Ken Jautz’s memo to CNN staff:
TO: CNN Colleagues
FROM: Ken Jautz
DATE: June 13, 2012
I wanted to inform you of a change we are making to bolster our political coverage heading into the critical stretch of the 2012 campaign. Beginning next month, John King will shift roles and become our lead national campaign correspondent. As a result, Situation Room will air from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., and John will be providing reports for SitRoom, AC360 and other programs and CNN platforms. This is John’s seventh presidential campaign, fourth with CNN, and making him available across our programming lineup allows us to better tap his skills and experience, especially on the ground reporting in major battleground states and among critical voting blocs.
Additionally, we are expanding our news coverage in Washington. With landmark decisions on the horizon, I’m very pleased to announce that Joe Johns will be taking on a new role as the CNN Crime and Justice Correspondent, covering the Supreme Court and the criminal justice system. Joe, who holds a law degree, has received national recognition for his crime and law enforcement reporting in DC. We are also expanding our coverage of national security and we will be adding a new correspondent to the Washington Bureau. Senior Producer Suzanne Kelly will become CNN’s Intelligence Correspondent covering national security and the intelligence community. Suzanne is an acclaimed author who published a detailed account of Blackwater’s role in the Iraq War.
These changes will help us provide groundbreaking reporting and more depth of coverage of the important issues facing our viewers. As always, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.
Ken
Source: TVNewser
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Jautz Informs CNN Staff of Changes
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31 comments:
Not surprised at all. Now what will CNN do about
Starting Point, Out Front & PMT ? Unfortunately, it
will do little to help CNN. but I guess the point is
to buy time until 2013.
Whoa, this is a big deal. We all knew John King USA was on a death march but I didn't think they would yank the show before the election. I am a little impressed that CNN has started to make changes. I agree, Anon 1:14, what does this mean for Starting Point, OutFront, and PMT? My prediction - all three stay where they are at. They will tweek Starting Point but they are going to see what happens with Berman. I bet CNN will now see how well OutFront fairs in the ratings now that she is sandwiched between Blitzer and Cooper - frankly a color test pattern could hold that audience. As for Piers, he can get decent ratings every now and again depending on the guest so I think CNN holds on for now. Perhaps they want to run out the clock on his contract or see how the whole phone-hacking scandal goes before cutting him loose. The big question is what about AC360? Cooper has had his own ratings problems and if he can't hold "news star" ratings, what will they do? Will he stick with CNN now that he has branched out in so many places? King's cancellation is just a first step.
CNN does realize that Erin Burnett will drop off
from the Sit Room. She won't grow on his numbers.
Why is CNN so tied to Washington. That is why they
are struggling. You have to search for news all over
the world. It sounds like more pundit BS. CNN just
does not get it. If CNN can't see that viewers are so
over the 24/7 political channel, they are in trouble.
CNN is truly clueless. Inside the Beltway mentality
won't save CNN. Nothing new here. Just doing the
old stuff. Fresh out of ideas.
Change is finally coming! I've always said it would be better for John King to revert back to a political correspondent. According to his twitter, he replies to someone saying the show is ending on June 29th, sooner than planned. I'm guessing the original plan was to have his show on until after the Election. This was a great move by CNN. A 3rd hour with Wolf is much better. I do wish though CNN would move Erin Burnett to 11PM considering she does do better at that time slot and move the 3 hour Situation Room block to 5PM-8PM as a lead in for Anderson Cooper. It would be best.
The best change CNN could have is the removal of Ken Jautz. When will THAT happen?
@1:14PM,
I think that Starting Point will for sure be cancelled, extending Early Start to 4 hours (maybe with a different title) once John Berman joins the morning team in a few weeks. I think John Berman and Ashleigh Banfield would make a great morning news show team. Zoraida Sambolin should be let go by CNN.
I think OutFront will move to 11PM considering CNN has mentioned in the past that they want to develop a LIVE show at 11PM. Erin Burnett's ratings are higher at that hour too. It does not seem like they will let her go. On a side note, I have been seeing Erin Burnett appear throughout the day a lot on other programs lately, so maybe they will end her show and have her as a correspondent, just like what they are doing with John King. Just my guess.
As for Piers Morgan, he needs to go. The only Brit I'm interested in seeing in primetime is Isha Sesay. If they do keep him, which is likely, then they should move him to a midnight time slot, or just move him to CNN International to host his talk show, or just to weekends. He isn't great at LIVE broadcastings news, especially if it's breaking.
