How do readers define “Fake News?” The mainstream media publishes tons of it.
Is it “Fake News” because a local politician doesn’t want it known?
Is it “Fake News” because a state senator says the news outlet published statements the news outlet never published?
Luke Rankin is among four local politicians calling MyrtleBeachSC News “Fake News”. In his latest attack ad he says, “I never voted against the Heartbeat Bill.”
He insinuates MyrtleBeachSC News published an article stating he voted against it.
Here is the actual article published by our news agency. https://myrtlebeachsc.com/citizens-for-life-ask-residents-to-call-senator-rankin-on-heartbeat-bill/
Actual Article Title and Header

We never once said Senator Luke Rankin voted against the heartbeat bill. Senator Rankin’s ad is a lie.
His voice joins other former politicians including Myrtle Beach Area Chamber C.E.O. Brad Dean, former Myrtle Beach Mayor John Rhodes, and former Horry County Council Chairman, Mark Lazarus, in calling MyrtleBeachSC News, “Fake News”.
What is odd about those voices: RESIDENTS NEVER CALL MYRTLEBEACHSC NEWS “FAKE NEWS”
Rankin is the last of his breed.
Three of the four above are now former Myrtle Beach area politicians
On Tuesday, voters will decide if Rankin gets to join his long-standing political friends in the former aisle.
TO OUR READERS
What makes “Fake News” fake
Fake News is reporting news with facts that aren’t true… thus the term “fake news”.
This is the definition we use in defining this term. We call out Fake News in the mainstream media often.
It’s also a term that is losing some meaning. “Fake News” has become the “go to cheap shot” Myrtle Beach politicians use to silence our media without ever providing facts that document how the news is fake.
We experienced this cheap shot over the years (time and again) by those same few voices above. The facts always fell on our side, 100% of the time.
News isn’t Fake News, just because you don’t want it to be true.
News isn’t Fake News, just because you post it as “fake news” with no explanation.
News isn’t Fake because you take an article and twist a statement into something the article never stated.
News isn’t Fake News because you personally don’t like the writer.
And news isn’t Fake News because it could have a negative impact on your next election.