> decision makers who are now making snap anti-Russian decisions on the basis of prior articles.
This is how you get the public to support hostile actions later, including even armed conflict. We all know the only reason for the relative peace between the West and Russia has been nukes... But Russia is still seen as the enemy and anything criticizing them can go almost completely unchallenged in popular media.
China is also on the same boat. Not that they do not deserve criticism, they certainly do... but when people don't need any fact checking at all to believe whatever allegations come to light (as you mention, examples of fake allegations going unchallenged are endless) you do need to start worrying that the rethoric can go too far and cause undue harm, eventually.
This is how you get the public to support hostile actions later, including even armed conflict. We all know the only reason for the relative peace between the West and Russia has been nukes... But Russia is still seen as the enemy and anything criticizing them can go almost completely unchallenged in popular media.
China is also on the same boat. Not that they do not deserve criticism, they certainly do... but when people don't need any fact checking at all to believe whatever allegations come to light (as you mention, examples of fake allegations going unchallenged are endless) you do need to start worrying that the rethoric can go too far and cause undue harm, eventually.