These are two good moves.
John King is very talented and knows raw politics like the back of his hand.
He never should have been made an anchor. Contributing politically, is using John's best skill and he alone knows more about the "magic wall" than anyone.
And Wolf was given his hour back, that never should have been taken away.
As for the morning shows, Erin, and Moron, they must all go and the sooner the better, saving Soledad for documentary work and correspondence.
And while were at it, "pretty boy" as David Letterman calls him, should go back to 10PM. It is there that he gets his higher totals. His talent, does not warrant two hours.
Who will fill the 8PM slot....Lord only knows but Cooper is not the answer. He's proven that.
I just read an article called "Dumb and Dumber" written by Massing for the Columbia Journalism Review. It is linked on Mediaite right now. Great article discussing CNN's problems. Massing got it exactly right. Hopefully, the cancellation of JohnKingUSA is a good start. But more importantly, CNN needs to recognize that they have a CONTENT problem - new personalities won't fix their ratings if they don't fundamentally change their approach to news. I want to see CNN succeed and more importantly, I want a straight news channel that provides compelling, useful, relevant news. I enjoy some shows on MSNBC but I also know what I am getting - progressive talk about world events. It is not the same as straight news offered by NPR or CBS News. CNN can be that source of trusted information again. But you can only have your trust broken so many times before you realize they are no longer the organization they once where. Here's a crazy idea - fire Kent, Walton, and Jautz then hire Fareed Zakaria as a news executive and have him create a new team. He has run a magazine - why not CNN? He is the only one with any semblance of vision.
You guys must visit the Columbia Journalism
Review ( CJR). The have a fantastic article on
CNN called Dumb And Dumber. He focused on
CNN from 4- 11 PM. He watched CNN after an
long break and says it is worst than before.
It is the most accurate and honest article on CNN
to date. It gets into how CNN only uses pundits as
guests. Has very little news. The article had the
strongest things to say about Piers Morgan and
Erin Burnett. However, Anderson Cooper and Wolf
Blitzer were also mentioned. His criticisms were
thought out and true. He is right CNN can't be
like FNC or MSNBC. CNN is forgetting it is suppose
to be a news channel. If anyone watched CNN they
would know exactly what the CJR is talking about.
He was point on about management as well.
He is right about CNN and the management
needs to read it and take notes. CNN has no
news it is all about pundits and nothing else.
Viewers come to CNN for news not pundits.
No reporting or fundamentals of journalism.
CNN needs to return TSR is it's original intent. Old
and new media. Right now the show is way too
boring for 3 hours let alone 2. Bring back the 2
internet reporters and use digital jornos. There's
technology now that basically permits your to
broadcast and report with live units that fit into
a backpack. You can broadcast and talk live and
see in all play out The technology is called Live Vu.
It only takes one person to operate the unit.
There may not be an answer for 8 pm, I'd prefer Anderson to stay there and at 10 if the numbers with others aren't going to be any better. John King/Erin Burnett are so right wing focused, I don't care about how "talented" they are if they are biased and they have proven that they are. Anderson has improved somewhat lately when it comes to being a bit more fair to the liberal viewpoint. CNN needs to clean up its act and that starts from the top. Perhaps I missed it, but CNN didn't seem to be airing the president's speech on the economy BUT they showed Romney's big nothing of a speech. How is that not biased reporting on CNN's part?
I think Fareed Zakaria should be put in the 7:00 time slot. He is constantly getting praised.
By the way, who cares what David Letterman calls Anderson, David Letterman is not a "class" act in my opinion.
AC360/CNN disrespects the president and plays up Romney, even the show promo tweets come off as though Obama is always the culprit and Romney the big problem solver and winner, CNN's bias is clear but it's sure not helping their ratings.
Anon 11:12am,
I read that article too. Manning really nailed it. He was tough but it was the kind of true, thoughtful criticism that needs to be said. I'm tired of people saying CNN is too far left or too far right. At times they are both and at times neither. But if your criticism of CNN is partisan, than you're missing the point of why ratings for CNN are so bad. Its because quality is decling. Like he said, it slavishly follows the national agenda and it is unimaginitive. Piers is insufferable, Erin is not remotely close to ready for primetime and not sure she will ever be, and Anderson has completely lost his mojo.
@5:30PM: Anderson is biased as well.
He's always after Obama and loves to speak to McCain and it is quite apparent that he never supported Obama in the first place.
