Add to it the reliance on an "anonymous source," which, depending on what state you are in, would be shielded from being identified in a court of law. Knowing that, a journalist can shortcut the process to fabricate the source to advance the story.
Hell, there isn't even any verification of the blooper happening in the first place. (Pssst! The evidence is that the gaffe is edited from the show.)
Thus, the tabloider takes a rumor, never calls/e-mails/faxes/tweets/IMs/texts/passengerpigeons anyone for a statement/corroboration/denial, creates a source to speak through, cranks out a story (literally, a story) in less than 10 minutes, and probably has his check direct deposited so that he never has to leave his windowless basement through the whole process.