The Gray Area with Sean Illing

Brian Stelter thinks the news has a reliability problem

Mar 30, 2023

Brian Stelter, former host of CNN’s Reliable Sources and author of Hoax, dives into the reliability crisis in modern media. He discusses the implications of the Dominion Voting Systems lawsuit against Fox News and whether it signifies a turning point for journalistic integrity. Stelter reflects on the intertwined nature of news and entertainment, particularly how political figures like Trump shape public perception. He emphasizes the need for responsible journalism in a landscape rife with misinformation and the pressures that lead networks to prioritize sensationalism.

56:35

Episode guests

Brian Stelter

Highlights

AI Chapters

Episode notes

The Media's Role in the Rise of Trump

01:41

The Press and the People

01:17

Intro

3min

Navigating Life Post-CNN and Reflections on Media Transition

3min

Reflections on Change and Loyalty in Cable News

2min

The Intersection of Entertainment and Journalism in Modern Media

3min

The Symbiotic Relationship Between Trump and Media

2min

Media Integrity and the Fallout from Political Influence

4min

Fox News and the Battle for Ratings

15min

Media Narratives and Public Perception

21min

Will the Dominion Voting Systems lawsuit against Fox News be a watershed moment? Is the media industry beyond repair? Sean Illing is joined by media reporter Brian Stelter, the former host of CNN’s Reliable Sources and the author of Hoax. Together, they reflect on the relationship of news, entertainment, and politics and what the consequences of the Dominion suit might be.

Host: Sean Illing (@seanilling), host, The Gray Area

Guest: Brian Stelter, (@brianstelter) author; former TV news host; media reporter

References:

Hoax by Brian Stelter (Simon & Schuster, 2021)
Top of the Morning: Inside the Cutthroat World of Morning TV by Brian Stelter (Grand Central, 2019)
“How Not to Cover a Bank Run” by Brian Stelter (The Atlantic, March 2023)
“I Never Truly Understood Fox News Until Now” by Brian Stelter (The Atlantic, February 2023)
“Mass Delusion in America” by Jeffrey Goldberg (The Atlantic, January 2021)
Brian Stelter’s Substack

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This episode was made by:

Producer: Erikk Geannikis
Engineer: Patrick Boyd
Editorial Director, Vox Talk: A.M. Hall

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