Today I wanted to post Jon Klein's pep talk to his CNN staff (found on TVNewser) as a starter. The conversation is certainly not limited to this, it's just something we'd love to hear your views on.
Yes, our ratings in prime were down in October. Remember - we are a 24hr network - not a 3hr network. We are also just one network in a group that attracts hundreds of millions of viewers a month. Media writers might not understand that. Our competitors don't either. Despite the bad press we don't lose sight of OUR business. We, CNN/U.S., still attracts millions and millions of viewers a month, more than our closest competitors. Writers don't talk about our users -- we are on air and on line, globally -- rather they break it down to one part of the day.
Excellent journalism is what we are focused on. We refuse to do the things that might get us a quick number or cater to the extremes that would alienate our core viewers. It's important to work at it every day - it's our mission. It's the key to our growth. If we are outstanding ALL the time (and we are getting better and better at it) we will have an impact over time.
I'm convinced of it, as is Jim Walton, Phil Kent and Jeff Bewkes. And to top it off, we get to have fun doing the GREAT journalism. We are the lucky ones. ~Jon Klein
Excellent journalism is what we are focused on. We refuse to do the things that might get us a quick number or cater to the extremes that would alienate our core viewers. It's important to work at it every day - it's our mission. It's the key to our growth. If we are outstanding ALL the time (and we are getting better and better at it) we will have an impact over time.
I'm convinced of it, as is Jim Walton, Phil Kent and Jeff Bewkes. And to top it off, we get to have fun doing the GREAT journalism. We are the lucky ones. ~Jon Klein
33 comments:
I think Klein hit on something in his BS good work speech. A 3HR span of news is just about all CNN can handle right about now. 24/7 is way too long a time frame for him to manage. But he is consistent. Now every show in the prime line up is really awful.
Dear Anonymous 7:22,You not only hit the nail on the head, but you did it with humor. Thank you for your wonderful comment.
Memo to Jon Klein : you really messed things up.
Now here comes the full collapse of CNN. Now
for 2 days straight American Morning is dead
last in viewers according to TV By the Numbers.
Not a good sign, I will tell you why people are
turning off CNN for not doing real news and
having the nerve to keep really bad shows on
the air. When I hear that Dobbs . Brown and
Sanchez shows have been canceled I will not
watch CNN.
It is pretty simple no one trusts CNN anymore.
CNN has been busted to many times for giving
out misinformation. MSNBC is setting out to
beat FNC while CNN is trying to be FNC.
Only 3 words will save CNN, under new
management, where is Jim Walton. Since
Walton has been with CNN from the start
I can not believe that he does not have a
problem with the state of CNN. Nobody
should be pleased with those numbers.
CNN = Failure. People are watching to see
what CNN will do I think we have the answer.
Become worst than you are. Campbell is still
talking about FNC vs White House a media
driven story by the way that people could
care less about, Plus, it gets worse, Larry
will have a debate ( as if ) with Michael
Moore and some Republican senator on
capitalism. Considering that the film was
a failure what is the point. More left vs
right.I have tried I am so over CNN.
Morale is so low at CNN right now. Jon Klein has
lost confidence with the staff. Heck even Phil
Griffin at MSNBC now says CNN is not his concern.
MSNBC is aiming for FNC. I saw that with Brown.
She called MSNBC liberally biased, BIg mistake.
You know Keith will clean her clock. He is already
joked about Dobbs being a drag on ratings.
His impression of Dobbs is way too funny.
@10:58PM: "Jon Klein has lost confidence with the staff?" What's wrong with this sentence? Shouldn't it read: The staff has lost confidence with Jon Klein.
Sorry, to disagree but the staff is the talent! How can you lose confidence in Candy Crowley, Michael Ware, John King, Anderson Cooper, or my favorite, Soledad O'Brien? They should all be holding signs and picketing the Time Warner building right about now, until HE LEAVES.
CNN needs to become like Current. A very
strong emphasis on storytelling and the
news itself. Example , CNN should have
just shown the president at Dover this
morning with the natural sound of the
event itself with a single line banner. This
is a wake up call for CNN. Your viewers
don't like the pundits. As the song says
all CNN does is talk talk. People are so
over the chattering class, I think Current
Tonight is how every hour should be on
CNN a mix of different types of stories
and not the same thing repeated again and
again. I also think there should be different
names for all of the dayside shows. Calling
them all the Newsroom makes people think
it is the same thing just the anchor has
changed. The production and on air
presentation is horrible. There is one thing
that they have reporters do that really
irks me is the what is known as a look
live with the reporter saying the names
of the anchors. Nobody does that anymore
just get to the story and concentrate on
improving the production of the stories
to give them a unique look. If I can do
some amazing stuff with Final Cut Pro
that costs 1500 dollars , I know a huge
company like CNN can afford this as
well. Another great example is NIghtline.
