This Weekend's Programming 3/31/12

SATURDAY, MARCH 31, 2012

SANJAY GUPTA, MD – Saturday and Sunday 7:30AM – 8:00AM
In the wake of a blockbuster week at the Supreme Court, Dr. Sanjay Gupta digs into President Obama’s health care law, and answers questions from viewers – and questions he’s gotten through Twitter – about how the law is and will directly affect people. And, what will happen if the Court strikes it down. Plus, the surge in autism: the CDC says one child in 88 now suffers from autism, nearly double the number a decade ago. Gupta reports on what parents need to look for – and learns about proven, effective treatments – from Dr. Gary Goldstein of the Kennedy-Krieger Center in Baltimore. Also, Gen. Peter Chiarelli, the recently retired Army vice chief of staff who now leads a research group devoted to the study of post-traumatic brain disorder, talks to Sanjay about Robert Bales, the soldier accused of mass murder in Afghanistan.

Beyond Trayvon: Race and Justice in America – Airs Saturday 2:00PM – 3:00PM
CNN anchor Soledad O’Brien hosts a town hall on a controversial event that has gripped the nation: the shooting of Trayvon Martin. In this one hour special, several panels will examine and discuss the facts of the case and the many angles that have come into play including: the investigation, allegations of racial profiling, gun laws and Florida’s Stand Your Ground law. The live audience will have an opportunity to ask questions.

THE SITUATION ROOM WITH WOLF BLITZER – Airs Saturday 6:00PM – 7:00PM
Topic: SCOTUS Analysis
Guest: Jeffrey Toobin, CNN senior legal analyst
Topic: 2012 Politics
Guest: Gloria Borger, CNN Senior political analyst
Guest: Ron Brownstein, CNN Senior political analyst & Editorial Director of the National Journal
Topic: 2012 Politics
Guest: Mitt Romney, Presidential candidate
Topic: 2012 Politics
Guest: Rick Santorum, Presidential candidate
Topic: JetBlue Pilot Fiasco
Guest: Tony Antolino, JetBlue passenger
Anchor: Wolf Blitzer

CNN PRESENTS – Airs Saturday 8:00PM – 9:00PM and 11:00PM
CNN’s Drew Griffin and Randi Kaye host a three-story magazine episode that will include an investigation by correspondent Ed Lavandera into the NFL “bounty scandal” – a practice by some coaches of paying players for vicious hits on the field, and a report by correspondent Kaj Larsen on people who spend years in prison for crimes they didn’t commit, but who get no compensation from the state that convicted them. Also, Randi Kaye investigates what’s been described by law enforcement as the new “crack cocaine of crime” – a disturbing trend of identity thieves who go online and steal tax refunds from filers.

SUNDAY, APRIL 1, 2012

SANJAY GUPTA, MD – Saturday and Sunday 7:30AM – 8:00AM
In the wake of a blockbuster week at the Supreme Court, Dr. Sanjay Gupta digs into President Obama’s health care law, and answers questions from viewers – and questions he’s gotten through Twitter – about how the law is and will directly affect people. And, what will happen if the Court strikes it down. Plus, the surge in autism: the CDC says one child in 88 now suffers from autism, nearly double the number a decade ago. Gupta reports on what parents need to look for – and learns about proven, effective treatments – from Dr. Gary Goldstein of the Kennedy-Krieger Center in Baltimore. Also, Gen. Peter Chiarelli, the recently retired Army vice chief of staff who now leads a research group devoted to the study of post-traumatic brain disorder, talks to Sanjay about Robert Bales, the soldier accused of mass murder in Afghanistan.

STATE OF THE UNION WITH CANDY CROWLEY – Airs LIVE Sunday 9:00AM – 10:00AM and NOON
Topic: High Gas Prices, Obama’s Poll Numbers: Stakes for Republicans
EXCLUSIVE Guest: Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Minority Leader
Topic: Budget; Election 2012
Guest: Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI)
Topic: Ongoing Threats to National Security; Syria
Guest: Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI)
Guest: Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD)
Anchor: Candy Crowley

FAREED ZAKARIA GPS – Airs 10:00AM – 11:00AM and 1:00PM – 2:00PM
Topic: Religion and the 2012 U.S. elections
Guest: Matthew Franck, PhD, director, William E. and Carol G. Simon Center on Religion and the Constitution of the Witherspoon Institute
Guest: Jon Meacham, author; co-host for PBS’ “Need To Know;” contributing editor, TIME and The Washington Monthly
Guest: Sally Quinn, blog editor “On Faith,” The Washington Post
Guest: Andrew Sullivan, editor of The Dish, columnist for Newsweek
Topic: The politics of outer space
Guest: Neil deGrasse Tyson, PhD, astrophysicist, American Museum of Natural History; author, “Space Chronicles”
Topics: Is America “coming apart” over the unprecedented divergence between socio-economic classes during the last 50 years?
Guest: Charles Murray, PhD, W.H. Brady scholar, American Enterprise Institute; author, “Coming Apart”
Anchor: Fareed Zakaria

RELIABLE SOURCES – Airs LIVE Sunday 11AM - NOON
Topics: Trayvon Martin Investigation and Coverage
Guest: Frank Sesno, director of the school of media and public affairs, The George Washington University
Guest: Callie Crossley, “The Callie Crossley Show”
Topics: Reporting the Trayvon Martin Story
Guest: Francis Robles, The Miami Herald
Topics: Predicting SCOTUS on Health Care
Guest: Jeffrey Toobin, CNN senior legal analyst
Topics: Santorum vs. Zeleny; Romney on Leno; Obama’s Mic Gaffe; Romney’s ‘Funny’ Factory Story
Guest: Ana Marie Cox, Washington correspondent for GQ Magazine
Guest: Michael Medved, host of syndicated radio show "The Michael Medved Show"
Host: Howard Kurtz

