It seems everyone is getting in on the CNN bashing lately. A few more articles you might find of interest.
The WashingtonTimes.com had an article yesterday on what has happened to CNN.
Today......CNN has grown into something quite different. It draws on 45 bureaus, staffed by full-time reporters and an array of competent stringers. And its jaunty international coverage outperforms the expensive suits from New York, especially on big, running stories such as elections and wars.
But CNN’s international prowess gets truncated on the domestic service to make room for fragmentary news coverage, a barrage of commercials, plus warm and fuzzy features like this lead-in to an item recently announced by anchor Wolf Blitzer: “When we come back, a dog that got caught in a cactus!” Wolf’s dancing eyebrows provided the exclamation point.
And there's much more, just follow the link.
Also TVNewser published an article today trying to put a positive spin on Erin Burnett's OutFront. It's hard to spin her numbers but they gave it the good old college try.
It may seem kinda mean to keep piling on but I think it has gotten to the point that people are literally yelling at CNN execs to do something. They are in real trouble and they hardly seem to notice. I read that piece from TVNewser about OutFront and the numbers were horrifying. Personally, I think it inappropriate for TVNewser to try and spin the results but any one with a brain can see that show is dying on the vine. She's painful to watch and thanks to her epic OWS screw-up, she has been totally neutered as a credible business reporter in the eyes of most CNN viewers. Today she tied with Kudlow in the demo ratings. KUDLOW, for pete's sake!!! There was a huge bump in demo ratings last night at 10pm - can't figure out why but it seems there is a potential audience at that time fram but CNN doesn't consistently serve it. What happened to the idea of a new 11pm show?!?! They need to do something fast! May's numbers are horrible.
ReplyDeleteI personally thought that first article was mean spirited. Nothing is wrong with Wolf Blitzer. As for Piers Morgan, yes at times he does seem stuck up, but I would never defend Toure. Piers was the bigger person in that argument. I also do agree that the Ridiculist is ridiculous. I miss the old days of Anderson Cooper 360º. Since his daytime talk show began, he hasn't traveled anywhere and doesn't seem to care at all about what made him a star. Now, he's just too busy gossiping about them. It doesn't suit him. It's like if Christiane Amanpour began a cooking show. As for the second article about Erin Burnett, I agree with a comment someone wrote saying she would have more potential in the morning.
ReplyDelete@5:39PM:
ReplyDeleteYour thoughts on Anderson are exactly right.
I have always said the Ridiculist is just that, ridiculous and Andy
boy may be in "demand" but that wouldn't last forever.
TVNewser tried to put the same spin on him with "Watch What Happens Live" compared him to other CNN anchors and he came up the winner!
No kidding TVN. You mean he beat Wolf Blitzer, a man twice his age, and Piers Moron!
I've given up watching CNN entirely.
There's nothing to watch.
Erin Burnett may very well do better in the morning...the very reason CNN wouldn't try it.
I thought that article in the Washington Times was extremely mean. The person who wrote it in my opinion is the one who sounds like a total loser - some one who has never made it.
ReplyDeleteTime Warner owns both 360 & Anderson. The
ReplyDeletecompany wants Anderson Cooper to do both
shows. It's the Washington Times so I take it
with a grain of salt. Isha Sesay has a mega
watt personality and she is barely on 360.
When it comes to politics 360 needs to be
searching for reporters like Alex Wagner,
Chris Hayes & Luke Russert. They are all
more analytical and not ideological hacks.
Maybe offer Russert the 6 PM hour. He has
filled in on MSNBC.
Nobody will take the article in the Washington
ReplyDeleteTimes seriously. It shows how little he really
knows about CNN. Everyone know that Don
Lemon is older than Anderson Cooper. Did
he really mean TJ Holmes ? Besides how did
he conveniently leave out Erin Burnett.. Out
Front, JK, USA , Starting Point & PMT are not
working. Despite all of the problems at CNN
at least 360 is not being beaten as badly
in the demo as all of the other CNN shows.
Now Starting Point is Crossfire. Erin can't
be anchoring on CNN. Viewers are saying no.