It is time to kill the developing story
and happening now banners on the
screen we know this.CNN does not have
a modern look. They have got to stop
shooting video off monitors.Current
has the best look for me. A lot of the
programming is in letterbox and the logo
is not intrusive on the video. The greatest
thing about Current is they don;t think
you are too stupid to understand the
stories being featured. Griffin's comments
reflect what a lot of insiders in the industry
are saying, CNN will have to completely
overhaul itself. He knows Klein does not
have the leadership or vision for the
network. Maybe someone needs to go
out to San Francisco and hire people who
know what they are doing to run CNN.
I don't think Klein knows what he is doing
and I am starting to wonder how did he
get the job. I think Turner is speaking out
because people are asking him what in
the world has happened to CNN. You have
to let the anchors, reporters,photographers
and producers and writers have control of
the on air product so that innovation and
creativity is the driving force and not
ideology. They day of the over the shoulder
graphic has passed as well, all graphics
should be full screen and animate.
Lastly, book guests who know what they
are talking about instead of the pundits
who should never have become a part
of the news in the 1st place. Your journalists
should not have to share air time with the
talking heads. Let alone be out numbered
by them. Also hire some digital journalists
to bring you original content. I say if you
can hire the Vanguard team from Current
again they are the best. I am pretty sure
no one at Current is under contract and
would love the chance to work for CNN.
These people are way cheaper than Dobbs
and Brown and you get more for your
dollars.
CNN needs to be a network for information
period. Currently, you can only find out what
people on the payroll think. The viewers don't
matter. I also joined the boycott because CNN
went with hate and anger. I don't want either
in may home it is offensive. To see CNN stick
with this it speaks volumes about who runs
the network.
Let's hope CNN gets back in the game and
become a news channel again.
The problem for CNN is that no one believes
what they see on CNN anymore. Main stream
media is responsible for the info they choose
to go out on the air. Only a select few control
what people will see and that is why the internet
is the great equalizer. When CNN puts an user
generated news show created by it's viewers,
than I will think they are truly serious about
social media. Just reading and showing comments
is so last century ,the revolution will not be
televised.I think they should have a news
show just based on internet news and trends
and interesting stories. This is the age
of Google, You Tube and Apple and others.
The genie is out of the bottle and CNN
had better join the revolution or be a
big loser for not adapting to a changing
world.
Message to CNN : ideology on television is
really boring. The news and people are way
more interesting. Opinion journalism is
dragging your ratings down.To continue
on the route is fruitless.
Frankly, at this point I don't think Klein makes
it through 2009. So far this rating period CNN
is # 4 in viewers and demo.I could be wrong
but I don't think this has ever happened. I
have a feeling this is a new low.
Say goodbye to CNN for trying to make Campbell
Brown a news person and 360 a debate show.
Why would you ruin the only show you have
going for you. Listen to Jon Stewart you are CNN.
MSNBC & CNN have switched places. Remember
when MSNBC had all of the back and fourth and
going nowhere. But than MSNBC decided to go
with solo interviews and their numbers went up.
The big question is how low will they go before
Jim Walton acts. Why would anyone do more of
the very thing that is sinking your numbers.
Get it through your head CNN you are not
Fox.I have a feeling that management is
thinking since Fox is getting ratings, than
we can be just like the, and that is the very
thing that will make CNN history. I watch
CNN for news, since they are not doing
any I have to turn the channel.I am not
coming back until there is an announcement
stating that CNN will recommit itself to
news. From now on it is BBC. Bloomberg
and Current.
Let's face it the world is in the digital age.
Information and content is king and CNN
just wants to chatter with boring hosts and
guests Last night's 360 was horrible. I really
don't understand what is the point of the
show is these days. Even industry insiders are
wondering how did CNN end up like this. I
just hope they are not dumb enough to take
advise from newspaper guys. Television and
newspapers are not in the same genre.In the
last couple days it seems to have gotten worse.
I am starting to wonder if CNN is not searching
for a successor to Klein and that is why Ted
Turner spoke up. Hey guys how about me; I
founded the network and it will signal to the
world that you are serious.Tv news is a small
world and there is a lot of talk about what
Klein said and most are not buying it.CNN
has some problems that can no longer be
ignored. One thing a lot of people are saying
is that CNN has some really really bad shows
and needs to focus on content and presentation
and storytelling, photography, etc. THe things
that make tv differ from radio and papers.
The BBC is probably the only network who
can match CNN with global resources.
I think that is why a lot of young people
are choosing the BBC. You need to be
aware about news from around the world.
I find it strange that neither Jim Walton
nor Jeff Bewkes seem to be talking about
the state of CNN. Their silence tells me
something is up.I have to agree with some
of the others, the presentation & production
needs some improvements.CNN is being
regarded as really negative and angry.
