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Wednesday, April 11, 2012

TDS Asks 'What the Hell Happened to CNN?'





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25 comments:

Anonymous said...

I saw this last night and thought the exact same thing - what the hell happened to CNN? I think any news junkie has asked themselves that repeatedly over the last couple years. Glad to see someone else in the media articulate the same thought. Does CNN really think that branding their segments will help? Seriously? Has it started to sink into to management's thick skull that the problem is the stupid crap you put in the segment and not the "branding" of the segment? CNN seems out of touch and has been for a while. They have lost all sense of what is important in the lives of viewers. At least Fox and MSNBC has found a voice and purpose that appeals to a broad audience throughout the country. CNN seems directionless, snarky, condescending, enamoured with their own cleverness, yet totally detached and ignorant of most of america. Don't tell me what is important like I can't figure it out for myself. Don't spoon feed us useless info as if it is all we are capable of understanding. CNN could be a real voice of the people - the trusted arbiter of the truth, a force of journalism that challenges the powerful and asks the tough questions. There are some journalists who still feel that way - hire them, develop them, promote them and build your brand around the idea that news is important and relevant.

Anonymous said...

Look for a big announcement in the coming days
from CNN. It is possible that Tj Holmes & Betty
Nguyen could be the brand new AM morning team
on CNN. It would be good news for them to have
a brand new AM show Monday- Friday. Tj was on
Twitter talking about leaving BET. Good he could
not stay out of the news for much longer. Jon I'm
wondering the same thing. It is sad but true. I'm
looking forward to a TJ & Betty reunion.

Anonymous said...

I used to watch CNN exclusively. Now I don't it at all. That is only positive thing I can do for myself, and I don't think I am alone in thinking that way. Jon Stewart, as expected, hit the nail on the head. Will CNN listen? No. The entire prime time lineup needs tossed out and new people need to be brought in. But no one will want to come in who is good because of how bad CNN's reputation has become. I would toss the anchors and let some of the really good journalists take over prime time.

Anonymous said...

Thank you JS. When will CNN end the silliness.
I am waiting to hear that CNN has canceled
Starting Point, John King, Out Front & PMT.
Broole Baldwin's show is the worst with the
silly branded segments. I think Ken Jautz's
days are numbered at CNN. The man has made
things worst for CNN. It is time for CNN to have
some leadership. TV By The Numbers said it
best CNN is being left in the dust. TBTN also
took Piers Morgan to task for saying he would
kick Rachel Maddow's butt. Stewart said what
many of us have been thinking. What the hell
happened to CNN.

Anonymous said...

The 7PM hour at CNN needs major saving. I'm sure Erin Burnett won't make it past the Summer. I'm sure it will be cancelled soon and be replaced with a temporary Election Center show like they did in 2008 with Campbell Brown. Campbell lasted about 2 years, In the Arena from October 2010 to July 2011. OutFront began in October, so I don't see it lasting any much longer.

CNN needs to end Starting Point. It's already badly damaged Soledad O'Brien's reputation. She is amazing at her documentaries, but not a pundit filled show.

I'm thrilled to hear that TJ Holmes is in negotiations with CNN to return! He is awesome. That would make a 2nd return to CNN this year after Christiane Amanpour.

Anonymous said...

It's time for Walton, Jautz and Whitaker to go. This is the only news organization that is incapable of providing their viewers a solid hour of news. With all that goes on in this country, CNN can't even report it.
The anchors are so busy with the "what if" interviews. What happened to providing reports with actual fact?
But then again these are the managers that hired Erin, Brooke and Zorida.

Anonymous said...

Anyone who still thinks ANDERSON is a journalist is nuts.
On TVN he purposely wanted to recreate his laughing fit, pretaped over silliness, Dyngus Day!
Yes he was sooo embarrassed about his first laughing fit he decided to exploit himself laughing again.
I am sooooo over him, I can't stand the sight of him anymore and if Jon Stewart wants to know why CNN is failing, all he has to do is look at the a-- hole they created.
And I love the part where he wipes his fake tears with his "hankie."
I couldn't even stand watching the clip!
As Isha would say: AC "man up."

