http://www.thestandard.com./node/119386/comments comments feed. en Who is responsible for the false Steve Jobs heart attack report? http://www.thestandard.com./news/2008/10/03/was-false-report-steve-jobs-death-4chan-prank <p> <p> </p> <p>As the dust continues to settle today after the <a href="http://www.thestandard.com/news/2008/10/03/doubts-surround-citizen-journalist-claims-steve-jobs-suffered-heart-attack">false report published on CNN's iReport</a> that Apple CEO Steve Jobs had suffered a massive heart attack, investigation into the source of the story continues. iReport pulled the story almost immediately after the story broke across other media outlets, but the mystery remains: Who is "johntw" who originally submitted the story?</p> <p>A quick check of the user profile shows no other stories submitted to iReport from that user. However, it's possible that iReport could have deleted all stories submitted after such a high-profile false story. A Google site search, however, seems to indicate that the user profile made its first appearance today, possibly set up for the sole purpose of posting the Jobs story.</p> <p><img src="/sites/thestandard.com/files/u4993/johntwprofile_screenshot-8.jpg" alt="johntw iReport profile screenshot" height="275" width="605" /></p> <p><img src="/sites/thestandard.com/files/u4993/johntwGoogle_screenshot-2.jpg" alt="johntw Google search screenshot" height="377" width="564" /> </p> <p>There has been a bit of speculation on Twitter that the rumor was a prank originating with 4chan users. No confirmation could be found on the 4chan boards, however, the rumor does seem to follow a similar pattern to that of a similar rumor last month that claimed <a href="http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Rumors_of_Oprah_Winfrey%27s_death_a_hoax">Oprah Winfrey had died</a>. Following the iReport story, Jobs' Wikpedia listing was altered to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Steve_Jobs&diff=next&oldid=241869438">claim he had recently died</a>, even though the iReport story only claimed he's had a heart attack, not that he'd passed away.</p> <p><b>More news, commentary, and predictions from <i>The Industry Standard</i>:</b></p> <ul> <li>Prediction: <b><a href="http://www.thestandard.com/predictions/apple-bundles-unlimited-itunes-ipods-iphones">Apple bundles unlimited iTunes with iPods, iPhones</a></b></li> <li>Analysis: <b><a href="http://www.thestandard.com/news/2008/09/30/analysts-downgrades-sink-apple-are-bears-way-target">Analyst downgrades sink Apple, but are the bears way off target?</a></b></li> <li>News: <b><a href="http://www.thestandard.com/news/2008/10/01/apple-drops-part-its-nda-iphone-developers">Apple drops part of its NDA for iPhone developers</a></b></li> <li>News: <b><a href="http://www.thestandard.com/news/2008/09/30/apple-threatens-shut-down-itunes-store-over-royalty-rate-increase">Apple threatens to shut down the iTunes Store over royalty rate increase</a></b></li> </ul> http://www.thestandard.com./news/2008/10/03/was-false-report-steve-jobs-death-4chan-prank#comments co:4chan co:Apple people:Steve Jobs Software & Web The Industry Standard Fri, 03 Oct 2008 10:24:31 -0700 Cyndy Aleo-Carreira 119386 at http://www.thestandard.com. Who is responsible for the false Steve Jobs heart attack report? http://www.thestandard.com./news/2008/10/03/was-false-report-steve-jobs-death-4chan-prank <p> <p> </p> <p>As the dust continues to settle today after the <a href="http://www.thestandard.com/news/2008/10/03/doubts-surround-citizen-journalist-claims-steve-jobs-suffered-heart-attack">false report published on CNN's iReport</a> that Apple CEO Steve Jobs had suffered a massive heart attack, investigation into the source of the story continues. iReport pulled the story almost immediately after the story broke across other media outlets, but the mystery remains: Who is "johntw" who originally submitted the story?