Who wants to watch that.
There are some things that need to be kept
in mind here. One being money. Time Inc
is about to have massive layoffs. I for the life
of me can't figure out why CNN does not run
an half hour Time Mag show. Turning print
virtual with reporters and photos from
material from the weekly the same goes
for Sports Illustrated. You already own
the rights to the material use it don't
lose it. Let's not forget about Life which
is thriving on line as well. Maybe they
could gain ad dollars for the mags by
have a television show based on the
print version. In the not to distant future
most mags will be on line anyway. News
needs a less political focus and needs
to stop living in a fish bowl. Definitely
international news, the world gets smaller
and smaller everyday. Time Warner has
so much content that companies dream
of and it is being wasted. Much of this
could be used for original programming
for CNN. Originality and Innovation is
what will save CNN not opinions they
are like heads everybody has one. I
am not stupid I know what I saw and
understand it. Stop treating your viewers
like dummies. Dude we get it. Give us
the news without the commentary.
Unless you are Michael Ware, Peter Bergen,
Zakaria and Amanpour and others who
truly understand and know Afghanistan,
Iran. Iraq go home because I am not
listening. Of course David Gergen is
the only special exception here. The man
knows his stuff. There is too much left
vs right. It is like watching an never ending
episode of Crossfire. Your viewers can't
take it anymore that is why they are
tuning out and in dramatic fashion.
It is must avoid tv and I and others are
choosing to do so.No offense but do
CNN reporters actually do any work
since Campbell has to use material
from other news outlets. One thing
that the current crop of managers in
tv news fail to remember is that viewers
are the most valued costumers. Hey man
people don't use Twitter for opinion, it
is used to exchange information. We
know how to avoid the annoying people
on Twitter and Facebook. Most of them
are in politics and the news biz and think
it is all about them. Not. These 2 are popular
because it is useful to the masses and not
just conservative ideologues who basically
decide what CNN will do for the day. Case
in point didn't the minority leader in the
house come on CNN complaining about
the number of pages in the health are
proposal from Pelosi and you guessed it
that is how CNN is focusing on the proposal
instead of how does it affect people and
matter to their lives.. Can you say disconnect.
For years Congress has passed massive
bills this is nothing news. There is a very
strong possibility that your people do
not know this and that is frightening
because it increases the chances of
misinformation making it to the air.
Oh yeah that happens a lot with CNN.
CNN gets an F, they are flunking journalism
101 this semester and the year.
I have to say this with no intention of
sound mean. CNN needs to start really
fixing the 7 & 8 pm hours, while fixing
Larry King and 360.I am looking at a
few people who might have a bigger role
in the overhaul at CNN. Watch for these
people : Don Lemon, John Roberts, TJ
Holmes,Kyra Phillips and Erica Hill and
Soledad O'brien. Andeson Cooper, Larry
King and Wolf Blizter are the signature
shows so lets hope CNN fixes them
sooner rather than later.
Forgive me for being blunt and blatantly
honest but I had to write an open letter.
I really don't like what is happening to
a once great network. The big question
is : does anyone at CNN care?
Anon 1:02 you are so right there needs to
be a revolt.
Anon 1:02 I think you and I mean the same
thing. I am not sure how much power the talent
has. The president of news is very powerful and
is the leader of the news organization. What he
says goes and the entire staff has to follow. I
am not sure how things work at CNN but I
wonder can they have an open and honest
conversation about how they feel about the news
organization.In this day and time talent does
not have a lot of power nor does the producers.
If the news president says you lead with
politics you do it or your will be out of a job.
Most networks have basically killed creativity
you just do what the boss says.
TO ALL: You have to hand it to Fox News, they outfoxed the competition by leaps and bounds and did it with their hands tied behind everyones back.
As long as Jon Klein is in denial, he cannot receive help, no matter how many times we offer our opinions. He is like someone who is abusing alcohol and drugs. They have to recognize there is a problem in order to fix it. Otherwise what we say, is a waste of time.
Perhaps he should join a support group and declare: I am Jon Klein and I have driven a once relevant network right to the ground. I need viewer rehab.
There needs to be at least one serious 24/7 news
channel period. There is such a hunger for real
information . When it comes to the BBC your are
right a lot of tweets are from the BBC. Plenty of
times on social media there is a lot of discussion
about cable news channels not doing news.
I agree that Fox clearly go inside Jon Klein's head
to the point were he felt like he had to imitate them.
Unfortunately , he didn't calculate the cost of
possibly losing CNN's viewers who want a channel
for news.At is all about presentation and CNN is
not very good at this.It is without a doubt that
Klein will have no choice but to cancel the
shows with Dobbs and Brown. Since nothing
is being done I wonder if they have contracts
saying the must be on in prime time. I think
Klein was dumb enough to give Brown
whatever she wanted to lure her away from
NBC.There is a reason why NBC did not
want her anchoring solo for half and hour.
