Pit bull mix allows for other breed mentions - particularly if some of the appearance of the dog looks like another breed. I think it’s just wishful thinking to insist that it’s not a pit bull mix by focusing on the other breed mixed in.
No, it’s wishful thinking to think that the media would get the breed identified correctly. More like they don’t know the diff. and it never occurs that someone else might. As for the “mix” part, that’s really hard to prove....and highly doubtful the owner would know the mix himself.