According to The Hill, CNN's media correspondent said he believes the cable news business "is more complex" than Koppel made it seem with the comment.
The back-and-forth stems from Koppel's commentary during an event at the National Press Club on Monday night, when Koppel said Trump "had been wonderful for the industry."
Stelter argued that the press is being targeted as part of a "hate movement" spearheaded by the president, who regularly decries the news media as "fake news" and "the enemy of the people."
“He has been wonderful for the industry,” said Koppel, who currently serves as a CBS contributor.
“But that means what?” responded Stelter, a staunch critic of the Trump. “If ratings are up, that means what?”
“It means you can’t do without Donald Trump,” Koppel replied. “You would be lost without Donald Trump.”
“Ted, you know that’s not true,” Stelter said.
“CNN’s ratings would be in the toilet without Donald Trump,” Koppel declared.
I admire Koppel, but I think the cable news biz is a lot more complex than he makes it seem. Ratings rise, ratings fall. Stories come, stories go. It's important to cover Trump and it's important to cover what comes next. https://t.co/GViF1ffb6p— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) October 3, 2018
After some back-and-forth over what CNN's ratings would look like if Trump hadn't won the presidency, Stelter said he didn't accept the notion that broadcast networks were benefiting from money generated from the additional eyeballs Trump brings to the table.
“I reject the premise that these networks are making so much money off of Trump and thus, we benefit from it,” Stelter said.
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