Anonymous said...

Something is definitely up. Betty leaves CBS and
now TJ is leaving BET. Changes are definitely in
the making at CNN. Don't believe for 1 second
that Betty and Tj are coming back to weekends.
It is time for breakfast with pundits to end.

Next up CNN will make a change at 7 PM. The
demo is way too low. PMT is now dropping down
from 360 at 8. CNN needs a more competitive
show up against Rachel. John King is a tougher
call. CNN dragged the show down with pundits
right from the start. I worry that CNN has not
learned a lesson from replacing reporters with
pundits. Content and presentation are big
issues for CNN.

Anonymous said...

It does sound like something is brewing with CNN - I like that TJ is coming back. is it confirmed that Betty is going to CNN? I thought the news said she is leaving CBS but no comment on future plans. I agree, if they are both coming back, it isn't for some small weekend gig. I'll be honest, I'd love to wake up to TJ's voice every morning ;)
So what would this mean for Soledad, Ashleigh, and Zorida? Maybe they are moving to an ensemble show. I sure hope this means they'll dump will cain and roland martin in the morning. NO PUNDITS! I actually think Zorida might have potential, I wouldn't dump her yet. I would love to see Banfield get a bigger role in the evening. I do not like Burnett's brand of journalism - she just needs to go. Brooke is not exactly an ideal anchor but she is adequate for an hour of coverage during the day. I wouldn't be disappointed to see Brooke go, but CNN has bigger problems right now.

At one point, there was talk about a new 11pm show. The ratings indicate there is a potential audience at that timeslot. Burnett is not exactly outperforming that timeslot but there is frequently a ratings bump there - even when Burnett has a sub. We are all focused on the potential morning shakeup but maybe the plans are for 11pm. This is all just speculation on my part.

Anonymous said...

I agree with those who say CNN's biggest problem is content. It's fun to argue about the on air talent but CNN does have a decent stock of reporters. Unfortunately, CNN has lost its ethos and the primetime names that are often the face of the network are a hodge-podge of media celebrities that are more interested in their own fame that creating a unified news brand for CNN. I know Fox and MSNBC are very personality driven shows but at least they all follow the values of their respective networks. CNN could distinguish itself by being less "celebrity" and more news oriented. I don't think Burnett and Morgan fit into what the CNN brand should be. Quit trying to beat Fox and MSNBC at their game - build your own. There needs to be a serious shake-up in CNN management - they have utterly failed.

Anonymous said...

I'm not sure if this will get posted and I'm not directing this comment at the ATA or ATCNN staff, but it does appear to me that there are some people who spend an inordinate amount of time criticizing Anderson Cooper while saying they're "over" him and have completely lost any respect for him and no longer watch 360 because of it. If someone feels THAT strongly disappointed by him, why are these people spending time posting about how "over" they are on practically a daily basis? We get it, you think he's worthless and has wasted his time, your time and everyone's time and he's no longer a credible journalist in your view, but is it really necessary to repeat that practically every day in one form or another? If you're really "over" him, what he does now or in the future should be of no concern to you. Perhaps you should move on to someone you can actually respect. I don't get the mindset of people who profess repeatedly that they dislike someone, but for whatever reason, they can't make a COMPLETE and total break from that despised person and drop them altogether. Generally most people don't get so upset over people or things that they REALLY don't care about.

Anonymous said...

CNN got into trouble imitating FOX. MSNBC set
out to compete against FOX. You don't beat FOX
by copying them. You come up with something
they are not offering. The pundits have dumbed
down the news and politics on CNN. They are
horrible and CNN can't keep using them for
political analysis.

First and foremost, CNN has to start putting their
customers/viewers first. The #1 question you have
to always ask is would you watch this and why.

