CNN media correspondent Brian Stelter did not cover the furor over the misleading editing in Katie Couric's gun documentary on his weekly Sunday show Reliable Sources despite his own coverage on the story online.
Stelter defended the decision on Twitter by citing his web stories and adding that Couric's film is an "obscure" and "little-watched" documentary.
@TheJakeWesley @CommentaryCNN every show makes tough editorial choices every day (1/2)
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) May 31, 2016
@TheJakeWesley @CommentaryCNN in this case, i'd already covered it online; doc was obscure/was little-watched; and we had other plans (2/2)
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) May 31, 2016
In lieu of Couric, Stelter covered the media's role in debunking conspiracy theories promoted by Donald Trump supporters, including an interview with former White House adviser Dan Pfeiffer about Trump's birther attacks on President Obama.
He also delved into a five-day-old Politico article about conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh's potential business woes, accusations of bias against Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.), the campaign of libertarian candidate Gary Johnson, possible "racial anxiety" as a factor in Trump's rise, and the feud between billionaire Peter Thiel and Gawker Media.
In all, three of Stelter's segments concerned Trump.
The Washington Free Beacon's Stephen Gutowski reported Wednesday on the makers of Under The Gun deceptively editing an interview between Couric and gun rights activists in an effort to make them look befuddled.
The Free Beacon's story was widely read, with pieces following up the Free Beacon's reporting by Stelter at CNN, as well as by the New York Times, Washington Post, NPR, The Daily Beast, Fox News Channel, The Hollywood Reporter, The Guardian and Variety.
Couric initially stood by film director Stephanie Soechtig, as Stelter himself reported.
Soechtig offered up a non-apology while acknowledging the purposeful editing decision.
Despite not making it on Reliable Sources, the story continued developing over the weekend. Stelter reported on Couric's statement Monday that she regretted the "misleading" editing.
In the @ReliableSources newsletter... some breaking news... @KatieCouric says she regrets "misleading" edit in film: https://t.co/LTDbzLjIiK
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) May 31, 2016