Anderson is a sold journalist. Widely respected.
ReplyDeleteAnderson's talk show just earned 3 Emmy nods.
Erin Burnett is heading lower and lower. 46,000
in the demo. It has been 8 months pull the plug.
Piers Morgan has been on even longer. He is doing
worst than Larry King up against Rachel Maddow.
I hope CNN does bring Strombo to CNN. There is
no other better fit for CNN. A live news show with
a studio audience . CNN has got to focus strongly
on content. Someone mentioned Richard Stengel.
at Time as a future news prez at CNN. That may
not be a bad decision. Time has some really
good content. I agree during the Summer try
the women's show. CNN has nothing to lose.
Erin Burnnett to 46,000. The Time cover this
week is perfect. They could do a completely
different take on gay marriage. Is the number
of available men decreasing for women. i
could see Isha Sesay, Betty Nguyen & Asleigh
Branfield & someone from Univision. CNN
could use an historic moment and positive
press. It turns out that women are consumers
of news and boy can they ever work social
media and spread the word. Of course if there
is breaking news, you are covered with capable
talent. CNN has to start finding solutions. It's
not going to work copying FNC or MSNBC. It
comes down to your shows and content. CNN
needs to expand the viewer pool.
Luke Russert has been and is being groomed by MSNBC/NBC since his dad passed. I can't see him leaving them for CNN. I also don't believe he's quite ready for his own show.
ReplyDeleteEzra Klein would be a great addition, although I would hate to lose him as a guest/guest host on MSNBC. The guy is incredibly smart and conveys it very well. He's right up there with Chris Hayes, Alex Wagner and MHP.
I agree, the first article was kinda mean. They went right after the biggest name talents on CNN. I do think it raises a good point though - the dumbing down of CNN makes all the journalists look bad. Content is a real problem on CNN. In fact, the content is so bad, I don't think you can entirely blame the on-air personalities. People give way too much credit to the face of a show - if the topics are interesting and the journalism is well thought out, people can be very forgiving of on air talent defects. Look at the rising popularity of NPR - it is not about personalities at all, it is entirely about the news. No visual stuff to distract you. People will warm to journalists that they trust FIRST. Yesterday, I turned on my TV flipped to CNN and Wolf was talking about the Long Island Hot Dog Hooker. The other day, I turned on my TV in the evening and there was AC360 arguing with some idiot birther. Really, is this the best y'all got? Both times, I just changed channel as fast as I could. That's how much time you have sometimes to make an impression. CNN doesn't make a good impression anymore. I am losing trust and respect - which means CNN is losing credibility.
ReplyDeleteOther ideas for talent - Alison Stewart, Jamie Tarabay, Megan McArdle, Nia-Maleka Henderson, Luke Burbank, Lisa Ling, Ana Marie Cox, Matt Miller (NPR guy). Smart, clever, tough, sassy, forward thinking journalists who will challenge the status quo. Pull people from CNNI and give them more time - Hala Gorani, Sara Sidner, Isha Sesay. CNN needs to start fresh with a new vision.
ReplyDeleteI have chimed in often about a women's news show
ReplyDeleteon CNN at 7 PM. President Obama made history
with his statement on gay marriage. You would hear
the song History Repeating from Propeller Heads.
The opening line is the word is out there's
something evolving... have Obama have his say.
CNN is making a mistake just focusing on politics
and how this is going to lose support in the black
community. That is 1 issue. Why not have an
historian come on to talk about the top 5 historic
presidential moments. There's Lincoln, there is
Johnson on Civil Rights. We all know they make
the list. There are so many avenues CNN could
take. What is the state of marriage in America ?
Are there more single or married people in the
United States. American society is evolving and
cable news is way behind because they only
look at everything through a political prism.
The deeper discussion is being ignored. CNN's
coverage will make you tired of it already. How
many times can you put on pro and con. Stop
acting like you know what the reaction of the
voters will be in November. Stop assuming
that only young people short gay marriage.
