NOUN (2)

1. something resembling a fact; unverified (often invented) information that is given credibility because it appeared in print;

2. a brief (usually one sentence and usually trivial) news item;

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

factoid
    n 1: something resembling a fact; unverified (often invented)
         information that is given credibility because it appeared
         in print
    2: a brief (usually one sentence and usually trivial) news item