So certain stories get written time and again, and are annoying because of the lack of thought that goes into them, because they are completely non-news-worthy, because of the credulity and lack of inquiry on the part of the reporter, and/or because of the press’s stupid (or shameless) willingness to be used as a tool by hucksters or others with an agenda.
Here are a few of my candidates of such stories that, barring further developments, should just be declared per se unpublishable:
Pop star performs “shocking” sexually-oriented act on nationally televised program
Someone “auctions” something “outrageous” [his virginity/three pounds of cocaine/etc.] on eBay (and prank auction is removed after ten minutes)
Something [Super Bowl tickets/a domain name/a bottle of port from Thomas Jefferson’s cellar/a sports collectible] is “selling for” [i.e., being advertised for, but not bought, or being the subject of bogus eBay bids] some astonishing sum of money
Soccer is about to become America’s favorite sport because after all the rest of the world loves it
Men are about to start wearing skirts (i.e., some attention-seeking designer or publicist has included a men’s skirt in some collection or show]
Feel free to add your own.