Stop assuming the black clergy won't support
Obama or their congregations won't support
the President. Blacks know they would be
hurt by GOP policies just like the rest of
Americans. Stop saying America is a narrow
minded politically absorbed nation. Cable
news does not represent America. Start having
conversations like most Americans. Yesterday,
I had conversations with others about this
and not 1 has been political.
Many women are choosing to have kids but
not marrying. NYT has done some fascinating
reporting on this. It ends of not being much
of anything those who were going to vote for
Obama still will and those who were not wont.
I was listening to a college radio station and
they were laughing at how the media reaches
all kinds of assumptions that are wrong. They
said it simply two words : Mitt Romney. Blacks
don't want a tea party agenda. There are so
many times when CNN could elevate the
conversation and don/g. Does anyone know
how many gay marriages take place ?
There is no denying the influx of fresh talent
ReplyDeletehas greatly influenced and changed MSNBC. Rachel,
Toure,Chris Hayes, Alex Wagner, Ezra Klein
Luke Russert & Melissa Harris Perry have helped
shake up cable news. CNN is to stuck in the past.
CNN is too stuck on ideology. That act has gotten
so old. Staged fights come off as fake. CNN just
does not look genuine or relevant. Having AC &
others just sit back and talk to pundits is just dumb.
Isn't that why David Bohrman left. He basically said
that CNN is brain dead. There is no fresh thinking.
Some of the people from Current would help
CNN too.
Viewers are definitely turned off to CNN. TSR
ReplyDelete& JK are getting as bad as Out Front. Personally,
I have become a fan of TYT on Current at 7 PM.
CNN has let the pundits highjack their political
talk and now nobody wants to watch CNN. 360
has some following but the rest of CNN is going
down fast. Starting Point was nothing but politics
yesterday and the ratings tanked. I guess 10 yrs
from now that CNN will realize that viewers are
tired of the pundits on CNN. Pigs will fly before
CNN does a news show with ethnically diverse
female journalists.
Having read the Washington Times article written by Michael Johnson who is based in France, If CNN IS FAILING BLAME THE ANCHORS, he is absolutely right.
ReplyDeleteI for one, have said this right along and written it here over and
over and this will not be the last
word on the subject either.
Yes, indeed.
Blame it on the two star performers is solidly correct.
Actually, I don't like Piers Moron, but he came in when CNN started its decline, so you can't have him shoulder the entire blame.
But Anderson Cooper has been around long enough to see CNN's downfall.
Is it because of him? NO, not entirely. He's certainly not responsible for the feeble performance of the daytime hours.
However, the entire nite centers around HIM. Let's keep Anderson happy and that's all Klein knew.
And Anderson learned along time ago, to keep himself happy and thus we have his daytime talkfest.
Oh soooo talented is he.
And he was nominated for count them, three Emmys. duh.
WHO WATCHES HIM?
WHO WATCHES HIM ON CNN ANYMORE?
Yes, there are some talented anchors there and Anderson WAS once a solid journalist, but Yes, I
can just hear him saying to his friend Andy Cohen, who's own career has really taken off with the housewife franchise, "I make it up as I go along."
He sure does.
Bravo Michael Johnson, bravo.
CNN has to end the stupid questions now. CNN
ReplyDeletepicks a question and reads selected responses
on the sir. Jack Cafferty read a comment that
about bestiality on TSR. It talked about humans
marrying animals. CNN chose to do that. Jack
Cafferty ridiculous questions and the stupid
responses he reads during TSR make Wolf
Blitzer look dumb. Wolf says good thing our
viewers said that.. CNN was dumb enough to
read it. That is why TSR is fading fast.
CNN asks a loaded question and will read your
responses on the air. What is it the 90's. Could
someone tell CNN about social media and drag
the network kicking and screaming into the 21st
century. Wow, CNN viewers are suppose to get
excited about CNN possibly reading your response
to a stupid question from Jack Cafferty. Consumers
chose what news they like and respond too not
CNN. Can you say disconnect.
CNN ratings will be lower in May and CNN will
keep doing the same dumb stuff.
