Kiran Chetry's letter to staffers at CNN & American Morning:
To My American Morning Family–
July 29th will be my last day on our show and at CNN. While there are exciting things for me coming up soon, I want you to know how much I will miss spending the wee hours of the morning with you.
As journalists, together we have covered some of the most pivotal stories of our time. I will never forget your dedication and hard work toward getting it right and through it all, we always found a way to laugh and enjoy our work.
The stories we told were generational: The Virginia Tech shootings, the Gulf Oil Spill, President Obama’s inauguration, the Royal Wedding… My special reports on teen drug abuse, autism, the challenge of military families… And who can forget the 8 hour marathon shows we did on election mornings, and on and on….Together we’ve had a front row seat to history.
The “thank yous” could go on forever. But Jim Walton, Jon Klein and Joel Cheatwood made the call to give me an opportunity I will treasure forever.
The nearly 5 years here at CNN have been some of the most exciting, challenging and rewarding of my career.
It was a true honor to come to work everyday with some of the most kind, professional, hardworking and fun people in the business.
This isn’t goodbye… this is see you soon.
God Bless,
Kiran
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Kiran Chetry Says Goodbye to CNN
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26 comments:
Now Kiran is a loss.
She was the brightest spot on American Morning and management never used her properly.
Once again, CNN ignored their talent.
Recently I saw Kiran seated on the show couch and noticed she was rather thin, still beautiful, but thin, and I thought perhaps she wasn't happy.
Now we know, she possibly wasn't.
I still remember her sitting in for AC on 360, and reporting on campus for the Virgina Tech story.
She was wearing a white sweater coat looking very smart and capable and I thought she reported the tragedy in a very professional manner.
It is a shame that talented people are just wasted on CNN.
This network has become a Wasteland, where careers go to die and Kiran knew this better than anyone.
She will be missed.
I am so sad to hear this! I've been watching Kiran Chetry since she first debuted on AC360º then as an anchor on American Morning back in 2007. She was very fun, and I enjoyed her a lot. I wonder why she is leaving and I wonder what will happen with American Morning. Good luck Kiran!
Sad that she is leaving. It is almost as if she wasn't happy sharing the show with Christine Romans, who should have just stuck to financial news. She isn't the best. Now that Kiran is leaving, CNN should end American Morning and begin with a fresh new show. I see Piers Morgan leaving next.
"I will miss everyone at CNN like fa-" yada, yada, yada, who pulled her away and how much money was she offered ;).
I have to admit, I liked her too, NO, not because she was just sexy lol, but because she has become a staple for the morning news! I thought AM was always a great show even waaaay back when it premiered under Paula Zahn and Bill Hemmer, ironically both long gone now!
So yeah it is a lost! Even when her partner left for FOX news it was kind of a blow but still cool to see her. I was wondering why there were now THREE anchors on the show now, since thats a bit unusual. Maybe they known for awhile she was leaving and having the other two prepare to take over? It sucks, the show will feel very different now.
I dont usually do the sky is falling like so many do here at CNN, but its lost over half a dozen anchors this year alone and Spiters show died...both times!
So maybe something needs to truly change it seems.
I had no idea Kiran was leaving CNN - I never saw a word about it until I read this post. I wonder what the backstory is.
I am wondering if this time the rumors are
true that Robin Meade & Morning Express
will move to CNN this fall. That might just
be what is best for CNN. CNN is not too
good at creating shows worth watching.
Until CNN works that out. Nothing they do
will matter. CNN seems to be really drawn
to annoying show hosts.
CNN did her wrong by forcing Ali & Christine
on the show. The ratings continue south for
AM. CNN has to do something now and not
later. MSNBC is showing signs of growth in
more hours than CNN overall. If those ratings
solidify as they seem to be showing, CNN can
cancel Xmas. Could CNN be losing viewers to
MSNBC. 360 was still CNN's top show but it is
impossible for 360 to overcome huge deficits
in viewership all day long on CNN. Viewers
are turning on CNN.In many ways MSNBC is
surpassing CNN as a news channel. CNN had
better start being more viewer friendly by
having anchors who are likable and seem to
enjoy bringing us the news.
Be very afraid for CNN. Too much is going
on and it doesn't seem like there is a plan
that is being implemented. It looks like a
very confused network. I don't know what
to think anymore.
We do know that John Roberts made her miserable and where is he now?
At Fox News where he isn't very visable.
At least at CNN you saw him...not any more. Not that I want to see him, but if there was one that should have been saved, it was Kiran. She had that spark that spoke to the audience.
