How Fake News Should Inspire Media Accountability

If you live in San Luis Obispo County and consider yourself an active news reader, chances are you’ve heard about the controversial online tabloid, CalCoastNews, and its penchant for churning out InfoWars-style “reporting.” If you’re interested in learning more about them, their “reporters,” methods and activities, check out my book.

CalCoastNews is a great reason why our local media should hold other media outlets accountable. We see that accountability on the national level. Why not here?

Brian Stelter is CNN’s chief media correspondent and host of CNN’s Reliable Sources. Stelter’s job is to assess and discuss the national media landscape, review the anatomy of popular and trending news, and give viewers an inside look into the news-reporting process. He’s also the same age as me, so I can appreciate the fact he demonstrates a comprehensive mastery of the subject matter early in his hopefully long and fulfilling journalism career.

Recently, Stelter had a segment covering a failed right-wing smear campaign against South Bend, Indiana mayor and Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg. The smear campaign, which was first uncovered by The Daily Beast, involved two right-wing operatives soliciting men to falsely accuse Buttigieg of sexually assaulting them. These operatives allegedly created a fake…