CNN PRESENTS – Airs Sunday 8:00PM – 9:00PM and 11:00PM
CNN’s Drew Griffin and Randi Kaye host a three-story magazine program, including an investigation by Griffin into how far some colleges will go in their pursuit of the NCAA’s March Madness tournament – and the strikingly low graduation rate of basketball players. Kaye reports on “The Scary Guy,” a former tattoo-artist turned anti-bullying speaker whose credentials have come under question – and two Minnesota schools who hired him but are taking two different approaches to their bullying challenges. Lastly, correspondent Chris Lawrence profiles Aquille Carr, a 5’7’’ high school basketball player and YouTube sensation who dreams of NBA stardom while avoiding the drug and crime problems that befall others in his hometown of east Baltimore, MD.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

“Beyond Trayvon: Race and Justice in America”

CNN’s Soledad O’Brien Hosts a Special Town Hall “Beyond Trayvon: Race and Justice in America”
Airs Friday, March 30th at 8p and 10p on CNN

CNN anchor Soledad O’Brien will moderate a Town Hall discussion on the event that has gripped the nation: the shooting of Trayvon Martin. In this one hour special we’ll hear from family members and friends, law enforcement officials, citizen watch organizers, civil right leaders, legal experts and concerned parents. The conversation will take place before an audience that will participate in the questioning. CNN will be live-blogging the show on the CNN In America blog. The live blog will also include comments from CNN commentators and reporters while they watch from Twitter, Facebook and more. Viewers can leave their comments as well.
Beyond Trayvon: Race & Justice In America airs on Friday, March 30th at 8p and 10p ET on CNN.
This special is a part of CNN’s In Depth coverage of Trayvon Martin and the various issues that have driven a national conversation. CNN Worldwide Executive Vice President and Managing Editor Mark Whitaker outlines CNN’s focused reporting for the next week and a half in a new Op-Ed: In Depth: CNN peels back the layers of the Trayvon Martin story.
In addition to the special Town Hall, reporting highlights include:
• In a special series titled Kids on Race: The Hidden Picture Anderson Cooper 360 will explore the topics of children and race beginning Monday at 8pm and 10pm ET. With the help of a CNN commissioned scientific pilot study, anchors Anderson Cooper and Soledad O’Brien will help viewers understand how race influences a child’s world.
• CNN.com will collect iReports in an Open Story providing perspective into how the Trayvon Martin case and the intersection of race, justice, family, law enforcement, media and the law affect people across the country.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

Participate in a CNN Town Hall

The killing of 17-year-old Florida high school student, Trayvon Martin, has captivated the nation. The young man’s death has created an undeniable and important dialogue in this country, and now CNN wants to hear from you.

This Thursday, March 29th at 8pmET, CNN is holding a Trayvon Martin Town Hall – "Beyond Trayvon: Race and Justice in America, hosted by Soledad O’Brien. Should people who aren’t police officers take the law into their own hands? Do you believe George Zimmerman should be arrested or not? CNN is looking to hear all opinions on this story and want viewers to be in the studio audience.

Here's your chance to get involved with a CNN Town Hall, either by attending or sending your questions.

For tickets email CNNTrayvonTownHall@gmail.com with your FULL name, phone number, # of tickets (up to 2), and your question for the panel by Wednesday, March 28th at 9am ET. The show tapes on Thursday evening in New York City. You must be 18 and older to attend.

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AC360 Kids on Race Premieres April 2nd

Anderson Cooper 360° Examines Children’s Views on Race in Groundbreaking Year-Long Investigative Study

Kids on Race: The Hidden Picture, to Air week of April 2nd

Race relations is one of the most explosive issues in America and for many it’s one of the most taboo to talk about, especially with children. CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360° is exploring the topic of children and race in a week-long series and with special programming throughout the network and online. Children can be a mirror of society and their opinions can often tell how far we have come and still have to go when it comes to race relations in America. For this special report, Anderson Cooper 360° contracted a renowned child psychologist to help us understand how race influences a child’s world. Anderson Cooper will talk with the children and their parents and their brutally honest, inspiring answers will become a wake up call that will spark a national conversation.



The series titled "AC360 Special Report: Kids on Race, The Hidden Picture", will air the week of April 2nd at 8 and 10pm ET. The CNN commissioned pilot study builds on the original Doll Test’s historic research done in the 1940s that examined how African -American children interpret race, discrimination and stigma. Teaming up with child psychologist Dr. Melanie Killen, the Anderson Cooper 360° ground breaking report scientifically explored how kids view interracial contact in their daily lives. The children, ages six and thirteen, were shown images that were scientifically designed to be ambiguous to children. “What is happening in this picture” was the starting point for interviews conducted with the group of 145 African-American and Caucasian children in six schools across three states. The report explored how children’s interpretations of the images often changed when the races of the characters were switched.
This series will tackle controversial issues and answer some difficult questions. Is race a factor in how children view conflicts and choose friends? Do children see race or are they, as many parents believe, socially colorblind? How, when and why do they form their opinions on race? Can those opinions change over time or at a certain age, are kids “hard-wired” about race? And does the racial make-up of their school and environment affect their opinions on race? Cooper along with CNN anchor Soledad O’Brien will share with the viewers the children’s answers and the conclusions our researcher drew from their responses.
They will also speak to the parents for their thoughts and reactions to conversations on interracial dating and bullying.
CNN Digital will also cover the topic with video from the series, text pieces outlining the results of the CNN-commissioned pilot study and commentary on how kids learn about race.

