From my short stint as a tech columnist, the number one goal is to get the copy in by deadline. So deliberate lies, not so much, just no time to craft a great lie, joking/not joking. Getting it exactly right in a short time frame, easy to be approximately right, which in some cases is interpreted not well.

One small reference: https://gizmodo.com/i-fooled-millions-into-thinking-chocolat...