It's bad enough that CNN collectively smeared egg all over its face yesterday by mistakenly posting as breaking news that the Coast Guard, on the anniversary of 9/11, had opened fire on a vessel along the Potomac River in the nation's capitol. But for CNN to then defend its irresponsible actions is pretty amazing, and depressing, to watch. So much for accountability. But then again, CNN did sponsor this year's birther crusade, so this sad episode shouldn't be all that surprising.

Of course, CNN bungled yesterday after it overheard Coast Guard radio chatter as personnel acted out a training mission in which they simulated firing on a vessel. (i.e. “Bang, bang, bang. We have expended ten rounds, the vessel is operating at stern.”) CNN, confusing the drill with real life, contacted the Coast Guard which told the network it knew nothing about any shots being fired on the Potomac. CNN then went ahead and aired the breaking news anyway.

Most news consumer may not know this, but airing reports based solely on radio transmission is pretty much verboten in newsrooms. Reporters have used emergency and police radio or scanners for decades to pick up news tips. But to take raw radio transmissions--to take that chatter--and turn them into news without the slightest bit of independent confirmation? That's a huge no-no.

Yet here was CNN's official response to yesterday gigantic blunder [emphasis added]

After hearing a further radio transmission about 10 rounds being expended, and after reviewing video of rapid movement by Coast Guard vessels as the President's motorcade crossed the Memorial Bridge, CNN reported the story. Simultaneously, during a second phone call, the Coast Guard spokeswoman informed us that its National Command Center and other command posts knew nothing about any activity in the area.

Given the circumstances, it would have been irresponsible not to report on what we were hearing and seeing. As with any breaking news story, information is often fluid and CNN updated the story with the official explanation from the Coast Guard as soon as it was provided.

What did CNN see yesterday that convinced the staff big news was breaking? it saw rapid movement by Coast Guard vessels. Oh brother.

And is it just me, but didn't CNN get it exactly backward when it claimed that “given the circumstances” (i.e. the anniversary of 9/11), that it would have been irresponsible not to air its (leaky) exclusive? Meaning, wasn't it precisely because it was on 9/11, on a day when dark memories of terrorist attacks were fresh in Americans' minds, that CNN should have been extra sensitive about airing a report it clearly did not have a handle on, rather than contributing to a news sense of panic?

Mistakes happen all the time in newsrooms. And especially newsroom that try to break news. But when mistakes are made, like CNN's whopper yesterday, professionals need to own up to their blunders and learn from them. Not only didn't CNN admit its errors, but based on its statement it would do the exact same thing again.

UPDATED: From a CF reader comment:

So what CNN is saying that had they been around in 1938 when the Mercury theater did “The War of The Worlds” on the radio, they would have reported we were being invaded by aliens from another planet.