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CNN's First Quarter Ratings

CNN TOPS MSNBC IN PRIMETIME BY DOUBLE DIGITS DURING FIRST QUARTER 2012*

AC 360 TOPS MSNBC’S LAST WORD AT 10PM FOR THE QUARTER

CNN Sees Solid Gains Compared to Last Quarter

First Quarter 2012 Highlights:
• CNN tops MSNBC in M-F and M-Su primetime in the key demo for the first quarter 2012
• AC 360 at 10pm tops MSNBC’s Last Word in the target demo 25-54
• CNN tops MSNBC throughout dayside (9am-5pm)
• CNN sees gains compared to last quarter (Q4 2011) -- all of the cable news networks are down compared to the first quarter a year ago due to extensive coverage of the Japan earthquake/tsunami and Arab Spring

For the first quarter 2012, CNN topped MSNBC in Monday-Friday primetime (8-11pm) by double digits (+11%) in the key demographic 25-54 (276k vs. 248k). This represents the first quarterly win over MSNBC in M-F prime in a year (since Q1 2011). CNN also bested MSNBC in M-Su primetime this quarter in the key demo (256k vs. 237k).

Anderson Cooper 360 continued to show a strong ratings performance, topping MSNBC’s Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell at 10pm in the key demo (254k vs. 219k).

During dayside programming (9am-5pm), CNN had a +28% advantage over MSNBC in the key demo 25-54 (120k vs. 94k) and outperformed MSNBC in total viewers (456k vs. 405k).

All the cable news networks were down compared to the first quarter a year ago (Q1 2011) due to extensive coverage of the Japan earthquake/tsunami and the Arab Spring. However, compared to the fourth quarter 2011 CNN showed solid gains:


• M-F prime – CNN grew +33% in the demo (276k vs. 207k) and +22% in total viewers (827k vs. 677k)
• Total Day – CNN grew +14% in the demo (140k vs. 123k) and +8% in total viewers (435k vs. 404k)
• Piers Morgan Tonight grew +11% in key demo (182k vs. 164k)
• AC 360 at 10pm grew +19% in demo (254k vs. 213k)`
• Erin Burnett Outfront at 11pm grew +5% in demo (147k vs. 140k).

CNN reached an average monthly cumulative audience of 91 million viewers during the first quarter 2012, FNC followed with 77 million and MSNBC had 74 million.

*Information courtesy of CNN
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Ratings For The Week of March 19-23

1 - Special programming was aired on one night during the week.

Rating calculations are weekly averages based on nightly ratings provided by TVNewser with data by Nielsen Media Research. Numbers reflect Live and same day (DVR) data.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

Your Views on the News 3/24/12

Here's the place to tell us what's on your mind concerning CNN.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

This Weekend's Programming 3/24/12

SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 2012

SANJAY GUPTA, MD – Saturday and Sunday 7:30AM – 8:00AM
Dr. Sanjay Gupta breaks down the Affordable Care Act as it moves towards the U.S. Supreme Court. He also updates an investigation on homelessness and mental illness among war veterans, now that a federal judge has cleared the way for a lawsuit against the VA in Los Angeles.

THE SITUATION ROOM WITH WOLF BLITZER – Airs Saturday 6:00PM – 7:00PM
Topic: Political Wrap
Guest: Ron Brownstein with Candy Crowley
Anchor: Wolf Blitzer

TRAYVON MARTIN KILLING – Airs Saturday 7:00PM – 8:00PM
CNN will break down the legal and law enforcement aspects of the Trayvon Martin shooting and examine the reaction across the country and in the Sanford, FL community.

SUNDAY, MARCH 25, 2012

SANJAY GUPTA, MD – Saturday and Sunday 7:30AM – 8:00AM
Dr. Sanjay Gupta breaks down the Affordable Care Act as it moves towards the U.S. Supreme Court. He also updates an investigation on homelessness and mental illness among war veterans, now that a federal judge has cleared the way for a lawsuit against the VA in Los Angeles.

STATE OF THE UNION WITH CANDY CROWLEY – Airs LIVE Sunday 9:00AM – 10:00AM and NOON
Topics: The White House; The budget; Health Care and 2012 politics
Guest: David Plouffe, Senior White House Adviser
Topics: Jobs; Economy; 2012 campaign; Trayvon Martin Case
Guest: Gov. Rick Scott (R- FL)
Topics: Afghanistan; Jobs; Economy; 2012 campaign
Guest: Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
Topic: Political Roundtable
Guest: Mike Duffy, Washington Bureau Chief, Time Magazine
Susan Page, Washington Bureau Chief, USA Today
Anchor: Candy Crowley

FAREED ZAKARIA GPS – Airs 10:00AM – 11:00AM and 1:00PM – 2:00PM
Topics: 2012 elections that are impacting geopolitics: Russia, China, France, Israel, the U.S.
Guests: Bruce Bueno de Mesquita, PhD, professor of politics at New York University, author of The Dictator's Handbook: Why Bad Behavior is Almost Always Good Politics
Richard N. Haass, PhD, president of the Council on Foreign Relations
Anne-Marie Slaughter, D.Phil, dean of the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs,
Topic: What does the ninth president of the World Bank Group think of today’s global economic state of affairs?
Guest: Sir James Wolfensohn, former president of the World Bank Group
Topics: What can individuals do to thrive in today’s business environment? Does Silicon Valley have a shortage of workers? Can changed immigration laws solve that shortage?
Guest: Reid Hoffman, American venture capitalist
Anchor: Fareed Zakaria