360 definitely needs to get those viewership and
ReplyDeletedemo numbers moving up. Anderson Cooper once
brought us a different style of journalism. Great
content & story-telling. His style of journalism is
the norm in college classes now. You have to be
able to write, shoot & edit your materials. You
will not get your degree unless you are able to
do this.
When we heard the theme song Floods, we knew
it was time for 360. The music told me that this
was not going to be like typical cable news shows.
I would love to see the original set as well. Isha
Sesay is already a part of 360 and that is great.
She anchors on CNN I and has news cred.
What if 360 were to hire Max Lugavere, Jason
Silva & the entire Vanguard Team : Marianna,
Adam & Christof. Bring on Kaj Larsen & Amber
Lyon as correspondents too. The point is to get
360 back to that style of journalism that AC
pioneered. This is the style that defined 360.
Lisa Ling would make a great addition as well.
For political discussions hire Nia Maleka
Henderson & Abby Huntsman. I have seen
these 2 on MSNBC and I'm impressed of their
approach to politics. CNN has got to move
beyond partisan bickering. Bring on Toure
along with Conor Knighton & Brett Erclich.
Conor & Brett take the Jon Stewart approach
to politics. Toure first appeared on 360. The
show has fallen into the same old cable news
trap. Dull, boring blah blah. KTH is so not
working. Move on get more creative than that.
All of these people can appear on other CNN
shows. I could not miss the original 360 now
most nights I'm not much interested. Where
is the great 360 content that originally made
me a fan of Anderson Cooper 360 ? The cool
interviews with authors, musicians, writers,
that cool eclectic mix of guests. Now all we
get are pundits or some idiot for Anderson to
stage an argument with. So not 360.
360 has to get back to the renegade rebel spirit.
The music on 360 was such a part of the show
that it is just not the same without it. All of this
would likely get 360 back to the 200,000 plus
range in the demo. Don't believe me just add the
music for the 10 PMM edition of 360 and see
what happens. he will beat TLW in the demo.
Have you guys seen Young Turks lately. It is
developing that 360 style and news atmosphere.
I like the set and how they are progressing the
show. It has that underground news feel. Fast
paced, smart conversation. Cinematography,
the production and setting with the brick wall.
It is a cool news setting. I am not a fan of AC
sitting behind the anchor desk with the annoying
dancing blue background. Please for the sake
of 360 viewers drop that background. If you
don't believe me just watch TYT at 7 PM and
see if it does not remind you of 360 when the
show first came on the scene.
360 has the top demos on CNN. Demos are
ReplyDeletehow the networks make money. That means 360
is bringing in the most money. This guy is clueless.
No industry insider will tell you that 360 is the
problem for CNN. Anderson Cooper makes CNN
ratings go up and not down . The problems are
Starting Point, Out Front, PMT and JK, USA. Time
Warner owns 360 & Anderson. Time Warner wants
to keep both shows. It is not in their interest to
lose either show. You just don't like Anderson
Cooper. Why are you so obsessed with his career.
Nobody is forcing you to watch Anderson.
CNN please do that women's show. The Time
ReplyDeleteMagazine cover is generating a whole lot of
buzz. I was not sure it was real but the mom
was on the Today Show. I could see Richard
Stengel running CNN. Time should be a huge
asset for CNN.
I distinctly remember when CNN moved AC to 8 and 10pm in Aug/Sept 2011 that ratings jumped up - he was beating Ed and Lawrence on MSNBC. CNN was temporarily flying high, looking like their ratings might rebound and that they were going to beat MSNBC. Then October rolled around and they introduced OutFront, she peaks in November 2011 then the slide begins. Now look at AC360 at 8pm - it is getting hammered by MSNBC. Geez, Outfront and AC360 frequently get beat by HLN shows. JkUSA has been tanking for a while and isn't helping matters. This isn't rocket science CNN - ratings are plummeting. How is OutFront going to suddenly grow when it has been on a steady, steep trend downward for months now? May is gonna make April's numbers seem wonderful.
ReplyDeleteIt's a good idea for 360 to have a non-traditional
ReplyDeletenews set. The pundits likely lost those younger
viewers for 360. CNN should consider hiring all
of these people as contributors. CNN has to fix
their political commentary before it is too late.
