Massachusetts newspaper says longtime reporter made up sources

HYANNIS, Mass. – A Massachusetts newspaper says one of its longtime reporters made up sources for her stories, and it has issued an apology.

Cape Cod Times Publisher Peter Meyer and Editor Paul Pronovost said Tuesday an internal review found the reporter wrote dozens of stories with "sources who do not exist."

They say editors doing an audit of Karen Jeffrey's work can't find 69 people in 34 stories going back to 1998. They say Jeffrey admits inventing people and using fake names.

The newspaper says the bogus sourcing typically was in lighter stories, such as one about a Boston Red Sox opening game. It says in some cases none of the people quoted can be found.

A story posted on the newspaper's website says Jeffrey no longer works there.

Jeffrey hasn't returned a phone message seeking comment.