</p> <p>A quick check of the user profile shows no other stories submitted to iReport from that user. However, it's possible that iReport could have deleted all stories submitted after such a high-profile false story. A Google site search, however, seems to indicate that the user profile made its first appearance today, possibly set up for the sole purpose of posting the Jobs story.</p> <p><img src="/sites/thestandard.com/files/u4993/johntwprofile_screenshot-8.jpg" alt="johntw iReport profile screenshot" height="275" width="605" /></p> <p><img src="/sites/thestandard.com/files/u4993/johntwGoogle_screenshot-2.jpg" alt="johntw Google search screenshot" height="377" width="564" /> </p> <p>There has been a bit of speculation on Twitter that the rumor was a prank originating with 4chan users. No confirmation could be found on the 4chan boards, however, the rumor does seem to follow a similar pattern to that of a similar rumor last month that claimed <a href="http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Rumors_of_Oprah_Winfrey%27s_death_a_hoax">Oprah Winfrey had died</a>. Following the iReport story, Jobs' Wikpedia listing was altered to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Steve_Jobs&diff=next&oldid=241869438">claim he had recently died</a>, even though the iReport story only claimed he's had a heart attack, not that he'd passed away.</p> <p><b>More news, commentary, and predictions from <i>The Industry Standard</i>:</b></p> <ul> <li>Prediction: <b><a href="http://www.thestandard.com/predictions/apple-bundles-unlimited-itunes-ipods-iphones">Apple bundles unlimited iTunes with iPods, iPhones</a></b></li> <li>Analysis: <b><a href="http://www.thestandard.com/news/2008/09/30/analysts-downgrades-sink-apple-are-bears-way-target">Analyst downgrades sink Apple, but are the bears way off target?</a></b></li> <li>News: <b><a href="http://www.thestandard.com/news/2008/10/01/apple-drops-part-its-nda-iphone-developers">Apple drops part of its NDA for iPhone developers</a></b></li> <li>News: <b><a href="http://www.thestandard.com/news/2008/09/30/apple-threatens-shut-down-itunes-store-over-royalty-rate-increase">Apple threatens to shut down the iTunes Store over royalty rate increase</a></b></li> </ul> http://www.thestandard.com./news/2008/10/03/was-false-report-steve-jobs-death-4chan-prank#comments co:4chan co:Apple people:Steve Jobs Software & Web The Industry Standard Fri, 03 Oct 2008 10:24:31 -0700 Cyndy Aleo-Carreira 119386 at http://www.thestandard.com. Who is responsible for the false Steve Jobs heart attack report? http://www.thestandard.com./news/2008/10/03/was-false-report-steve-jobs-death-4chan-prank <p> <p> </p> <p>As the dust continues to settle today after the <a href="http://www.thestandard.com/news/2008/10/03/doubts-surround-citizen-journalist-claims-steve-jobs-suffered-heart-attack">false report published on CNN's iReport</a> that Apple CEO Steve Jobs had suffered a massive heart attack, investigation into the source of the story continues. iReport pulled the story almost immediately after the story broke across other media outlets, but the mystery remains: Who is "johntw" who originally submitted the story?</p> <p>A quick check of the user profile shows no other stories submitted to iReport from that user. However, it's possible that iReport could have deleted all stories submitted after such a high-profile false story. A Google site search, however, seems to indicate that the user profile made its first appearance today, possibly set up for the sole purpose of posting the Jobs story.</p> <p><img src="/sites/thestandard.com/files/u4993/johntwprofile_screenshot-8.jpg" alt="johntw iReport profile screenshot" height="275" width="605" /></p> <p><img src="/sites/thestandard.com/files/u4993/johntwGoogle_screenshot-2.jpg" alt="johntw Google search screenshot" height="377" width="564" /> </p> <p>There has been a bit of speculation on Twitter that the rumor was a prank originating with 4chan users. No confirmation could be found on the 4chan boards, however, the rumor does seem to follow a similar pattern to that of a similar rumor last month that claimed <a href="http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Rumors_of_Oprah_Winfrey%27s_death_a_hoax">Oprah Winfrey had died</a>. Following the iReport story, Jobs' Wikpedia listing was altered to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Steve_Jobs&diff=next&oldid=241869438">claim he had recently died</a>, even though the iReport story only claimed he's had a heart attack, not that he'd passed away.