The media does it all the time. They print/broadcast supposed leaks from anonymous sources that they feel will bring in great ratings. The supposed fact they are reporting can't be or is never verified. It's nothing but trashy journalism, sensationalism. It's pretty well accepted by the public. It has become a report first and check to see if it's true later situation. The defense is just playing the game. I mean after the "Casey is 100% guilty by overwhelmimng evidence" story can you blame them? It's all really sickening. Almost no one surrounding this case has conducted themself in a dignified manner that respects Caylee's memory. Sorry, but it is all ultimately fueled by the publics insaitible appetite for every detail before the case gets to trial.
The media has this case on a path to be more of a ridiculous spectacle by the time it reaches trial than even the OJ fiasco.
I have to take exception to the "supposed fact they are reporting" part. The truth is, their facts have to be corroborated by their respective media outlets for veracity. Otherwise it's called LIBEL (printed) and SLANDER (broadcast media), something that doesn't fly here in the good ol' US of A.
Now, I will agree that a reporter's SOURCE could be particularly shady. For example, let's pretend for a moment that there is someone flat out confabulating facts, but is connected to, say, the sheriff's department or attorney general, i.e. the "anonymous source". If they can get another person to verify the anonymous source's fact (maybe it's that person's buddy in the office), that reporter has just done their due diligence. However, if a reporter can verify a source, but still has cause to know that the information is patently false but print/broadcast anyway, they and their publication can be sued.
I can say that anonymous sources are taken very seriously in the media, editors have long sit downs with reporters over these situations. If the editor isn't convinced, it doesn't get printed/broadcast. Media outlets have no time for lawsuits, and people that report using shoddy "anonymous sources" don't tend to have a job for very long. That is why the anonymous source is generally someone that the reporter has a long-standing professional relationship with. They are not taken lightly.
Believe it or not, publications like the National Enquirer (which many people believe is the figurehead of yellow journalism) has some of the most intensive fact-checkers in the business.
Seriously, how often do you honestly see lawsuits for libel or slander? It's fairly uncommon.