Journalism Hoax Works a Little Too Well

Apparently unaware that April Fool's Day was 13 weeks ago, the Kansas City alternative weekly The Pitch caused an uproar last week with a cover story that described in intimate detail the hitherto secret discovery of the remains of Confederate soldiers at an arena construction site.
The long piece, "Rebel Hell," featured anonymous government officials and breathless news, with all the veneer of an investigative report:

On April 25, workers digging at the site of the former UMB Bank branch at Grand Avenue and Truman Road discovered human remains and immediately contacted authorities, records obtained by the Pitch show. The unearthing of what turned out to be multiple grave sites has been kept from the public while city, county and state officials wrestle with the implications for the arena project.

The problem? The report was a hoax -- but one so well-executed that some readers and even local leaders fell for it.