I heard a tale about the journos during the World Cup in South Africa, the story comes from a red top stringer who was over there, and he relayed it to a mate of mine who was in Fleet Street at the time.
Basically once they had all filed their match reports, they all colluded to come up with the narrative for the editorial pish that would be in the follow up articles, this (allegedly) was over several libations in the bus back to whatever luxury watering hole they were all ensconced.
Lead agitator and top dog was one H.Winter, at that time of the Telegraph, and apparently all the red top muppets went along taking the que and embellishing accordingly.
I offer this up as evidence of rat menatality, and how the red tops follow the broadsheets.