</p> <p><b>More news, commentary, and predictions from <i>The Industry Standard</i>:</b></p> <ul> <li>Prediction: <b><a href="http://www.thestandard.com/predictions/apple-bundles-unlimited-itunes-ipods-iphones">Apple bundles unlimited iTunes with iPods, iPhones</a></b></li> <li>Analysis: <b><a href="http://www.thestandard.com/news/2008/09/30/analysts-downgrades-sink-apple-are-bears-way-target">Analyst downgrades sink Apple, but are the bears way off target?</a></b></li> <li>News: <b><a href="http://www.thestandard.com/news/2008/10/01/apple-drops-part-its-nda-iphone-developers">Apple drops part of its NDA for iPhone developers</a></b></li> <li>News: <b><a href="http://www.thestandard.com/news/2008/09/30/apple-threatens-shut-down-itunes-store-over-royalty-rate-increase">Apple threatens to shut down the iTunes Store over royalty rate increase</a></b></li> </ul> http://www.thestandard.com./news/2008/10/03/was-false-report-steve-jobs-death-4chan-prank#comments co:4chan co:Apple people:Steve Jobs Software & Web The Industry Standard Fri, 03 Oct 2008 10:24:31 -0700 Cyndy Aleo-Carreira 119386 at http://www.thestandard.com. Who is responsible for the false Steve Jobs heart attack report? http://www.thestandard.com./news/2008/10/03/was-false-report-steve-jobs-death-4chan-prank <p> <p> </p> <p>As the dust continues to settle today after the <a href="http://www.thestandard.com/news/2008/10/03/doubts-surround-citizen-journalist-claims-steve-jobs-suffered-heart-attack">false report published on CNN's iReport</a> that Apple CEO Steve Jobs had suffered a massive heart attack, investigation into the source of the story continues. iReport pulled the story almost immediately after the story broke across other media outlets, but the mystery remains: Who is "johntw" who originally submitted the story?</p> <p>A quick check of the user profile shows no other stories submitted to iReport from that user. However, it's possible that iReport could have deleted all stories submitted after such a high-profile false story. A Google site search, however, seems to indicate that the user profile made its first appearance today, possibly set up for the sole purpose of posting the Jobs story.</p> <p><img src="/sites/thestandard.com/files/u4993/johntwprofile_screenshot-8.jpg" alt="johntw iReport profile screenshot" height="275" width="605" /></p> <p><img src="/sites/thestandard.com/files/u4993/johntwGoogle_screenshot-2.jpg" alt="johntw Google search screenshot" height="377" width="564" /> </p> <p>There has been a bit of speculation on Twitter that the rumor was a prank originating with 4chan users. No confirmation could be found on the 4chan boards, however, the rumor does seem to follow a similar pattern to that of a similar rumor last month that claimed <a href="http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Rumors_of_Oprah_Winfrey%27s_death_a_hoax">Oprah Winfrey had died</a>. Following the iReport story, Jobs' Wikpedia listing was altered to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Steve_Jobs&diff=next&oldid=241869438">claim he had recently died</a>, even though the iReport story only claimed he's had a heart attack, not that he'd passed away.</p> <p><b>More news, commentary, and predictions from <i>The Industry Standard</i>:</b></p> <ul> <li>Prediction: <b><a href="http://www.thestandard.com/predictions/apple-bundles-unlimited-itunes-ipods-iphones">Apple bundles unlimited iTunes with iPods, iPhones</a></b></li> <li>Analysis: <b><a href="http://www.thestandard.com/news/2008/09/30/analysts-downgrades-sink-apple-are-bears-way-target">Analyst downgrades sink Apple, but are the bears way off target?