He never challenges Ari Fleischer and loves having him on his program so calling John King "right wing," hello, please recognize it on 360!
It is clear from the CJR article that Ken Jautz must
go, who do you think made things go from dumb
to dumber at CNN. There is no way for Out Front,
PMT & Starting Point to continue on CNN. Those
shows are dong too much damage to the image
of CNN. It was a gigantic mistake to bring him
over from HLN. Nancy Grace and Dr Drew are on
in prime time on HLN. Can you say waring signs.
Finally, someone actually watched CNN. I really
feel sorry for the man for having to sit through
7 hours of CNN. Pure torture. Finally, someone
has called CNN out. PMT & Out Front are pure
disasters and have no business on CNN. In fact,
how did both shows make it to prime time. He's
right . Viewers are rebuking CNN management.
360 has an executive producer & staff. Team
360 has to step up produce better content.
CNN became pundit TV thus dumbing down
the entire network. CNN gave the pundits a
morning show, games and complete control
over the discussions on CNN. Of course if you
do that, you make your network dumber. CNN
became Pundit TV and kicked journalists to the
curb. It was dumb & dumber to replace the
journalists with pundits. We have been saying
for months that the pundits need to go. Where
does CNN find these people ?
CNN is so lazy. You are right about CNN not
carrying President Obama. MSNBC already has
a promo calling CNN out.. CNN has to get rid
of Ken Jaurz and all of the pundits. Nobody
wants to watch pundits on CNN and that is
why the network is crumbling.
Fareed Zakaria should be given an hour in primetime. He is amazing.
The political tweets sent out from 360 are biased.
360 tries to make an accusation true and factual.
If you pose it as a question, you are trying to
give it some legitimacy. Words that comes out
of the talking heads mouths are not news. Right
now CNN thinks James Carville is news. No way.
I think that might also make viewers decide to skip
the show. Dude is so right about Ari Fleischer and
Paul Begula and any pundit combo that you will see
on CNN. Bringing in Breitbart, Beck and tea partiers
was another dumb move by CNN. Viewers are not
as dumb as CNN management. We know you don't
have folks like this talking about complex issues.
George Stroumboulopoulos would make a good
replacement at 9 PM for CNN. It is a live news show,
sort of like the Daily Show and is creative. CNN tries
to turn what they see on ideological media into
news. It is not news. CNN should know better.
He is also right about CNN over-hyping so called
gaffes and going on for an eternity about nothing.
Just another lame excuse to use talking heads.
CNN should never look this bad with all of the
resources the network has available. We all know
that Out Front, PMT and Starting Point, games
with pundits, loaded biased political questions,
lies and manufactured news destroyed CNN
but does the management know this. Remember
he says he watched CNN after an hiatus. CNN
made viewers turn the channel. I don't see how
he could stomach 7 hours of CNN. It's hard to
watch CNN for 15 minutes.
With the perception being out there that CNN is
making a hard turn to the right, why would CNN
extend TSR to 3 hours ? CNN's political shows are
all down. CJR is a very serious publication. So let's
hope Michael Massing gets their attention. I fear
the question he posed at the top of the article. How
far will CNN sink ? I take it to mean a reference to
journalistic standards. CNN always follows the noise
and not the news. Massing makes some great points.
CNN has a large news staff that should be digging
and finding news. Quit following the chattering
class.
So does anyone know why CNN decided to go
so heavy with pundits. Whomever made that
dumb decision should be fired. it was a costly
move that badly damaged CNN. Right now, Jon
Stewart is the only 1 good at political analysis.
He was so right about how the Senate Banking
Committee treated Jamie Dimon. Same goes for
the dummy who hired Piers Morgan and Erin
Burnett. When you make bad decisions like this,
you should be out of a job at CNN. Obviously,
this shows you have poor decision-making skills,
not competent to run a news channel.
@anon 10:49, you are right that Anderson tends to favor big Obama critics like McCain and Fouad Adjami and he seems to think their word is gospel and needs no challenge and 360's overall tone (including the AC360 tweets) is generally Obama negative, but I left AC out because I've seen some slight improvement in how he approaches conservatives and some of their statements about the president, he has been challenging them a little more, like last night with Romney's communications director and Kevin Madden the other night. It would be nice if he didn't allow Ari Fleischer to dominate the panel discussions and lie non-stop, but hopefully he's starting to get the message about showing too much right wing favoritism - whoever writes the promo tweets for AC360 twitter page needs to get the message as well.