Maybe she'll go back to Fox and Friends but I doubt it.
More than anything it is the content and choice
of people CNN put on the air. Google just had
a worldwide science competition and American
girls won. So this is not news to CNN and Hugh
Hefner is. You mean Hefner is so important he
gets a full hour. While over on FOX and MSNBC
they are at least talking about news stories in
some form or another at 9. CNN is doing this
as the world is watching to see if we default.
I too like so many these days are wondering
what happened to CNN. Why not put Fareed
Zakaria for the hour for a serious conversation
about the debt ceiling and why it maters.
CNN has made us an international joke.
Take a look at the big 3 evening newscasts and
you will see just how much CNN is not even
a 24/7 news channel anyone. ABC is really
upgrading their product. Their lead story
tonight was about how Americans just want
the debt ceiling raised so we are not deadbeats.
CNN needs to stop being a part of the problem
by having partisan bickering on the issue of
the debt ceiling. The American public is listening
and don't care for the circus. CNN needs to
be the NPR in cable news.CNN needs to cover
the debt ceiling like grown ups. In many ways
the media plays a huge role in the partisan
bickering. Knock it off and practice journalism
responsibly. You owe that much to viewers.
CNN is not the best place to be working these
days. The network appears to have collectively
lost it's mind. Only crazies are permitted to be
on CNN. Are the news guys still running CNN ?
Something just is not right with CNN. 360 is
good most of the time but sometimes it gets
caught up in the mindset of nothing of value.
I think you are right about MSNBC. CNN does
not look serious these days. It's pathetic. CNN
is lost . CNN better start showing tangible signs
that it is changing. If CNN keeps going from
bad to worse, viewers are going to go to some
other channel. It;s going to be hard to get them
back because they will know what make them
change the channel You don't wait until it all
falls apart and think you can get back to news
and viewers will come back. CNN is losing the
fight they are picking with viewers.We don't
really need CNN. They need us.
CNN has failed to report that this debt ceiling
crisis was caused by the tea party. Republicans
said they would not raise the debt limit without
spending cuts. The debt has nothing to do with
the deficit. CNN was negligent in reporting on
these 2 separate issues. CNN would not know
responsible reporting if it kicked it in the butt.
Go to Bloomberg . They have done very serious
and responsible reports.. Most of the time CNN's
reporters don;t seem to comprehend the stories
they are covering. This is not Ted Turner's CNN.
Shut them down. Just now 360 had on the
pundits. Who cares about the politics of this
man made disaster ? The politicians caused
along with assistance from CNN , which
repeated the rhetoric. One thing the News
Corp scandal shows is just how corrupt that
corporate media is and CNN is a part of
the misinformation machine.
The anchors on CNN seem to be leaving as fast as the viewers.
360 was fourth in totals as well as demos last nite.
And this is the best CNN has??
CNN's primetime ratings have been terrible this week. MSNBC has been cleaning their clocks and HLN's not doing too badly either. No point in talking about Fox since they're always on top.
One positive note was that 360 got off the Tea Party/GOP talking points bandwagon on Thursday to report some real facts about how the public DOES want to see the rich pay more taxes in spite of what the Republicans try to tell us. If CNN has to use pundits, they should cast a wider net, especially on the Democratic side - James Carville doesn't always articulate his points very clearly and both he and Paul Begala just seem like throwbacks to the 90's. I'm not saying they shouldn't be on the air, but there must be other, fresher and intelligent voices out there too.
CNN's prime time lacks continuity. The shows
don't belong together. CNN should have been
about news. People consume news. Are we
suppose to believe that CNN could not find
anyone to re-invent the network. News has
to be fast, real time and informative. CNN's
troubles are self inflicted. MSNBC and Fox
would never turn on their viewers.
Think about it. BOR hands off to Hannity ,
Lawrence hands off to Rachel.It flows as
you hand off to a similar show. It does not
have the name content but the styles work
perfectly back to back. In many ways HLN
has the same thing Nancy Grace & Dr Drew.
But it is not news on HLN in prime time.
In prime time CNN has to figure out a way
to get the news to flow. The 3 shows on
CNN just don't work. How about different
types of story-telling and interesting topics
on CNN for 3 hours. You really don't feel
the need to turn from MSNBC & Fox. The
only hour that people come to CNN is at 10.
Hint : they don't like the other shows on
the CNN prime time lineup. 360 can't fix
the viewers deficit at 10. Especially when
your 1st 2 shows are being beaten badly.
It is amazing that 360 can find viewers.