</a></b></li> <li>News: <b><a href="http://www.thestandard.com/news/2008/10/01/apple-drops-part-its-nda-iphone-developers">Apple drops part of its NDA for iPhone developers</a></b></li> <li>News: <b><a href="http://www.thestandard.com/news/2008/09/30/apple-threatens-shut-down-itunes-store-over-royalty-rate-increase">Apple threatens to shut down the iTunes Store over royalty rate increase</a></b></li> </ul> http://www.thestandard.com./news/2008/10/03/was-false-report-steve-jobs-death-4chan-prank#comments co:4chan co:Apple people:Steve Jobs Software & Web The Industry Standard Fri, 03 Oct 2008 10:24:31 -0700 Cyndy Aleo-Carreira 119386 at http://www.thestandard.com. Who is responsible for the false Steve Jobs heart attack report? http://www.thestandard.com./news/2008/10/03/was-false-report-steve-jobs-death-4chan-prank <p> <p> </p> <p>As the dust continues to settle today after the <a href="http://www.thestandard.com/news/2008/10/03/doubts-surround-citizen-journalist-claims-steve-jobs-suffered-heart-attack">false report published on CNN's iReport</a> that Apple CEO Steve Jobs had suffered a massive heart attack, investigation into the source of the story continues. iReport pulled the story almost immediately after the story broke across other media outlets, but the mystery remains: Who is "johntw" who originally submitted the story?</p> <p>A quick check of the user profile shows no other stories submitted to iReport from that user. However, it's possible that iReport could have deleted all stories submitted after such a high-profile false story. A Google site search, however, seems to indicate that the user profile made its first appearance today, possibly set up for the sole purpose of posting the Jobs story.</p> <p><img src="/sites/thestandard.com/files/u4993/johntwprofile_screenshot-8.jpg" alt="johntw iReport profile screenshot" height="275" width="605" /></p> <p><img src="/sites/thestandard.com/files/u4993/johntwGoogle_screenshot-2.jpg" alt="johntw Google search screenshot" height="377" width="564" /> </p> <p>There has been a bit of speculation on Twitter that the rumor was a prank originating with 4chan users. No confirmation could be found on the 4chan boards, however, the rumor does seem to follow a similar pattern to that of a similar rumor last month that claimed <a href="http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Rumors_of_Oprah_Winfrey%27s_death_a_hoax">Oprah Winfrey had died</a>. Following the iReport story, Jobs' Wikpedia listing was altered to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Steve_Jobs&diff=next&oldid=241869438">claim he had recently died</a>, even though the iReport story only claimed he's had a heart attack, not that he'd passed away.</p> <p><b>More news, commentary, and predictions from <i>The Industry Standard</i>:</b></p> <ul> <li>Prediction: <b><a href="http://www.thestandard.com/predictions/apple-bundles-unlimited-itunes-ipods-iphones">Apple bundles unlimited iTunes with iPods, iPhones</a></b></li> <li>Analysis: <b><a href="http://www.thestandard.com/news/2008/09/30/analysts-downgrades-sink-apple-are-bears-way-target">Analyst downgrades sink Apple, but are the bears way off target?</a></b></li> <li>News: <b><a href="http://www.thestandard.com/news/2008/10/01/apple-drops-part-its-nda-iphone-developers">Apple drops part of its NDA for iPhone developers</a></b></li> <li>News: <b><a href="http://www.thestandard.com/news/2008/09/30/apple-threatens-shut-down-itunes-store-over-royalty-rate-increase">Apple threatens to shut down the iTunes Store over royalty rate increase</a></b></li> </ul> http://www.thestandard.com./news/2008/10/03/was-false-report-steve-jobs-death-4chan-prank#comments co:4chan co:Apple people:Steve Jobs Software & Web The Industry Standard Fri, 03 Oct 2008 10:24:31 -0700 Cyndy Aleo-Carreira 119386 at http://www.thestandard.com. Who is responsible for the false Steve Jobs heart attack report? http://www.thestandard.com./news/2008/10/03/was-false-report-steve-jobs-death-4chan-prank <p> <p> </p> <p>As the dust continues to settle today after the <a href="http://www.thestandard.com/news/2008/10/03/doubts-surround-citizen-journalist-claims-steve-jobs-suffered-heart-attack">false report published on CNN's iReport</a> that Apple CEO Steve Jobs had suffered a massive heart attack, investigation into the source of the story continues. iReport pulled the story almost immediately after the story broke across other media outlets, but the mystery remains: Who is "johntw" who originally submitted the story?