I've joked with people about US media where it seems where as long as you say "according to sources" beforehand you can say any completely obvious crap and nonsense and it's accepted as truth.
Not having to reveal your sources makes it all the more handy.
Not that standards have been all that high in the past, but seems more so lately that the Aus media and certain political parties are using their own version of in the form of "could". Stick "could" in front of any outrageous claim and it will fly.
Ratings low? Not getting enough attention I wonder?