RELIABLE SOURCES – Airs LIVE Sunday 11AM - NOON
Topic: Coverage of the Trayvon Martin Case
Guests: Eric Deggans, Tampa Bay Times
Lauren Ashburn, Daily-Download.com
Derek McGinty, WUSA
Topics: Etch a Sketch Gaffe; Illinois primary coverage
Guests: Amy Holmes, Glenn Beck TV
David Corn, Mother Jones; author of "Showdown"
Topic: Cameras inside the U.S. Supreme Court
Guest: Brian Lamb, CEO and founder of C-SPAN
Host: Howard Kurtz

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

Tonight on AC360

In an interview airing tonight on AC360°, Anderson Cooper speaks with Frank Taaffe, a friend of George Zimmerman. Zimmerman is accused of shooting 17-year old Trayvon Martin. Anderson Cooper 360° airs at 8 and 10pm ET on CNN.

Rough transcript of interview, courtesy of AC360, after the jump.

John King & Dana Bash Separate

The Washington Post reported late Tuesday afternoon that John King and Dana Bash have separated. The couple married on June 25, 2008 and have a 1 year old son. This was the second marriage for both.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

Ratings For The Week of March 12-16

1 - Special programming was aired on one night during the week.

Rating calculations are weekly averages based on nightly ratings provided by TVNewser with data by Nielsen Media Research. Numbers reflect Live and same day (DVR) data.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

CNN Plans Coverage of Illinois Primary

CNN Plans Coverage of Illinois Primary

Tomorrow, CNN anchors Wolf Blitzer, John King, Erin Burnett, Anderson Cooper and Piers Morgan will provide special coverage of the Illinois Primary during their respective programs. A live edition of Piers Morgan Tonight will broadcast at midnight.
Chief political analyst Gloria Borger and senior political analyst David Gergen will join CNN’s coverage to offer insight and analysis throughout the evening. Chief political correspondent Candy Crowley will report live from Romney campaign headquarters in Illinois and national political correspondent Jim Acosta will provide updates from Santorum headquarters in Pennsylvania. Senior correspondent Joe Johns will report on the Gingrich campaign from Louisiana. In addition, political editor Paul Steinhauser and political reporter Shannon Travis will report from Illinois voting locations.

Tuesday, March 20 – CNN Live Coverage of the Illinois Primary:

6:00PM – 7:00PM John King, USA
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM Erin Burnett, OutFront
8:00 PM – 9:00 PM Anderson Cooper 360˚
9:00 PM – 10:00 PM Piers Morgan Tonight
10:00 PM – 11:00 PM Anderson Cooper 360˚
11:00 PM – Midnight Erin Burnett, OutFront
Midnight – 1:00 AM Piers Morgan Tonight (Live)

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HBO's Game Change

On March 10th HBO premiered the movie Game Change, based on a portion of the book of the same name by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin. The movie opened and closed with Steve Schmidt (played by Woody Harrelson in the movie) talking to Anderson Cooper. Through the "magic of television" they spliced parts of Anderson's 60 Minutes segment, "Revelations From The Campaign" into the movie ~


There were several other clips of CNN's coverage of the 2008 election interspersed into the movie. Here's a montage that includes; Wolf Blitzer, John King, Jack Cafferty and Fareed Zakaria among other CNNers ~


Anderson Cooper's 60 Minutes segment, which originally aired January 10, 2010:


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Ken Jautz Talks 'Quality Journalism' to MarketWatch

We know this has been talked about in this past week's comments but we never got around to posting the original article. If you missed it please take a few minutes to read and give us your opinion. ~The ATC Team


NEW YORK (MarketWatch) — What does CNN stand for in 2012? Does it lean left or right? Which does it pursue more avidly, robust ratings or high-minded journalism?

Ken Jautz had better have the answers.

In September 2010, Jautz took the helm of the Time Warner-owned (US:TWX) CNN’s U.S. news operations in September 2010. Jautz, who had been running Time Warner’s Headline News unit, believes that he can have it both ways.

For his part, Jautz insists that CNN is — and must be regarded as — a multi-media monument to objective coverage, which any liberal or conservative viewer could appreciate. Can CNN pull it off at a time when the trend is for the media to be identified by its red- or blue-state audience?

“We will continue to grow” across all digital media “and differentiate ourselves in cable television,” he told me in an interview, citing the leadership of CNN digital-news chief Meredith Artley.

Jautz’s mantra is: “Quality journalism is good business.”

This Weekend's Programming 3/17/12

SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 2012

SANJAY GUPTA, MD – Saturday and Sunday 7:30AM – 8:00AM
Dr. Gupta looks at medical mistakes that kill more than a quarter of a million Americans every year which are all totally preventable. Will discuss his new book “Monday Mornings,” about how doctors talk about these errors and will share advice on how patients can protect themselves and their families. This and more, including Dr. Gupta’s weekly tip on “Chasing Life to 100.”

THE SITUATION ROOM WITH WOLF BLITZER – Airs Saturday 6:00PM – 7:00PM
Topic: Politics
Guest: Ron Brownstein, CNN Senior Political Analyst; editorial director, National Journal
Guest Anchor: Candy Crowley

SUNDAY, MARCH 18, 2012

SANJAY GUPTA, MD – Saturday and Sunday 7:30AM – 8:00AM
Dr. Gupta looks at medical mistakes that kill more than a quarter of a million Americans every year which are all totally preventable. Will discuss his new book “Monday Mornings,” about how doctors talk about these errors and will share advice on how patients can protect themselves and their families. This and more, including Dr. Gupta’s weekly tip on “Chasing Life to 100.”