</p> <p>A quick check of the user profile shows no other stories submitted to iReport from that user. However, it's possible that iReport could have deleted all stories submitted after such a high-profile false story. A Google site search, however, seems to indicate that the user profile made its first appearance today, possibly set up for the sole purpose of posting the Jobs story.</p> <p><img src="/sites/thestandard.com/files/u4993/johntwprofile_screenshot-8.jpg" alt="johntw iReport profile screenshot" height="275" width="605" /></p> <p><img src="/sites/thestandard.com/files/u4993/johntwGoogle_screenshot-2.jpg" alt="johntw Google search screenshot" height="377" width="564" /> </p> <p>There has been a bit of speculation on Twitter that the rumor was a prank originating with 4chan users. No confirmation could be found on the 4chan boards, however, the rumor does seem to follow a similar pattern to that of a similar rumor last month that claimed <a href="http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Rumors_of_Oprah_Winfrey%27s_death_a_hoax">Oprah Winfrey had died</a>. Following the iReport story, Jobs' Wikpedia listing was altered to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Steve_Jobs&diff=next&oldid=241869438">claim he had recently died</a>, even though the iReport story only claimed he's had a heart attack, not that he'd passed away.</p> <p><b>More news, commentary, and predictions from <i>The Industry Standard</i>:</b></p> <ul> <li>Prediction: <b><a href="http://www.thestandard.com/predictions/apple-bundles-unlimited-itunes-ipods-iphones">Apple bundles unlimited iTunes with iPods, iPhones</a></b></li> <li>Analysis: <b><a href="http://www.thestandard.com/news/2008/09/30/analysts-downgrades-sink-apple-are-bears-way-target">Analyst downgrades sink Apple, but are the bears way off target?</a></b></li> <li>News: <b><a href="http://www.thestandard.com/news/2008/10/01/apple-drops-part-its-nda-iphone-developers">Apple drops part of its NDA for iPhone developers</a></b></li> <li>News: <b><a href="http://www.thestandard.com/news/2008/09/30/apple-threatens-shut-down-itunes-store-over-royalty-rate-increase">Apple threatens to shut down the iTunes Store over royalty rate increase</a></b></li> </ul> http://www.thestandard.com./news/2008/10/03/was-false-report-steve-jobs-death-4chan-prank#comments co:4chan co:Apple people:Steve Jobs Software & Web The Industry Standard Fri, 03 Oct 2008 10:24:31 -0700 Cyndy Aleo-Carreira 119386 at http://www.thestandard.com. Who is responsible for the false Steve Jobs heart attack report? http://www.thestandard.com./news/2008/10/03/was-false-report-steve-jobs-death-4chan-prank <p> <p> </p> <p>As the dust continues to settle today after the <a href="http://www.thestandard.com/news/2008/10/03/doubts-surround-citizen-journalist-claims-steve-jobs-suffered-heart-attack">false report published on CNN's iReport</a> that Apple CEO Steve Jobs had suffered a massive heart attack, investigation into the source of the story continues. iReport pulled the story almost immediately after the story broke across other media outlets, but the mystery remains: Who is "johntw" who originally submitted the story?</p> <p>A quick check of the user profile shows no other stories submitted to iReport from that user. However, it's possible that iReport could have deleted all stories submitted after such a high-profile false story. A Google site search, however, seems to indicate that the user profile made its first appearance today, possibly set up for the sole purpose of posting the Jobs story.