She is not good at anchoring neither is
Dobbs.
Here's my take there seems to be a shortage
of programs on CNN. How about this every
Saturday Fredericka and Josh devote 1 hour
to a specific topic. This is really how you use
Facebook and Twitter. I just wish they would
adopt a look like Havoc on the 101 and have
the comments in real time after they have
approved. Maybe this show could be on at
noon on Mon-Fri.I also think that right before
TSR there should be a news program made
up of news from the web. Having 7 hrs of
CNN Newsroom is a bit much and it is
rehash every hour.CNN needs to stop jerking
people around and mean what they say.
If TSR is supposed to be old/new journalism
combined where are the internet reporters,
print reporters, and freelance writers and
photographers and filmmakers who are not
mainstream.I say add Nicole Lipan and
maybe Errol from CNN.com along with
Abby to get things flowing better. The
third hour is really boring too many people
with opinions. I think that is why he is
starting to lose out to Ed. there is just
way too many people talking about one
subject on TSR.Also, bring in more world
news from around the globe.TSR should
be a 3 hour show without the same thing
over and over again. I think CNN also needs
to abandon the solo anchor format it uses
from 9-4 it is not working and they need
to build open sets. Right now everything
seem enclosed and distant.
Can a make a pitch for World View to air
on CNN on the weekend. I just finished
watching the show online and it is great.
Is it me or is there a consensus building that
Jon Klein has to go. The question is who comes
in after him.
Anon 10:07 I am with you. Perhaps on Sunday
CNN can have a 3 hour international news block.
1. GPS
2. Amanpour
3. World Report & World Review
I see no reason for Your Money to be airing
on CNN on both Saturday and Sunday. Not
long ago Spud at INC posted that GPS was
the best show on cable and nobody is watching.
I think too many repeats could be what is
hurting CNN. You are either a global news
organization or not.
Anon 7:22 you might be on to something.
It may not be a bad idea for CNN to change
it's management structure.Klein is not good
at his job. Something has got to give. The
problem is that the man has done so much
damage that this could take a year or more
to fix. Who would want the job?
Why CNN is in big trouble.CNN does not seem
to realize that Tuesday in not a national election
day and what happens on Tuesday does not
have any implications. But wait their pundits
say it is a national referendum on President
Obama. Really is he on the ballot. That is the
problem with old media and why they are dying.
CNN appears to be living in an alternate universe.
2012 is when the referendum comes on Obama.
Stop saying people are saying and be honest
the only people saying this are political types.
If your don't live in Virginia, New Jersey or
the district in New York where there is a
special election it does not affect you one
bit. This is exactly why people do not trust
the news. CNN is trying to make things what
they say instead of what is really going on.
You just can't make up stuff.
In the meantime CNN still has its existing format and the morale must be very low for those that are there. No matter what they report on people don't want to hear it. Changes will probably be made after the first of the year. How can you justify a format that continually doesn't work?
@6:32PM: You are correct in your example when you say if it doesn't effect where you live, like NJ or Virgina, it should not be the lead story of the night. Too much wasted time is spent talking about other parts of the country that have little relevance to real time.
360 spent an enormous amt. of time talking about a crime committed allegedly, by the governor of the state of Texas, and how he may have put a wronged person to death. One night tops would have been appropriate, but this went on for, days, maybe weeks. It really seems as though they use some stories as "fillers" because they've run out of news. What?? How can you possibly run out of news? Either they just don't care what they throw on the air, or someone isn't doing....research or fact checking for that matter. So if they don't care, why should we?
8:50 you are so right. 360 does not have
a good mix of stories these days. I don't
like the crime stories as well. I don't think
CNN can afford to wait until next year to
make changes. They need someone who
can come and have a plan ready for the
news and improved CNN for 2010. You
are talking about a complete overhaul of
a network. That is not an easy task. My
guess is first you fix prime time to stop
the bleeding. Next the morning and dayside.
Countdown said it best tonight, quit trying.
That's exactly what happened to CNN. Once
they went down the opinion route that was
a bad decision. I knew Keith would have a
comeback for Campbell and he did it without
mentioning her by name.ICN also has a post
about the political overkill for Tuesday, Yet
another dumb move for cable news.
Who made the decision to take the news out
of 360. Turned the channel right at the
beginning. Refuse to watch the tea party and
don't like that 360 seems to give them a
platform.CNN is doomed.
Why in the world was Nicolas Cage on 360? Why is Suze Orman on 360? Why was there a shot about Al Roker when AC's partner,Erica, does the Early Show on Saturday? Why does Cooper not say anything about his utterly deteriorating show? Has he no input, clout, or is it that he just doesn't care anymore? There are so many "Whys" here we can't begin to count them.
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