You could roll these people out on 360 so CNN
viewers will see CNN is rethinking how they will
cover politics. If the tired worn out pundits on
CNN is not working on other shows, don't put
them on 360. Give Alison Stewart the morning
show on CNN.
Last night Rachel Maddow had a phone interview
ReplyDeletewith Mitt Romney laughing about the bullying. He
was 18 and old enough to know right from wrong.
This was no teen prank. What is so funny ?
Bullying is a serious issue. On GMA Matt Dowd
said Romney needs to address this and he is a
prominent Republican.
AC 360 topped ED in the demo last night. ED's
ReplyDeleteviewership/demos numbers are going lower. It
means that all 360 has to do is to get to 600,000
or more and it will top ED in the demo. ED is lucky
that Rachel comes on after his show. If 360 works
on content, that will improve the ratings for 360.
At least bring the music back on Friday. I know a
lot of people who did keep the channel on CNN
just to hear what the 360 bump song would be.
It's a good way to keep viewers from turning.
Love the idea of having Anderson Cooper and Isha Sesay host a new show from 8PM to 10PM, then have Soledad O'Brien and Tom Foreman host a show from 10PM to midnight.
ReplyDelete@12:12PM: "Why are you so obsessed with his career? No one is forcing you to watch 360."
ReplyDeleteTrust me I don't watch him anymore but I can give my opinion.
And I certainly don't watch his dayshow.
I'm no more obsessed than anyone else here. I'm just not in denial.
I believe the Washington Times got it right and I've said the exact same thing right along.
The day will come when every liberal paper will have put the puzzle together and figure it all out.
I'm just waiting patiently for Jon Stewart to nail him.
He will. It's just a matter of time.
Having read some of the comments lately here, I'm really surprised by the amount of wild suggestions such as "get rid of the pundits, bring in Rachel Maddow", "I can't stand AC360, but Current TV is great for news", "get rid of Erin Burnett, start a chit-chat for women instead", "CNN should stop talking about politics all the time, it should hire some great political reporters" and the bizarre list goes on and on and on... I guess many of you who are writing stuff like this have never watched CNN in its glory days. You know, Bernie Shaw, John Holliman (RIP) and Peter Arnett or Charles Bierbauer, Frank Sesno and so many others... So sad...
ReplyDeleteCNN can't do 2 hour shows in prime time. Just
ReplyDeletetake a look at the daytime ratings. Starting Point
is now drawing less than 200,000 that means
Soledad can't come to prime time. 360 now has
a whole lot of commercials in 1 hr at both 8 &
10 PM. That means that 360 will be on CNN at
8 & 10 PM. 360 is CNN's most popular show and
it makes money. That is all that matters to TV
executives. The ads are wide ranging . That means
that CNN is offering extra ads at 8 & 10 PM. It's
the show the advertisers want.
6:32PM: Are you kidding me?
ReplyDeleteAC and Isha hosting a program between the two prime hours that people watch TV??
Are you for real?
No one watches them now and you expect more to watch, together?
Is this before or after DWTS, Idol, and the lineup on Fox News?
Please get real or as Bill Maher would say: "Say it, but keep it real."
If people are listening to 360 just to hear the "bump music," they have a problem and it isn't called news.
ReplyDeleteIf you want CNN to be a news channel and you're a grown up mature person who happens to be a news junkie, you don't listen to CNN for BUMP MUSIC!
Are you nine years old or just suffering from the "Peter Pan syndrome?"
Oh, I guess you'll have to Google that one.
2 hours in primetime could work. When Anderson Cooper hosted AC360º for two live hours from 10PM to midnight, he was #1.
ReplyDelete@7:50PM: What do you expect for CNN to do during the prime time hours where "people watch TV"? Go completely blank screen? What a strange reply...
You are the one that needs to "get real". CNN is lucky to have Anderson and Isha.