</p> <p><img src="/sites/thestandard.com/files/u4993/johntwprofile_screenshot-8.jpg" alt="johntw iReport profile screenshot" height="275" width="605" /></p> <p><img src="/sites/thestandard.com/files/u4993/johntwGoogle_screenshot-2.jpg" alt="johntw Google search screenshot" height="377" width="564" /> </p> <p>There has been a bit of speculation on Twitter that the rumor was a prank originating with 4chan users. No confirmation could be found on the 4chan boards, however, the rumor does seem to follow a similar pattern to that of a similar rumor last month that claimed <a href="http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Rumors_of_Oprah_Winfrey%27s_death_a_hoax">Oprah Winfrey had died</a>. Following the iReport story, Jobs' Wikpedia listing was altered to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Steve_Jobs&diff=next&oldid=241869438">claim he had recently died</a>, even though the iReport story only claimed he's had a heart attack, not that he'd passed away.</p> <p><b>More news, commentary, and predictions from <i>The Industry Standard</i>:</b></p> <ul> <li>Prediction: <b><a href="http://www.thestandard.com/predictions/apple-bundles-unlimited-itunes-ipods-iphones">Apple bundles unlimited iTunes with iPods, iPhones</a></b></li> <li>Analysis: <b><a href="http://www.thestandard.com/news/2008/09/30/analysts-downgrades-sink-apple-are-bears-way-target">Analyst downgrades sink Apple, but are the bears way off target?</a></b></li> <li>News: <b><a href="http://www.thestandard.com/news/2008/10/01/apple-drops-part-its-nda-iphone-developers">Apple drops part of its NDA for iPhone developers</a></b></li> <li>News: <b><a href="http://www.thestandard.com/news/2008/09/30/apple-threatens-shut-down-itunes-store-over-royalty-rate-increase">Apple threatens to shut down the iTunes Store over royalty rate increase</a></b></li> </ul> http://www.thestandard.com./news/2008/10/03/was-false-report-steve-jobs-death-4chan-prank#comments co:4chan co:Apple people:Steve Jobs Software & Web The Industry Standard Fri, 03 Oct 2008 10:24:31 -0700 Cyndy Aleo-Carreira 119386 at http://www.thestandard.com. Who is responsible for the false Steve Jobs heart attack report? http://www.thestandard.com./news/2008/10/03/was-false-report-steve-jobs-death-4chan-prank <p> <p> </p> <p>As the dust continues to settle today after the <a href="http://www.thestandard.com/news/2008/10/03/doubts-surround-citizen-journalist-claims-steve-jobs-suffered-heart-attack">false report published on CNN's iReport</a> that Apple CEO Steve Jobs had suffered a massive heart attack, investigation into the source of the story continues. iReport pulled the story almost immediately after the story broke across other media outlets, but the mystery remains: Who is "johntw" who originally submitted the story?</p> <p>A quick check of the user profile shows no other stories submitted to iReport from that user. However, it's possible that iReport could have deleted all stories submitted after such a high-profile false story. A Google site search, however, seems to indicate that the user profile made its first appearance today, possibly set up for the sole purpose of posting the Jobs story.</p> <p><img src="/sites/thestandard.com/files/u4993/johntwprofile_screenshot-8.jpg" alt="johntw iReport profile screenshot" height="275" width="605" /></p> <p><img src="/sites/thestandard.com/files/u4993/johntwGoogle_screenshot-2.jpg" alt="johntw Google search screenshot" height="377" width="564" /> </p> <p>There has been a bit of speculation on Twitter that the rumor was a prank originating with 4chan users. No confirmation could be found on the 4chan boards, however, the rumor does seem to follow a similar pattern to that of a similar rumor last month that claimed <a href="http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Rumors_of_Oprah_Winfrey%27s_death_a_hoax">Oprah Winfrey had died</a>. Following the iReport story, Jobs' Wikpedia listing was altered to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Steve_Jobs&diff=next&oldid=241869438">claim he had recently died</a>, even though the iReport story only claimed he's had a heart attack, not that he'd passed away.