STATE OF THE UNION WITH CANDY CROWLEY – Airs LIVE Sunday 9:00AM – 10:00AM and NOON
Topic: Santorum’s Path to the Nomination; 2012
Guest: Rick Santorum, GOP presidential candidate
Topic: U.S.-Afghan Relations
Guest: Eklil Hakimi, Afghanistan Ambassador to U.S
Topic: Politics; 2012 Race
Guest: Anita Dunn, former White House Communications Director
Guest: Ed Gillespie, former White House Counselor; former RNC chairman
Anchor: Candy Crowley

FAREED ZAKARIA GPS – Airs 10:00AM – 11:00AM and 1:00PM – 2:00PM
Topics: Have Britain’s austerity initiatives worked? Does the U.S. need more austerity? What worries him most about the global economy?
Guest: George Osborne, Chancellor of the Exchequer, United Kingdom
Topics: How can the U.S. make up the budget deficit without raising taxes?
Guest: Grover Norquist, president, Americans for Tax Reform
Topics: Are war crimes being committed in South Sudan? Why won’t China pressure Sudan to stop? Does the #KONY2012 video shine the right kind of spotlight on Africa?
Guest: George Clooney, actor and humanitarian
Guest: John Prendergast, author and human rights activist, co-founder ENOUGH PROJECT
Topic: Universal health care around the world
Guest: T.R. Reid, journalist, The Washington Post
Anchor: Fareed Zakaria

RELIABLE SOURCES – Airs LIVE Sunday 11AM - NOON
Topics: Coverage of the GOP Presidential Race
Guest: Catherine Crier, author, “Patriot Acts”
Guest: Matt Lewis, The Daily Caller
Guest: David Shuster, “Countdown with Keith Olbermann”
Topics: Ali Wentworth’s Daily Online Show; New Book
Guest: Ali Wentworth, host “The Daily Shot”
Host: Howard Kurtz


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The Most Desperate Name in News?

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Fareed Zakaria on American Renewal

Fareed Zakaria Launches Quarterly Series on American Renewal on CNN

Global Lessons: The GPS Road Map for Saving Health Care debuts Sunday, March 18 at 8:00pm

CNN and TIME’s Fareed Zakaria will launch a quarterly series of television specials for CNN/U.S. and CNN International and feature articles for TIME that pursue solutions to the most pressing issues central to the 2012 election: health care, immigration, jobs, and energy, it was announced today. The first special, Global Lessons: The GPS Road Map for Saving Health Care, will debut on Sunday, March 18 at 8:00pm and 11:00pm ET & PT on CNN/U.S., and on CNN International on Saturday, March 24 at 9:00pm ET. The companion article for TIME will be in the edition that hits newsstands on Friday, March 17.
The one-hour in-depth premieres as the nation arrives at the two-year anniversary of the historic passage of The Affordable Care Act in Congress – and days from when the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to review the federal legislation for its constitutionality. He will explore how other nations have addressed the challenges of costs and quality of care, as well as a successful community model within the U.S.

“We Americans need to recognize that there are many areas where we could learn a lot from what other countries are doing. America’s best companies routinely benchmark to global standards. What we’re trying to do in this series is just that – look around the world and ask, ‘what can we learn?’ In the process, we also found areas where we could teach the rest of the world a thing or two.” Zakaria said.

While health care costs in America totaled 17.6 percent of GDP in 2009, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the high cost of health care seems uncorrelated to quality of care. Zakaria reports Americans no longer rank within the top 25 nations for healthy life expectancy or infant mortality.
Put plainly, New Jersey’s Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers founder and family medicine practitioner, Jeffrey Brenner, MD, says: “We’re spending a whole lot in our country for health care, and we’re not getting our money’s worth.”
For the special, Zakaria also interviews David Goldhill, the president and CEO of the Game Show Network, who penned an editorial for The Atlantic magazine (“How American Health Care Killed My Father,” Sept. 2009); New Yorker magazine’s Atul Gawande, MD; William Hsiao, PhD, an economics professor at Harvard who helped design Taiwan’s health care system; and The Washington Post’s T.R. Reid, author of The Healing of America: A Global Quest for Better, Cheaper, and Fairer Health Care (2010) for insights from his tour of health systems around the world.


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The Virtual Convention

We're not sure if CNN will roll out Tom Foreman and the virtual convention for tonight's primary coverage but we did think it was worth a second look. Here's a snippet of last week's initial reveal of the virtual convention and The Daily Show's critique.







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VINNIE MALHOTRA JOINS CNN

VINNIE MALHOTRA JOINS CNN AS SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, DEVELOPMENT AND ACQUISITIONS

Vinnie Malhotra, a former program development executive at ESPN and long-time ABC News producer, joins CNN as senior vice president for development and acquisitions, it was announced by Mark Whitaker, CNN Worldwide managing editor.
Based in Los Angeles, Malhotra will report to Amy Entelis, senior vice president for talent and content development. He will pursue development opportunities with outside production companies on behalf of the various networks of CNN Worldwide.
“Vinnie has a strong record of creating captivating programming, an award-winning news background covering major national and international stories, and experience integrating content across multiple platforms.” said Entelis. “We welcome Vinnie to CNN and are thrilled to have him join our team.”

Ratings For The Week of March 5-9th

1 - Special programming was aired on one night during the week.2 - Special programming was aired on two nights during the week.