Are the segments designed with viewers in mind
or are we afterthoughts ? Content is king and
everyone knows this. However, there is also
presentation, conversational writing that is
suppose to be about talking to viewers Where
is the unique news experience that CNN can
offer viewers with original reports and smart
intelligent conversation that has a point and
lets your viewers walk away with something.

The people running CNN have to show us the
network's passion for news and information.
It must be visual and tangible. Don't tell me
how I feel or think about anything. The world
is a big place and is filled with interesting
people. If you are running a news channel,
you have to care about the news and have
a strong commitment to creating a product
that viewers can get only by watching CNN.

If you can't figure out ways for CNN to connect
with viewers, you shouldn't be running things.
Look at all of the properties that Time Warner
owns. Content should never be a problem at
CNN. Joe Klein is one of the best political
reporters in the biz. He works for Time. Do
you ever see him on 360 ? Time has a massive
amount of content. It is also the mag in which
Ozzie Guillen made those Castro comments.
Ever think of talking to the reporter ? CNN
has to look fresh and constantly updating the
content . I find interesting content via a phone,
I-pad or laptop at blazing 4G speed. So all day
long no one at CNN is surfing the web for some
really interesting content. If you are live for 3
hours you have to constantly add fresh content.

A Tj & Betty reunion sounds great. It is correct
that Erin Burnett and Piers Morgan don't exactly
fit in with CNN. With job cuts at CBC, CNN
needs to fly to Toronto and get Strombo &
Mark Kelley. This is the same network that
gave us the late Peter Jennings. Both would
be wonderful additions to CNN. Connect With
Mark Kelley would a great evening news show
to take on the networks.. Strombo would offer
a great alternative to TRMS. It might not be
a bad idea for CNN to go with Aisha Tyler for
a brand new 7 PM show but yes surround her
with the female journalists at CNN. Tyler is
very good at handling news topics on The
Talk. If breaking news happens you have AC,
Isha and perhaps Ashleigh.

Anonymous said...

It is a good thing when anchors show they have
a sense of humor and can laugh and have a good
time. Lighten up. It shows that they are human
and not just programmed robots reading the news.
I was laughing too.

Anonymous said...

CNN has problems across their entire platform: i.e., CNN/US, CNNi and HLN. What has been the constant in all of the hiring of paid contributers, the hiring of Erin Burnett, Soledad O'Brien, Piers Morgan, Eliot Spitzer and Kathleen Parker? The one constant has been the CNN Worldwide President, Jim Walton.
Listed are only a miniscule of problems under this man's leadership. The problems and the loss of ratings far outweigh any positive contributions he has made over the years.
2010 saw CNN reach their lowest ratings and 2012 looks to be on track to surpass that.
Every other high level manager has been moved, reassigned let go and more hired, yet the probems continue.
I think it's high time to look at the head of the snake.

Anonymous said...

I think it is sad that AC360 has such low ratings along with the rest of the primetime shows. That doesn't mean that I am anti-AC360 @5:10 p.m., just wishing CNN would be the network it once was and that AC360 would be a better program. I also think it would help if Anderson was back in the field more often. But I suppose that won't happen since he is involved in two shows.
As far as folks who criticize Anderson Cooper--let it go. They are criticizing out of a sense of frustration. It is very frustrating to watch a good program go downhill, particularly when it was very good at one point. There is always that hope that CNN or AC360 will read some of the comments and wake up to what is happening.

Anonymous said...

@anon 9:40, I totally agree. Nothing at all wrong with a bit of humor here and there, most people who saw that moment enjoyed it.

Anonymous said...

CNN is trying to blame Obama for Hillary Rosen.
MSNBC called CNN out and told the truth. She is a
CNN pundit who worked for Hillary Clinton. CNN
let Rachel Duffy come on and tell a lie that their
pundit works for Obama. CNN knows it is not
true so why dod they not make a correction. It
just shows who silly cable news has become.
CNN is being dishonest.

Anonymous said...

