Our weekly recognition of less-than-meritorious excellence in journalism is worthy of Pulitzer Prize consideration.

As an extension of the media-mocking venture at Townhall, Riffed From The Headlines, we once again recognize the exalted performances in our journalism industry and compile worthy submissions to the Pulitzer Prize board in numerous categories. To properly recognize the low watermark in the press, let us get right to the latest exemplars of journalistic mis-excellence.

Distinguished Explanatory Reporting

• Brian Stelter – CNN

The demise of CNN+ has taken on mythic proportions and historical levels of incompetence. At its launch, Brian Stelter dubbed the new streaming platform the most revolutionary event in the history of CNN. Therefore, its nearly immediate dissolution would have to be considered one of the biggest media fiascos of all time. Not so fast, says CNN’s yap-dog media analyst.

“It’s too early to know if this product, if this service was a success or a failure,” Stelter desperately tried to rationalize the implosion of CNN+. And he chided the “haters.” pic.twitter.com/vCFR3Q7dT4

— Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) April 22, 2022

Not only is it easy to say a $300 million investment leading to just three weeks of service before being shut down is a failure, but after Brian’s comments, the announced, April 30 cutoff date was actually moved up, with the entire enterprise going dark on Thursday.

Distinguished Feature Writing

• Kenneth Chang – New York Times

Over on Mars, the Ingenuity drone-copter has been soaring about, snapping various pictures, and one was compelling as it found some debris of the previous Perseverance mission. Chang, in The New York Times reported, on the footage thusly.

The object resembles a flying saucer that crashed on Mars. And indeed it is. But it doesn’t belong to aliens. Instead, the wreckage is the work of NASA.

The writer was corrected slightly by the astronomer Jonathan McDowell, who pointed out that he was operating with an example of supernal privilege. Maybe Change should have opted for a Ketanji Brown Jackson type of answer, and said “I’m not sure, I’m not an astrophysicist.”

Technically, this *is* the wreckage of a flying saucer that crashed on Mars that belongs to aliens. https://t.co/A1NlUOyb0k

— Jonathan McDowell (@planet4589) April 28, 2022

Distinguished National Reporting

• S.E. Cupp — CNN

Nary a journalist can refrain from weighing in with their hot-take opposition to Elon Musk buying Twitter. As S.E. Cupp shows in her theorizing here, maybe refraining should take place far more often. As she speculates on the future plans of Mr. Musk, her ignorance about Article II, Section 1, Clause 5 in the Constitution shows this is the type of content fitting for CNN+.

Musk is going to run for President, isn’t he… pic.twitter.com/YhNXJNQwNz

— S.E. Cupp (@secupp) April 29, 2022

Distinguished Explanatory Reporting

• Philip Bump – Washington Post

To get a true sense on just how sensitive the media is about Elon Musk promoting open free expression, the Washington Post has been a source of emotional fervor. There have been multiple times where the paper owned by Jeff Bezos decried the act of a billionaire buying his way into the media. Then, there is this dose of reporting from Mr. Bump, who was tasked with debunking a tweet that Musk sent out recently.

In the graphic, Musk has a stick figure remaining stationary as the political extreme left moves further away. The amusement is in the paper becoming somehow offended at a tweet that they sent their toothless piranha Bump to go after Musk. More amusing is that Philip felt the need to fact-check what is essentially Musk’s evaluation of himself. Fine work, gang — Democracy Dies In A Meme.

Analysis: What Elon Musk’s polarization graph gets wrong https://t.co/2W2SETgNla

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) April 28, 2022

Distinguished Local Reporting

• Inside Edition

In its report of a beekeeper who was experiencing thefts from his apiary, Inside Edition was just itching to use this headline. The keeper placed tracking devices inside his hives and was able to retrieve them from the bee bandits.

Tennessee Beekeeper Sets Up Sting to Catch Beehive Crooks https://t.co/L94DotEPzL

— JT Badenov (@cbinflux) April 29, 2022

Distinguished Cultural Commentary

• Cassie Gill – Hollywood Life

I think it is safe to say we can put the Will Smith slapping of Chris Rock at The Oscars to bed now. I do not know who might have been on the edge of their seats awaiting this announcement, but apparently, it is significant news to learn the comedian’s mother is ‘breaking her silence’ about the episode.

Chris Rock's mom Rose has spoken out about the Will Smith slap. https://t.co/H1VTAq3SFn

— HollywoodLife (@HollywoodLife) April 25, 2022

Distinguished Investigative Reporting

• Reuters Fact Check

In the never-ending quest to find things to verify instead of the misinformation delivered by the Biden administration, the latest fact-check diversion comes via Reuters, which felt the need to correct the record on a video of Bill Gates. In the clip, the software titan is walking outside and is apparently wearing a prosthetic chest, for some reason. Reuters is here to save…well, I’m not sure whom, but do not be fooled, as the news outlet has verified this is a manipulated video.

A video purporting to show billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates with an enlarged chest has resurfaced online. @ReutersFacts found that the footage is digitally altered https://t.co/F0mGpYU7u7 pic.twitter.com/xt7V5C2SWv

— Reuters Fact Check (@ReutersFacts) April 25, 2022