AM was fine with Kiran & Tj. Why CNN messed
that up is anybody's guess. Basically, I only
like Anderson Cooper, Isha Sesay, Wolf Blitzer,
Suzanne Malveaux and the weekend anchors :
Tj, Reynolds, Fred, Jaqui, Josh, Don and the tech
people. Those are the only times I watch CNN.
When the pundits show up I hit the jump button.
Why did CNN feel the need to bring Ali
Velshi and Christine Romans to American
Morning. That was such a public slap in
the face to Kiran. It was an insult. It is
not like Christine Romans & Ali Velshi
bring in big ratings. Robin Meade makes
too much sense for CNN. Since Beavis
and ButtHead are running CNN it won't
happen. Keep in mind that Ken Jautz
hired Glen Beck and Nancy Grace and
his first big idea was In The Arena. He
is off to a worse start than Jon Klein.
Where does CNN find these people.
CNN has no fresh ideas.
The pundits make CNN political coverage
horrible. They control the conversation
and CNN's reporters are dragged down to
that level. So, what happens. Reporters
end up not being factual and part of the
circus and get in trouble for not being
accurate and a part of the jokes from
John Stewart. CNN relies too heavily on
pundits. You know were it is going and
it does seen like the 90's.CNN needs to
drop the pundits. That is what is wrong
with cable news. You don't get the news.
The tea party extremists on CNN have created
this debt disaster that we are facing as a country.
Some 100 freshman congressmen can take down
the U.S. and world economy. CNN is no longer a
news organization. CNN has been feeding the
beast from day 1. Now the rest of the world are
not sure about the U.S. government, once upon
a time considered to be the most stable. This is
not just about America. Nothing we do is just
limited to the United States.We are truly a global
society. Yes 360 pointed out last night that
there is a disconnect with the American public,
but then he continued with the silliness that
bought us to this point. On serious issues
with wide reaching consequence, there is no
reason for CNN to go to the pundits. The
airwaves are suppose to belong to the public
not a few extremists. Until CNN breaks up
with the pundits their ratings will continue
to dive and CNN will eventually be the choice
for no one as MSNBC leaves them in the dust.
It is trending that way in the ratings.CNN also
has a disconnect with the American public.
We have not faced anything like this historically
since 1861; this is leading up to the Civil War.
How about some economists and historians
to really put things into perspective. Maybe
if the bad child behavior would disappear
viewers wound tune in.
@8:01AM: You make a very good point about the "flow of news"
or lack there of, when it comes to CNN.
Piers Moron is stuck because when he throws to AC, which he doesn't do live anymore, his interviews don't make any sense at all.
There is a lack of continuity because Morgan doesn't have a news show.
Maybe Kiran is going to be the new media spokesperson for Planned Parenthood. I think she would be perfect for that position. This woman is great at everything she does, and always puts so much passion into it.
I want to know where Kiran is going to work because that is where I will be watching. She is without a doubt the best news person in the business.The morning show will definitely not be the same.
American Morning has become virtually unbearable anymore. With the addition of Romans and Velshi, the discussion has become no better than watching the view. A lot of opinions, but little deep analysis. I hope the best for Kiran, CNN will continue to reap what it sows.
What a loss! Ali is good, but Roman's and the other one? Puleeze!
Robin is wonderful, and I have switched back to her. She is lovely, energized, smart, and so likable! If this current trio isn't adjusted, I will stay with Robin, or find another morning news program. Come on CNN, certainly you can do better than this!?
The CNN morning show is all about what sells i.e., Skinny legs and bodies, botox and giggles. Being clueless is now a pre-requisite to be one of the morning show hosts. The only one with a brain is Ali. And who chose those bright studio colours. Bright oranges and yellows? They are too bright for my sensitive eyes in the morning. Too much shuffling around of the news anchors. You never know who's going to be hosting. Too many people wanting to be in the spot-light and no-one shines. Maybe this is the reason for those bright yellows and oranges in the background. Ever since Larry King left, CNN has gone down hill. I've switched channels for my morning news.
Everytime I turn around I realize something is missing at CNN. I am still commited to the format but it seems to me that perfection was first tampered-with when the two O'Briens were pulled. I think that era had a good mix of light morning and serious coverage. Since then, I have been sad to see the loss of personalities like Betty Nguyen, Aaron Brown, Lou Dobbs, Kitty Pilgrim, Heidi Collins, Ed Henry and Christianne Amanpour (in no particular order). C'mon CNN lets get a vision and some consistancy. I do prefer to know who I am waking up with...
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