What MSM news has been "true" in many, many years? I don't think holding onto a position that "if true" provides a huge distinction with X news vs other media news.Not necessarily...
It qualifies the entire premise of the article in the first 2 words..."if true..."
Immediately devalues the article from news to opinion piece. Don't even have to read it because the writer is given leeway boff the bat editorialize. It's no longer grounded in fact but opinion.
The MSM reports known falsehoods - they just leave out the "if true" part.