Fake New York Times

On the morning of November 12, 2008, fake copies of The New York Times newspaper with a headline reading "Iraq War Ends" were distributed at busy subway stations in New York City. According to reports, the bogus 14-page newspapers, dated July 9, 2009, were thought to be the work of a group of "liberal pranksters" known as The Yes Men. Within hours, The Yes Men issued a statement claiming responsibility for the hoax.City Room (NYT): Liberal Pranksters Hand Out Times Spoof Gawker: Fake New York Times Declares Iraq War Over! Here's Who Did It

"In an elaborate operation six months in the planning, 1.2 million papers were printed at six different presses and driven to prearranged pickup locations, where thousands of volunteers stood ready to pass them out on the street."City Room (NYT): Liberal Pranksters Hand Out Times Spoof

"This is obviously a fake issue of The Times. We are in the process of finding out more about it."—Catherine J. Mathis, spokesman for The New York TimesCity Room (NYT): Liberal Pranksters Hand Out Times Spoof

"I would say if you've got one, hold on to it. It will probably be a collector's item. I'm just glad someone thinks The New York Times print edition is worthy of an elaborate hoax. A Web spoof would have been infinitely easier. But creating a print newspaper and handing it out at subway stations? That takes a lot of effort."—Alex S. Jones, director of the Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy SchoolCity Room (NYT): Liberal Pranksters Hand Out Times Spoof