of reporters in 2017”.

Well, he’s certainly made Buzzfeed hacks’ jobs easier. They needn’t verify a single fact again.

It is hard to exaggerate the lunacy of trying to strangle British newspapers with State regulation while such anarchy reigns on the web . . .

And supposedly serious news sites indefensibly publish stories they cannot stand up and don’t actually believe, so readers can “decide” the truth.

Apocalypse no

MICHAEL Gove was unfairly pilloried for saying Britain was sick of experts getting their predictions wrong.

Bank of England governor Mark Carney was the ultimate expert — put up by George Osborne to warn of the immediate disaster a Brexit vote would trigger.

We’re still waiting for the apocalypse.

But now Mr Carney says Brexit’s not that big a risk and will hurt the EU more than us anyway. He’s even planning to upgrade his UK growth forecast.

Which probably means we ARE doomed.

Kick it out

“NO ONE likes us — we don’t care,” the fans chant at Millwall.

Whether you do or don’t, it’s worth noting the threat to their club. It could happen to almost anyone’s.

The council aims to force the League One outfit to sell it the land around its ground The Den. An obscure firm with links to local politicians wants it.

Some 2,500 homes would then be built. But Millwall’s excellent Community Trust and its academy would close — and the club could have to move down to Kent from South London.

It would be a calamity for locals.

It is likely to go to a public inquiry, with Communities Secretary Sajid Javid making the final call.

Give it a straight red, Sajid.

Unhealthy spat

THE spat between Downing Street and NHS chief Simon ­Stevens helps no one.

There is no sugar-coating the strain the health service is under. Britain can see it full well, particularly in A&E. The last thing we need is the distraction of a row as those at the top pass the buck.

All the public wants to know is how the system can be improved and how fast.