  We develop a model of electoral accountability with mainstream and
alternative media. In addition to regular high- and low-competence types, the
incumbent may be an aspiring autocrat who controls the mainstream media and
will subvert democracy if retained in office. A truthful alternative media can
help voters identify and remove these subversive types while re-electing
competent leaders. A malicious alternative media, in contrast, spreads false
accusations about the incumbent and demotivates policy effort. If the
alternative media is very likely be malicious and hence is unreliable, voters
ignore it and use only the mainstream media to hold regular incumbents
accountable, leaving aspiring autocrats to win re-election via propaganda that
portrays them as effective policymakers. When the alternative media's
reliability is intermediate, voters heed its warnings about subversive
incumbents, but the prospect of being falsely accused demotivates effort by
regular incumbents and electoral accountability breaks down.
