We know the answer as to why there was confusion -- because several people from the (mining) company called family members to report the good news before they were supposed to.
We had it on very good authority from figures who ought to know, the governor and a congressman, that those miners were alive, and we reported it. And as soon as we knew otherwise, we reported that too.
The good thing about TV is that you can still watch the product, even if you're not in charge of it anymore.