ANON7:50pm - AC is already on at 8PM. I would rather see him on for a second hour at 9PM with Isha rather than seeing Piers Morgan. He originally did two live hours of 360, wish he would do it again
ReplyDeleteGet a grip it's The Washington Times. A small
ReplyDeleteconservative newspaper. Dude has a serious
case of professional jealousy. It is not even in
the top 100 newspapers. So nobody cares what
this guy think. He just doesn't like that Anderson
Cooper is successful. He is completely delusional
if he thinks CNN will drop 360. it is the most
popular show on CNN. People are still watching
360 rather than other CNN shows.
@7.56 completely agree with you. Can't believe what I'm reading around here. I hope no one from CNN reads this, they might take some of this craziness seriously. Geez.
ReplyDelete360 is the least of CNN worries right now..TSR,
ReplyDeleteJK,USA & Erin Burnettare all under 100,000 in
demos. That means that these 3 shows are in
trouble. The 1st change will likely be at 7. TSR
& JK,USA might be on a little longer since there
is a presidential election.
ANON4:52AM
ReplyDeleteI did watch CNN in its prime years and Shaw, Arnett, etc... were all good. Yes, some ideas posted here may be wacky but some are good. CNN in its heyday didn't have all political pundits and they certainly wouldn't tolerate that moron, Burnett. It was made of people with REAL credibility and a serious commitment to journalism. Now CNN is just trying to hire sparkly personalities to sell dumb news. Ratings are the proof. Maybe some ideas here are unrealistic but do you really think CNN should keep following its current path? What, are they gonna replace Burnett with a 20-something Miss America contestant who will just read the teleprompter in a bathing suit because that seems like CNN's current progression!?!?!?
Morning Joe uses music from beginning to end
ReplyDeleteand it is a very smart show. I have no idea who
any of those people are but I do know that CNN
has to modernize. Especially with the mobile
revolution. You don't have to just sit in front of
the TV anymore. That is why you have DVR & all
of those mobile devices. Usually when people
are on the web reading news, the ITunes is on
too. Chris Hayes & Alex Wagner play hip hop
and they have smart shows. It is all about content
and smart conversation.
Isha Sesay, Betty Nguyen and Ashleigh Banfield
are not 20 something beauty queens. By the way
how old do you thing Luke Russert is. It is about
skills.A group of ethnically diverse female
journalists can handle the news. The music is
used to enhance the program it is not for
entertainment. 20 years ago there was no
Netflix, Hulu or Smart TV's , Ipads or DVR's.
I am a news junkie. Did it ever occur to you
that broadcast news is my major.
@1.19pm I agree with what you say, perhaps I wasn't clear enough in my earlier post. I mentioned some of the most credible people from CNN's past to illustrate what the network represented for me in its heyday and what I think it should represent in the future. It should come back to its roots and begin reporting the news again. And when I say news, I don't mean political news, let alone beltway political talk.
ReplyDeleteOf course, I don't consider all of the comments here crazy, but some of the ideas that are repeated the most don't have much to do with what CNN should stand for IMO. I.e. if CNN is an impartial news network, Rachel Maddow can't have her own show in its primetime (yes, I like Rachel too, but she's not a journalist, she's an opinion person, the only way for her to appear on CNN is as an analyst/commentator/contributor); if CNN is an impartial news network Current TV can't be the model it should look at; if CNN is a serious news organization with reporters around the US and the entire world, then it should report and analyze various news from various angles, not just talk about it; The Talk and The View are not news shows, even when they touch various topics in the news and suggestions CNN should have shows like that are simply bizarre.
That's what I was mostly referring to and I pretty much agree with what you write about CNN taking the wrong path.
"360 is the least of their worries right now."
ReplyDeleteOh really.
The proof is that Anderson is being sent to Syria, so yes, 360 is in decline all by its little lonesome.
Anderson may well be the last man standing on CNN, but its no accomplishment to be the last.
ReplyDeleteIt's like an entire block in real estate is wiped out due to foreclosures, but you're still solvent in a neighborhood that's going downhill.
Hello.
Actually, news trailers and music go way back.
ReplyDeleteYou used to have to go to the movies to get the
news. The news reels were Hollywood productions.
Music, announcers, the works. This would be
nothing new.