</p> <p><b>More news, commentary, and predictions from <i>The Industry Standard</i>:</b></p> <ul> <li>Prediction: <b><a href="http://www.thestandard.com/predictions/apple-bundles-unlimited-itunes-ipods-iphones">Apple bundles unlimited iTunes with iPods, iPhones</a></b></li> <li>Analysis: <b><a href="http://www.thestandard.com/news/2008/09/30/analysts-downgrades-sink-apple-are-bears-way-target">Analyst downgrades sink Apple, but are the bears way off target?</a></b></li> <li>News: <b><a href="http://www.thestandard.com/news/2008/10/01/apple-drops-part-its-nda-iphone-developers">Apple drops part of its NDA for iPhone developers</a></b></li> <li>News: <b><a href="http://www.thestandard.com/news/2008/09/30/apple-threatens-shut-down-itunes-store-over-royalty-rate-increase">Apple threatens to shut down the iTunes Store over royalty rate increase</a></b></li> </ul> http://www.thestandard.com./news/2008/10/03/was-false-report-steve-jobs-death-4chan-prank#comments co:4chan co:Apple people:Steve Jobs Software & Web The Industry Standard Fri, 03 Oct 2008 10:24:31 -0700 Cyndy Aleo-Carreira 119386 at http://www.thestandard.com. Who is responsible for the false Steve Jobs heart attack report? http://www.thestandard.com./news/2008/10/03/was-false-report-steve-jobs-death-4chan-prank <p> <p> </p> <p>As the dust continues to settle today after the <a href="http://www.thestandard.com/news/2008/10/03/doubts-surround-citizen-journalist-claims-steve-jobs-suffered-heart-attack">false report published on CNN's iReport</a> that Apple CEO Steve Jobs had suffered a massive heart attack, investigation into the source of the story continues. iReport pulled the story almost immediately after the story broke across other media outlets, but the mystery remains: Who is "johntw" who originally submitted the story?</p> <p>A quick check of the user profile shows no other stories submitted to iReport from that user. However, it's possible that iReport could have deleted all stories submitted after such a high-profile false story. A Google site search, however, seems to indicate that the user profile made its first appearance today, possibly set up for the sole purpose of posting the Jobs story.</p> <p><img src="/sites/thestandard.com/files/u4993/johntwprofile_screenshot-8.jpg" alt="johntw iReport profile screenshot" height="275" width="605" /></p> <p><img src="/sites/thestandard.com/files/u4993/johntwGoogle_screenshot-2.jpg" alt="johntw Google search screenshot" height="377" width="564" /> </p> <p>There has been a bit of speculation on Twitter that the rumor was a prank originating with 4chan users. No confirmation could be found on the 4chan boards, however, the rumor does seem to follow a similar pattern to that of a similar rumor last month that claimed <a href="http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Rumors_of_Oprah_Winfrey%27s_death_a_hoax">Oprah Winfrey had died</a>. Following the iReport story, Jobs' Wikpedia listing was altered to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Steve_Jobs&diff=next&oldid=241869438">claim he had recently died</a>, even though the iReport story only claimed he's had a heart attack, not that he'd passed away.</p> <p><b>More news, commentary, and predictions from <i>The Industry Standard</i>:</b></p> <ul> <li>Prediction: <b><a href="http://www.thestandard.com/predictions/apple-bundles-unlimited-itunes-ipods-iphones">Apple bundles unlimited iTunes with iPods, iPhones</a></b></li> <li>Analysis: <b><a href="http://www.thestandard.com/news/2008/09/30/analysts-downgrades-sink-apple-are-bears-way-target">Analyst downgrades sink Apple, but are the bears way off target?</a></b></li> <li>News: <b><a href="http://www.thestandard.com/news/2008/10/01/apple-drops-part-its-nda-iphone-developers">Apple drops part of its NDA for iPhone developers</a></b></li> <li>News: <b><a href="http://www.thestandard.com/news/2008/09/30/apple-threatens-shut-down-itunes-store-over-royalty-rate-increase">Apple threatens to shut down the iTunes Store over royalty rate increase</a></b></li> </ul> http://www.thestandard.com./news/2008/10/03/was-false-report-steve-jobs-death-4chan-prank#comments co:4chan co:Apple people:Steve Jobs Software & Web The Industry Standard Fri, 03 Oct 2008 10:24:31 -0700 Cyndy Aleo-Carreira 119386 at http://www.thestandard.com.