INDIANAPOLIS, IN- Since the dawn of the digital age Americans have come to rely on credible websites like Newsmax and Worldnet Daily to provide an accurate, unbiased assessment of the day's events. Unfortunately, not all news sites are created equal. Earlier this week an attentive reader noticed a handful of factual errors in a story at one of the Internet's most trusted news sources. When confronted about this, the site's administrators freely admitted the errors but made no effort to correct them.

"After a few more hours of research, I found so many holes in the story that there wasn't a single 'fact' left standing," recalls Internet user Dianne Dactic. "It was clear that that point that these people have no respect for their time-honored profession or for the truth. I started to think that maybe they made it all up in a lame attempt to make some sort of point."

Exposed and left with few options, the news team assembled for an emergency meeting Thursday afternoon to discuss the fate of the site. Ridiculopathy-Dot-Com editor in chief Mark Arenz decided it would be best to come clean. "It's all been a horrible, shameful lie," he told the staff. "I thought we could keep up the rouse indefinitely, but this Dactic lady was far too clever for us. The jig is up, guys. The time has come to go legit or pack it in."

For the site's many readers, the revelation cuts to the bone. Countless term papers and web-based arguments have been supported by information found there, and with that foundation removed nothing seems real anymore. Tens of dozens of people are now unable to tell up from down, black from white. The proverbial emperor has not only gone "clothing optional," but he is now streaking around the palace exposing his junk to anyone who will stand still long enough.

"We didn't start off intending to become a sham," said Arenz. "But given the spartan economics of a modern news organization, we simply couldn't afford to travel to these far-flung places to file our reports. Our only other option was to make things up as we went along, a practice that we now admit has gotten a bit out of hand. Once Google News began hotlinking to our quasi-facts on their main page, there really wasn't much point in going back. It was fun for a while, but it has to stop. I know that I've let you all down. I'm very, very sorry."

The site's dubious articles have shown up in college textbooks and even Skeptic Magazine, a fact that emphasizes just how dangerous sites like these can become.

"If we can't trust our news sources, how are we supposed to make informed decisions?" asked Dactic. "Do you have any idea what kind of effect that could have on democracy in America? An uninformed public might might vote an utter moron into the White House. Thank goodness that hasn't happened yet. It looks like I was just in time."

Even with all the shame of what they had done, the notion of simply closing up shop seemed like running away from the problem rather than addressing it. To that end the site has published a plan to reconfigure its news product over the next few days, tripling its operating budget and hiring several veteran reporters recently let go from the Knight Ridder newspaper chain.

If all goes well, Ridiculopathy-Dot-Com will be upside-down in ad revenue and hemorrhaging cash just like a legitimate news organization. The bottom line, according to the site's editor, is that readers will once again be able to trust the content found on their pages.

"Beginning on the first of April, we solemnly promise that everything that appears on the site from now on will be absolutely 100% true," said Arenz, "even if this statement is itself a bold-faced lie. You have our word on that- or not."