Defamers: How Fake News Terrorized a Community and Those Who Dared to Fight It

Based in San Luis Obispo County, California, a pernicious online tabloid claimed they published investigative journalism that shined a light on public corruption. Instead, they corrupted journalism, defaming for profit. As a result, lives were torn apart. Communities were sharply divided. Political wars were waged. Public confidence in legitimate news sources eroded. When the community began questioning their methods, they engaged in years of personal vengeance, conspiracy theories and wild, unsubstantiated allegations. Aided by a local radio icon, activists, politicians and online trolls, they terrorized their critics for years.One of those critics lived through it all to tell his story, unfiltered and without the spin.