The Lede: In the four-missile version of the image released Wednesday by Sepah News, the media arm of Iran's Revolutionary Guard, two major sections (encircled in red) appear to closely replicate other sections (encircled in orange). (Illustration by The New York Times)

Agence France-Presse has retracted an image of Iran's 'four' missile tests, after it appeared that the picture had been digitally altered by Sepah News, Iran's Revolutionary Guard media arm.

Only, the realization was made after a number of large mainstream media organizations had published the picture on their front page, including The Los Angeles Times, the Financial Times, The Chicago Tribune, BBC News and NYTimes.com.

Since then, the Associated Press has distributed a similar picture showing only three missiles being launched.

The fourth missile "has apparently been added in digital retouch to cover a grounded missile that may have failed during the test," said Agence France-Presse when it retracted the first image.

This is one of the most recent and blatant examples of an increasing challenge for media across the globe, namely how to authenticate digital documents prior to their publication.

Source: The Lede through IFRA Executive News Service