We have a question about this whole "Rupert Murdoch dictated the infamous Kerry/Gephardt NY Post cover" story that's going around. In the NYT, the single-source story is attributed to a Post employee, which narrows it down to about 930 people — nearly all of them, of course, employed as professional fabricators.

The NYT guide on anonymous sources says stories "should distinguish conscientiously between high-level and lower-level executives." Is this source a mail-room boy? Is it Liz Smith? Is it, more likely, editor-in-chief Col Allan himself? Who knows? But I bet it's a good one.

Because clearly, this source is reputable enough to drop an entire NYT story — written by two unimpeachably ethical journalists, by the way — on their claims. It all just smells a little odd, given that the Post's reporters are "content to write rumor after rumor," as Jon Friedman put it on CBS Marketwatch today. We think this source sure as hell better be one of seven people at the top of the Post foodchain.

Okay, I know that was really boring, but someone had to say it. Forgive me for getting all Jack Shafer on your asses, but it's Friday and all my interns have real summer internships at real publications, which is to say there's no one to mix mimosas and fetch snacks. Hungry! Thirsty!
Murdoch Is Said to Be Source of Post's Gephardt 'Exclusive' [NYT]
Murdoch 'Source' of Erroneous NY Post VP Story, Paper Denies [Drudge]
The N.Y. Post is becoming a bad joke [CBS Marketwatch]
Confidential News Sources [NYT Co]