CNN has the worst political team on television.
Why in the world would they have Jack come on
and ask a loaded question about how bad the
comments 1 of their pundits made hurts President
Obama. What ? Pundits don't make the news nor
does anyone care but the media. Huffington Post
said it best spare us. I bet CNN was stunned by
the responses. Stop making stuff up CNN and do
some real news that folks care about. This will
not help CNN. It will cost them more viewers.

Anonymous said...

CNN benefited from George Zimmerman being
arrested. 360 won the demo at 8 & 10 PM.360
at 8 has been doing better than PMT all week.
What's up with that ? Trayvon Martin helped
John King and Tom Foreman who anchored Out
Front. It did nothing for PMT.

Anonymous said...

Lost all respect for Wolf Blitzer and John King tonight.

Both want to blame the democratic party for one of there strategist Hilary Rosen's comment.

What Wolf and John failed to mention probably because there boses told them, don't mention Hilary is a paid CNN pundit.
Hilary made the statement on CNNs biggest show, AC 360 another fact they conveniently glossed over.

This is why CNN is a laughing stock in the media world. One of there own paid people causes a stir and they want to blame everyone else but themselves.

The one sided interview Wolf Blitzer conducted was shameful.

Anonymous said...

This whole Rosen vs. Romney fight is totally manufactured and stoked by CNN for its own publicity. At least Axlerod pointed out to John King, she works for CNN not Obama. Yes, she is yet another paid CNN pundit who stepped in it while on CNN and then goes on to get chastised by all her colleagues publicly on CNN. I'm sorry, but it sounds like it is CNN who threw Rosen under the bus. Considering this is a classic example of the media becoming the story, you think CNN would want to wind this down as soon as possible.

Anonymous said...

Believe me CNN will be on the receiving end of a
huge backlash. CNN publicly tried to tie Hillary
Rosen to the Obama campaign. Knowing full well
that she is their employee. Let's be honest. CNN
lied to viewers. I am not watching Wolf Blitzer or
John King anymore. David Axelrod made CNN
look dumb and dumber and they still did not get
it. CNN continued with the lie. On The Last Word
last night Chris Hayes and Alex Wagner pointed
out how corrupt CNN is . She never attacked
stay at home moms . Also, Cenk pointed out
that there are liberal stay at home moms. There
is even speculation that CNN coordinated this
with the Romney campaign. CNN knows Hillary
Rosen is their employee. So why spread the
lie that she works for the Obama campaign.
CNN take responsibility for your pundits who
checks you sign. Why would CNN make up a
false issue for Obama with their own employee.
Something stinks big time.

CNN was slow to cover the Blunt amendment
and the Va probing law. Now they manufacture
a faux news story. Now that the rest of the
media has caught on. CNN is being vilified
and they rightly deserve it. When they get the
ratings later today for The Sit Room & JK, CNN
will see how disgusted viewers are with CNN.
Do they even have ethics and standards. What
the hell happened to CNN .

CNN is no longer a news organization. Don't
watch them.

Anonymous said...

I'm starting to wonder if CNN knows fact from
fiction anymore. Can you really trust CNN ? It
is must skip TV.

Anonymous said...

Unfortunately for CNN, the pundits are now the
face of their political coverage. Instead of going
with reporters who can actually put things into
perspective, CNN elected to go with discourse.
CNN won't recover from this one. It just shows
how awful CNN has become. All of the CNN
political shows are toast and so is CNN overall.

Anonymous said...

You are only as good as your content. Being part
of the TW Empire, CNN could easily overwhelm
with content. That is CNN's greatest weapon. TV
is visual, Video tops opinion any day. CNN is bad
by choice. Find a way to make news work for CNN.
Jon Stewart is expressing the concerns of CNN fans.
Where's the news ? How many ways can CNN viewers
tell the network we don't like what you are doing ?
Jon Stewart is trying to get CNN to wake up before
it it too late. Produce a product for the masses that
everyone can find a use for or else it's over. CNN
is on the road to disaster and they are doing
nothing to remedy their ills.