Rating calculations are weekly averages based on nightly ratings provided by TVNewser with data by Nielsen Media Research. Numbers reflect Live and same day (DVR) data.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

CNN's Coverage of Alabama, Mississippi Primaries

CNN to Provide Coverage of Alabama, Mississippi Primaries

Anchors Wolf Blitzer, Anderson Cooper, Erin Burnett, Candy Crowley and John King will headline CNN’s live America’s Choice 2012: The Alabama and Mississippi Primaries coverage from the CNN Election Center. The network will kick off the special coverage with Erin Burnett, OutFront at 7 p.m. A live edition of Piers Morgan Tonight will broadcast at midnight.
Chief political analyst Gloria Borger and senior political analyst David Gergen, along with political contributors Paul Begala, Erick Erickson, Ari Fleischer, Mary Matalin and Hilary Rosen, will join the network’s primary coverage to offer insight and analysis.
National political correspondent Jim Acosta will report from Santorum headquarters and senior correspondent Joe Johns will be on location from Gingrich headquarters. Senior congressional correspondent Dana Bash and political reporter Shannon Travis will report from voting locations in Alabama and Mississippi, respectively. In addition, political editor Paul Steinhauser will speak with voters at a voting location in Alabama.

Programming schedule for Tuesday, March 13 – The Alabama and Mississippi Primaries (All Times Eastern):
6:00PM – 7:00PM John King, USA (Live)
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM Erin Burnett, OutFront (Live)
8:00 PM – 10:00 PM America's Choice 2012: The Alabama and Mississippi Primaries (Live)
10:00 PM – 11:00 PM Anderson Cooper 360˚ (Live)
11:00 PM – Midnight Erin Burnett, OutFront (Live)
Midnight – 1:00 AM Piers Morgan Tonight (Live)

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

This Weekend's Programming 3/10/12

SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 2012

THE SITUATION ROOM – Airs Saturday 6:00PM – 7:00PM
Topic: Politics 2012
Guest: Gloria Borger, CNN chief political analyst
Guest: Ron Brownstein, CNN contributor
Topic: Violence in Syria
Guest: William Daniels, photographer
Anchor: Wolf Blitzer

SUNDAY, MARCH 11, 2012

STATE OF THE UNION WITH CANDY CROWLEY – Airs LIVE Sunday 9:00AM – 10:00AM and NOON
Topic: Democratic Agenda in Congress; 2012 Race
Guest: Sen. Harry Reid (D), Majority Leader
Topic: Running for President; 2012 Race
Guest: Dick Gephardt, Former House Majority Leader; (D) Former Presidential Candidate
Guest: Steve Forbes, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief, Forbes Media; (R) Former Presidential Candidate
Topic: Economy; Jobs; Campaign 2012
Guest: Dan Balz, National Political Correspondent, Washington Post
Guest: Stephen Moore, Senior Economics Writer, The Wall Street Journal
Guest: Alice Rivlin, Former Director, Office of Management and Budget
Anchor: Candy Crowley

FAREED ZAKARIA GPS – Airs 10:00AM – 11:00AM and 1:00PM – 2:00PM
Topics: What was PM Netanyahu’s take-away from his White House visit? Are ordinary Israelis in favor of a strike on Iran? Is Iran a good distraction from Israel’s other problems? Has Palestinian problem dropped off the radar?
Guest: Elliott Abrams, senior fellow for Middle Eastern Studies, Council on Foreign Relations
Guest: Rula Jabreal, Arab Israeli journalist
Guest: Daniel Levy, senior research fellow and co-director of the Middle East Task Force, New America Foundation
Guest: Bret Stephens, Global View columnist, The Wall Street Journal
Topics: Iran, Syria, the Middle East, China & Russia
Guest: Henry Kissinger, PhD, former U.S. Secretary of State (Richard Nixon Administration); chairman, Kissinger Associates, Inc. A Fareed Zakaria GPS Exclusive
Anchor: Fareed Zakaria

RELIABLE SOURCES – Airs LIVE Sunday 11AM - NOON
Topics: Media Frenzy Over Limbaugh’s Comments and Apology
Guest: Michael Medved, syndicated radio host
Guest: Stephanie Miller, syndicated radio host
Topics: Dramatizing Reality for the Big Screen: “Game Change”
Guest: Danny Strong, screenwriter and producer
Guest: Jay Roach, director
Topics: Super Tuesday Coverage
Guest: Erin McPike, RealClear Politics
Guest: Eleanor Clift, Columnist for Newsweek/Daily Beast
Guest: Ramesh Ponnuru, National Review
Host: Howard Kurtz

PLEASE NOTE:
Programming schedule for Tuesday, March 13 – Alabama and Mississippi Primaries (All Times Eastern):
6:00PM – 7:00PM John King, USA (Live)
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM Erin Burnett, OutFront (Live)
8:00 PM – 10:00 PM America's Choice 2012: The Alabama and Mississippi Primaries (Live)
10:00 PM – 11:00 PM Anderson Cooper 360˚ (Live)
11:00 PM – Midnight Erin Burnett, OutFront (Live)
Midnight – 1:00 AM Piers Morgan Tonight (Live)

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Who's Hosting Piers Morgan Live Next Week?

Monday, March 12, 2012 – Emmy and Golden Globe winner and star of the hit FOX TV series “Glee,” Jane Lynch will guest host “Piers Morgan Tonight” welcoming iconic comedian Joan Rivers, Republican strategist Mary Matalin and Democratic strategist James Carville.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012 – CNN’s Wolf Blitzer will host a special edition of “Piers Morgan Tonight” at 12am ET covering the Alabama and Mississippi primaries.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012 – “Today” contributor and former host of CNBC’s “The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch,” Donny Deutsch will guest host interviewing special guest Michael J. Fox.

Thursday, March 15, 2012 – Comedian, actress and host of OWN’s “The Rosie Show,” Rosie O’Donnell guest hosts on Thursday sitting down with Academy Award winning actress Anjelica Huston and host of E!’s “The Soup,” Joel McHale. McHale also has a starring role in NBC’S “Community.”

