Record of the Press · 2012–Present
Released to the public · 31 OCT 2026File TBL-0017
RETRACTED

WaPo Promotes the PropOrNot 'Russian Propaganda' List

24 NOV 2016 · The Washington Post
Screenshot of the page as published at washingtonpost.com (via Wayback Machine)
EXHIBIT A — Page capture from washingtonpost.com (via Wayback Machine). Click to open the source.

■ The claim

The Post reported that a Russian propaganda campaign helped spread fake news during the 2016 election, relying in part on an anonymous group, PropOrNot, which listed 200+ sites as propaganda outlets or echoes.

■ What actually happened

Craig Timberg's November 24, 2016 story cited PropOrNot's findings without naming the sites on its list. The list included independent outlets such as Naked Capitalism and Truthdig. After criticism from The Intercept, CJR and others, the Post added an editor's note in December. It said the Post did not vouch for PropOrNot's findings on any individual outlet and that the group had since removed some sites. Critics called the note non-apologetic.

■ The proof

The Post's own editor's note distancing the paper from PropOrNot's list, and PropOrNot's removal of some sites.

■ Original reporting

■ Corrections, findings & records

■ Wayback Machine copies

Stories sometimes get edited after publication. These links open the Internet Archive's earliest snapshot of each original.

■ Grade

RETRACTED: The outlet itself retracted, corrected, or settled. How we grade →