Credibility watch

From the New York Times:

Plenty of news media analysts thought Senator John Kerry looked good at Thursday night's presidential debate, but Fox News went a step further, posting a made-up news article on its Web site that quoted Mr. Kerry as gloating about his fine manicure and his "metrosexual" appearance.

Fox News quickly retracted the article, saying in an editor's note on its Web site that the article "was written in jest and should not have been posted or broadcast.'' It said, "We regret the error, which occurred because of fatigue and bad judgment, not malice."

The made-up quotes:

• "Didn't my nails and cuticles look great? What a good debate!"
• "Women should like me! I do manicures."
• On Bush: "I'm metrosexual - he's a cowboy."

Fox wouldn't say how the reporter, Carl Cameron, would be reprimanded or whether other people involved in the story's editing would be punished.