Friday, March 16, 2012 – Actor, producer and late night legend Arsenio Hall will go face to face with his close friend and NBA legend Magic Johnson and his wife, Cookie.


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Ratings For The Week of February 27-March 2

1 - Special programming aired on one night during the week.

Rating calculations are weekly averages based on nightly ratings provided by TVNewser with data by Nielsen Media Research. Numbers reflect Live and same day (DVR) data.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

72 Hours Under Fire: CNN’s Reporting from Inside Syria

72 Hours Under Fire: CNN’s Unfiltered Look at Reporting from Inside Syria

Features CNN correspondent Arwa Damon; airs on CNN/US Sunday, March 11 at 8pET & PT

Homs, Syria – considered one of the most dangerous places CNN has ever covered – is at the heart of a one-hour special documenting the challenges and dangers faced by a CNN team while on assignment there. As told by the journalists who risked their lives to get into Homs and the CNN news executives tasked with keeping them safe, 72 Hours Under Fire gives viewers an inside look at the complexities and risks involved in getting the story out of Syria.
72 Hours Under Fire airs Sunday, March 11 at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m., and Saturday, March 17 at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. Eastern and Pacific on CNN/US. It premieres on CNN International Friday, March 9 at 3 p.m., and replays Saturday, March 10 at 4 a.m., 3 p.m., and 9 p.m., and Sunday, March 11 at 6 a.m., all times Eastern.
“Homs is as challenging an editorial operation as we have encountered,” says Tony Maddox, executive vice president and managing director of CNN International.
The experienced team CNN sent into Homs included Beirut-based correspondent Arwa Damon, photojournalist Neil Hallsworth and security risk advisor Tim Crockett. 72 Hours Under Fire chronicles their journey into and out of Homs, the dangers they faced while newsgathering and reporting there and why this assignment was different than previous ones. Damon, Hallsworth and Crockett are interviewed by CNN anchor Michael Holmes, who also narrates the documentary.

Starting Point Off to a Slow Start

TV By The Numbers has the breakdown on CNN's Starting Point. They write:
CNN's new morning show Starting Point, which launched on January 2, 2012, notched the lowest monthly average total viewership (P2+) in February* for any CNN morning show in the past decade. Well below the time period numbers for February, 2011. More coffee!

A small consolation? It only had the third worst viewership in the advertiser targeted adults 25-54 demo.


To view all the historical numbers from Nielsen for CNN's 7-9am morning shows just follow the above link.

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Ted Turner

For all the old school CNN/Ted Turner fans there is a great new profile of Turner in The Hollywood Reporter. Enjoy!All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

This Weekend's Programming 3/4/12

SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 2012


SANJAY GUPTA, MD – Saturday and Sunday 7:30AM – 8:00AM
Topic: Affordable Health Care
Guest: Gov. Deval Patrick (D-MA)

Live Coverage Saturday Night of Washington Caucus Results: 8:00PM – 9:00PM
On Saturday, March 3, CNN will air America’s Choice 2012: Washington Caucuses live from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. ET. Lead political anchor Wolf Blitzer will lead coverage from Washington, D.C. and will be joined by anchor and chief national correspondent John King at the Magic Wall. Chief political analyst Gloria Borger and CNN contributors Hilary Rosen and Ari Fleisher will be on hand to provide analysis as the results are reported. National political correspondent Jim Acosta and senior correspondent Joe Johns will report from the Super Tuesday state of Ohio. Political reporter Shannon Travis and producer/reporter Paul Vercammen will be live from Washington State.

CNN PRESENTS – Airs Saturday 11:00PM – 12:00AM
CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta and Brooke Baldwin host a two-story magazine program. Correspondent Kaj Larsen reports from Honduras with a rare behind-the-scenes look at US Drug Enforcement Administration operations there trying to stem the flow of an estimated 25 tons a month of cocaine bound for the US. Also, correspondent Deb Feyerick tries to untangle the extremely complicated case of a former NYC police officer convicted of murder – but in a series of twists and emerging information, and the officer’s overturned conviction – the case continues to raise questions about evidence suppression, witness tampering, justified defense, and judicial fairness.

SUNDAY, MARCH 4, 2012

SANJAY GUPTA, MD – Saturday and Sunday 7:30AM – 8:00AM
Topic: Affordable Health Care
Guest: Gov. Deval Patrick (D-MA)

STATE OF THE UNION WITH CANDY CROWLEY – Airs LIVE Sunday 9:00AM – 10:00AM and NOON
Topic: Super Tuesday
Guest: Former Speaker Newt Gingrich, Republican presidential candidate
Topic: Super Tuesday
Guest: Rep. Ron Paul, Republican presidential candidate
Topic: 2012: White House and Congress
Guest: Ron Brownstein, CNN senior political analyst
Guest: Dana Bash, CNN senior congressional correspondent
9AM HOUR:
Topic: President Obama’s AIPAC Speech
Guest: Martin Indyk, Former U.S. Ambassador to Israel
Guest: Nick Burns, Former Under Secretary of State
NOON HOUR:
Topic: President Obama’s AIPAC Speech
Guest: Rep. Mike Rogers (R), Chairman, Intelligence Committee
Guest: Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (D), Ranking Member, Intelligence Committee
Anchor: Candy Crowley

