factoid

fac*toid noun
Etymology: fact -- Latin factum, from neuter of factus, past participle of facere - actual; having objective reality
-oid -- Latin -oïdes, from Greek -oeidEs, from -o- + eidos - appearance

1: an invented fact believed to be true because of its appearance in print
2: a brief and usually trivial news item

See also: propaganda, journalism, dogma, IMO (esp. IMHO), politician, imp

-- BG