Staff Reports
In a development that could only be described as a low-key return of an old nemesis, Brian Stelter is making his way back to CNN this month. After a two-year hiatus, Stelter, who is no stranger to media controversy, has taken to the “Reliable Sources” newsletter to announce his return, although one must wonder who remains subscribed to such a publication. His comeback has been teased by his frequent television appearances, suggesting that like a bad penny, Stelter just doesn’t know when to stay away.
The timing of Stelter’s return is curious, to say the least. Just weeks prior, Oliver Darcy exited the network to pursue his own subscription-based project, leaving many to assume that the “Reliable Sources” newsletter would be left to languish in obscurity. But rely on CNN to dust off an old format and shove Stelter back into the spotlight, even if his role is apparently set to evolve into something vaguely different. One has to chuckle at the notion that he will now be a Chief Media Analyst, as if the title will grant him a new pair of glasses to view the world through a more honest lens.
Two Bidens: Some of us are watching long, complete speeches by the president. Others just watching short, out of context clips on social media. Two audiences are seeing two very different reflections. pic.twitter.com/fg8Sle9qpK
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) June 19, 2024
It’s hard not to roll one’s eyes at Stelter’s attempts to position himself as a reflective critic of the media landscape. Having spent the majority of his career shielding the likes of Joe Biden from the harsh light of the truth, it’s questionable whether this seasoned spin doctor can manage a genuine pivot. During his time away, he moonlighted as a commentator for various outlets, all while promoting the very narratives that have led to the media’s current state of disarray. If CNN hopes Stelter is the answer to their image crisis, they may be in for a rude awakening.
Most noteworthy is how Stelter has attempted to frame the media’s failures as a product of circumstance rather than deliberate misinformation. A prime example involves the disastrous Biden debate performance, which placed Stelter and his kind on the back foot as the truth of the commander-in-chief’s frailty was laid bare for the nation to see. Instead of owning that reality, he scuttled back into his familiar role of media apologist, painting a picture where journalists were merely pawns manipulated by an administration more concerned with image than integrity.
After the press screwed the pooch in a big way over the false border agents whipping migrants stories, what did the media watchdog have to say in a critical manner?
Not much at all, really…https://t.co/ufnGwk2T9s— Brad Slager – Folksy as Walz & Joyful As a K-Hive! (@MartiniShark) September 28, 2021
Stelter’s tenure is riddled with moments that exemplify his penchant for excuses rather than accountability. When misleading narratives, such as the infamous whipping of immigrants by border agents, were disseminated on his watch, Stelter chose to defend the indefensible, assigning blame to the chaotic nature of breaking news instead of calling out the fabrication for what it was. Such a track record doesn’t inspire confidence that this time around will be any different.
With a new election cycle looming, CNN’s decision to promote Stelter back onto the airwaves feels like a desperate grasp at relevance. A second book attempts to dig deeper into his media fixation, but one can’t help but notice that its sales hardly set the world on fire. As he prepares for this new chapter, the question remains whether viewers craving alternative perspectives will find value in the recycled analysis of a figure who has built a career on protecting the very narratives that conservatives have long sought to challenge. If history has taught anything, it’s that viewers should expect more of the same – and perhaps a few new twists on his brand of media “analysis.”