It is ironic that no one in CNN management is
losing their job. Management did make programming
decisions. Jim Walton famously made the being able
to hold an hour comment a while back. How come he
gave Erin Burnett a free pass. How did she end up
with an hourlong show on CNN at 7 PM ? It is clear
from watching Out Front that she is not qualified
to handle an hourlong show.Massing is the latest to
report that Piers Morgan is doing worst than Larry.
Time Magazine's editor should replace Ken Jautz.
Just this week Time has the cover that everyone is
talking about. Dreamers. Today President Obama
announces a policy change. Can't CNN turn Time
Magazine into a video version of their NightLine.
The content of Time Magazine is awesome.
It's just impossible for CNN to improve as long as you have the very people that caused the problem still in charge.
Jim Walton and Ken Jautz have to go. The decisions they have made have made CNN a laughing stock.
Too bad the viewers aren't laughing.
The media does not seem to know that there is
a big difference between bloggers and journalists.
The idiot who interrupted President Obama is no
reporter. He works for the Daily Caller. Just this
week there was a study out showing how little
people trust bloggers and websites like Daily
Caller. It is time for CNN to remove people like
this from their payroll.
Well, Anderson just had on TWO Republicans and ONE Democrat to discuss President Obama's immigration decision and someone on Twitter called him out on that, saying that it's unfair and that CNN is turning into Fox. Anderson's only response to the tweeter was "seriously?" How can he NOT see that the panel was unfairly stacked in the Republicans favor. Why couldn't they ask a Latina Democrat pundit (Maria Cardoza, I believe) for HER opinion on the president's decision? And why is CNN bringing in so many conservative contributors? Where are the NEW Democratic contributors? I know some don't like to hear criticism about CNN being biased and it having a conservative slant, but it's hard to ignore them NOT showing the President's speech in its entirety the other day but showing Romney's and the unfair stacking of the deck on 360's panel discussions and the hiring of so many conservatives and few Democrats. Others are noticing that something is just not right.
Ok, ok, ok, I've got the ratings smash hit solution for CNN. Take Anderson Cooper and have him play this well-intentioned but somewhat clueless journalist bouncing from topic to topic and town to town across the globe. And then have as his trusty assistant Piers Morgan to keep Anderson in line and on track as he chases down news stories around the world. Piers would be dudded up in coattails, pick Anderson's clothes for the day, always carry Anderson's bags, and always have the solution to whatever trouble Anderson has gotten the duo in this time. And, of course, whenever a question is phoned in by a viewer that clearly stymies Anderson, Piers, his ever trusty and knowledgeable assistant is at the ready with an answer, which Anderson then repositions to the viewer and takes credit for when thanked. Then there could be a 10-minute segment toward the end of the program called "Ask Piers" where viewers call in and try to stump Piers with questions in "The Daily Category!" (20th century literature, etc.). Meanwhile, Anderson is standing on his head and must do so until Piers is stumped by a caller question (defined by 2 minutes of on-air ruminations).
Now that, my folks, would produce ratings night-in and night out. As a matter of fact, it would crush the O'Reilly Factor. I guarantee.
10:45PM. I know you think that your well intentioned summation is cute, but it goes on the assumption that we all are still yearning to see Anderson.
I for one, am through with him.
Don't want to see him, hear from him, nor do I want to see him globe hopping.
I'm done, like the rest of the population and yes, he is "clueless."
Yeah right, 7:52 is "done" with Anderson, except for repeating over and over how "done" she is with him here. When will she be "done" with THAT? As far as how "the rest of the population" feels about Anderson, some of us are NOT "done" with him, so speak for yourself please. I guess my comment won't be posted, but I do wonder what value is there in posting the same complaints about Anderson by someone who is clearly obsessed with him and his career no matter how numerous their proclamations of being through with him are. It's one thing to offer constructive criticism, but quite another to keep grinding that ax 24/7.
OK, anon 5:07 you say the other poster keeps saying that she is done with Anderson, in your obnoxious tone, yet you are just as guilty because you come right after her and rant about their rant. It's a vicious circle.
It is difficult to understand why CNN would place a group of people into a secluded room to write " ANONYMOUS COMMENTS " for publication. The comments are identical in subject matter and totally obnoxious, to say the least. So CNN wants people to believe that CNN is anti-democrat, anti-obama ? Oh yes very humorous. By the way why do your Comment contributors not wish to have their names known, some what bashful perhaps. Or, perhaps known as CNN employees ?
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