FAREED ZAKARIA GPS – Airs 10:00AM – 11:00AM and 1:00PM – 2:00PM
Topics: GOP presidential primary politics; religion & politics
Guest: Chrystia Freeland, global editor-at-large, Thomson Reuters
Guest: Joe Klein, political columnist, TIME Magazine
Guest: Reihan Salam, columnist, The National Review
Guest: Katrina vanden Heuvel, Editor & Publisher for The Nation
Topics: Will Israel attack Iran? What’s behind Israel’s thinking on an Iran attack? What will Netanyahu say to Obama on Monday at the White House?
Guest: Ronen Bergman, political and military analyst for Yedioth Ahronoth (Israel)
Topics: Do President Obama or Mitt Romney’s tax plans do much in the way of reform? What would real reform of U.S. taxes look like? How damaging as so-called “tax expenditures”?
Guest: Bruce Bartlett, domestic policy advisor (Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush Administrations)
Anchor: Fareed Zakaria

RELIABLE SOURCES – Airs LIVE Sunday 11AM - NOON
Topics: Romney’s Primary Victories; Prospect of a Brokered Convention
Guest: Julie Mason, Sirius/XM Radio
Guest: David Frum, FrumForum.com; CNN contributor
Guest: Dana Milbank, The Washington Post
Topics: Breitbart’s Legacy; James Murdoch Quits News International
Guest: Jeff Jarvis, BuzzMachine.com
Host: Howard Kurtz

THE NEXT LIST – Airs Sunday 2:00PM – 2:30PM
Anchor Dr. Sanjay Gupta interviews social entrepreneur Dan Ogola, founder of The Matibabu Foundation, a community health care initiative that serves more than 60,000 people per year, particularly in the areas of HIV/AIDS, breast cancer, and infant care, in his native Kenya. Ogola is on a mission to create sustainable prosperity and has opened a state-of-the-art hospital in the impoverished community of Kibera, where he was reared as a boy, launched a “Youth Friendly Center” where high school students can study computer skills or trades such as sewing, and is constructing a “Smart Center” where adults can learn to read or study agricultural techniques.

CNN PRESENTS – Airs Sunday 8:00PM – 9:00PM and 11:00PM
CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta and Randi Kaye host a three-story magazine program, including an investigation by Dr. Gupta into the use of military veterans as unwitting human test subjects for chemical experimentation at a military facility north of Baltimore, MD, from 1955 to 1975. Also, Kaj Larsen profiles two awarding-winning, committed journalists, Adela Bello and Javier Valdez Cardenas, who continue to report on government corruption, gang violence, and crime fueling the Mexican drug wars – despite constant death threats. Lastly, Drew Griffin reports on the emerging importance of social media and the role of intermediaries, such as lawyers and lobbyists, in the Vatican process of conferring saint status within the Catholic Church.


Please note the following programming changes for SUPER TUESDAY, March 6:

7:00PM – 1:00AM AMERICA’S CHOICE 2012: SUPER TUESDAY PRIMARIES (LIVE)
1:00AM – 2:00AM (March 7) ANDERSON COOPER 360° (LIVE)


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Super Tuesday on CNN

Anchors, Correspondents out in Full Force on Super Tuesday

Live Election Roundtable on CNN.com Kicks Off Coverage; Virtual Convention Floor Makes its Debut

CNN plans extensive coverage of the Super Tuesday caucus and primary contests on March 6. Anchors Wolf Blitzer, Anderson Cooper, Erin Burnett, John King and Candy Crowley will headline the network’s America’s Choice 2012: Super Tuesday special programming from the CNN Election Center beginning at 7 p.m. ET. Gloria Borger and David Gergen, along with CNN political contributors Donna Brazile, Ari Fleischer, Hilary Rosen, Erick Erickson, Paul Begala and Alex Castellanos, will join the coverage to provide analysis and insight. Beginning at 1 a.m. on March 7, the network will air a live special edition of Anderson Cooper 360º.
“CNN will deploy more resources in the field to cover Super Tuesday than any other television network,” said Sam Feist, CNN Washington bureau chief and senior vice president. “These contests will play a pivotal role in determining the direction of the rest of this campaign.”

Changes at CNN

CNN will have a new lineup for Newsroom beginning next week (all times ET):

Carol Costello: 9AM - 11AM
Kyra Phillips: 11AM - Noon
Suzanne Malveaux: Noon - 2 PM

Randi Kaye will anchor CNN Newsroom Weekend mornings from 6 a.m. to noon and also do investigative reporting for Anderson Cooper 360 weeknights.


On a cooperate level CNN has announced Lynn Brindell, a veteran media marketing executive, will join CNN Worldwide as senior vice president of marketing. Brindell will work across all CNN brands and businesses to lead off-channel and digital marketing efforts, as well as develop strategies and programs to drive brand strength, and audience growth and engagement on all platforms.
Brindell’s significant media marketing experience includes multi-platform brand work at The Weather Channel, Food Network and Lifetime Television. She has developed brand positioning, launched prime time series, directed off-channel and digital marketing strategies, overseen marketing initiatives for cable networks, and online ad sales and affiliate sales. She has also collaborated with national marketing partners at retail and in cause-related campaigns.

Brindell’s extensive media marketing experience includes launching a prime time series and an award-winning national environmental marketing platform for The Weather Channel; launching signature Iron Chef America and Next Food Network Star series for Food Network; and developing and managing all aspects of Television for Women branding for Lifetime Television.
Brindell earned her bachelor’s of arts degree in English, magna cum laude, from Bowdoin College, in Brunswick, Maine. She was the first woman in the college’s history to solely receive the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Award. She also studied at the School of Visual Arts in New York, New York. She has received numerous recognitions for creative excellence and achievement, including BDA, BPME/PROMAX, AWRT (now AWM), AWMS, AIGA, Telly, International Flame and New York Festivals.

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