Special Programming Note

Special Programming Note, tonight at 8PM Eastern:

CNN: Special Investigations Unit – Death Grip: Inside Pro Wrestling

It’s been an open secret that anabolic steroids and painkillers are a part of professional wrestling, but the murder-suicide of WWE wrestler Chris Benoit’s family focused a new spotlight on the consequences of the excesses. In an in-depth look into the world of the WWE, CNN investigative correspondent Drew Griffin reveals that over the last decade, wrestlers have died from heart attacks, drug overdoses, suicides and cerebral hemorrhages – at rates much higher than for the general population. Including an interview with Vince McMahon, the chairman of the WWE, Griffin reports on what the life of professional wrestlers is like inside and outside of the ring – and how some wrestlers gamble with their health to win a chance at stardom in the profession.

Help The Hungry

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution recently ran a story about Betty Nguyen and the work that she has done through Help The Hungry, a charity that she and her family establish. Below are a few excerpts from the article:

Betty Nguyen, CNN anchor, searched the faces she saw during her first return to the land of her birth, Vietnam.

It was 1998. She had not been back since 1975, when her parents fled the Communist takeover with her in their arms.

The tough realities of her native soil moved from story to reality.

"It's different when you see it with your own eyes," she said.

"I would look at the faces, would look at the people about my age, and I would think, 'Wow, that could be me.' Except for the grace of God that I was able to come to this country," Betty Nguyen said.

From those sights, those thoughts, a plan of action grew.

When they returned home to the United States — she was living in Texas at the time where she worked on local TV — she and Kim started their own nonprofit organization, Help the Hungry

They got donations of goods and money from family, friends and contacts.

But Betty takes the donations each year and travels back to buy five or six tons of food, medicines and clothes on the local market, which is cheaper than buying here and shipping it over.

Then, with the help of the International Red Cross, she travels, usually to areas flooded during the monsoon, and gives the supplies to those in need.

It is a yearly trip born of a sense of thankfulness.

"I got a good look at how poor and how destitute they are, and how truly blessed I really am. And because I am blessed, I have to take responsibility for that," Nguyen said.

For more information visit: www.help-the-hungry.org

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In a Press Release today, CNN announced their plans for next Tuesday's debate. Below are a few excerpts:

As Democratic presidential candidates ratchet up the intensity of their campaigns, CNN and the Nevada Democratic Party will gather the leading hopefuls for a face-off in Las Vegas on Thursday, Nov. 15, at 8 p.m. (ET)/5 p.m. (PT). The Democratic National Committee-sanctioned debate, moderated by CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer, will be held at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

For the first hour, candidates will address questions from Blitzer and CNN anchors John Roberts and Campbell Brown, in her debut assignment for CNN. In the second and final hour, candidates will respond to questions from an audience made up of more than 100 undecided registered voters. White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux will facilitate audience participation.

Wednesday, Nov. 14

4 p.m.-7 p.m.	The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer live on location in Las Vegas
7 p.m.-8 p.m.	Lou Dobbs Tonight with anchor Lou Dobbs live on location in Las Vegas

Thursday, Nov. 15

6 a.m.-9 a.m.	American Morning with John Roberts live on location in Las Vegas
4 p.m.-7 p.m.	The Situation Room with Blitzer live on location in Las Vegas
7 p.m.-8 p.m.	Lou Dobbs Tonight with Dobbs live on location in Las Vegas
8 p.m.-10 p.m.	CNN/Nevada Democratic Party Presidential Primary Debate
10 p.m.-11 p.m.	Special Anderson Cooper 360º post-debate program anchored by Anderson Cooper and featuring Blitzer, Roberts and Campbell Brown live on location in Las Vegas
11p.m.-1 a.m.	Replay of CNN/Nevada Democratic Party Presidential Primary Debate

Friday, Nov. 16

6 a.m.-9 a.m.

American Morning with Roberts live on location in Las Vegas

Babies On Board!

(photo courtesy of CNN.com)
According to the Associated Press, Nancy Grace gave birth to twin babies on Sunday. Apparently Ms. Grace was suffering from pulmonary edema and her physician felt it best for her to deliver two months early.

Baby boy John David and baby girl Lucy Elizabeth and their mommy are all resting comfortably and Ms. Grace is expected to return to her show as soon as possible.

ATC would like to send our best wishes to Nancy and her husband David Linch!

Barbara Levin Joins CNN PR
TVNewser has posted that Barbara Levin is leaving her post at NBC to join CNN Public Relations. Levin who has been with NBC for 10 years is joining CNN in a newly created senior position... Click here for the full story.

Catch The Bus

Tom Foreman, September 25, 2007

Candy Crowley, September 26, 2007

John King, October 2, 2007

Mary Snow, October 17, 2007

John King, October 18, 2007

Bill Schneider, November 2, 2007

Sometimes being a part of the Best Political Team on television means that you have to ride the bus... the CNN Election Express bus, of course.

We've seen the Election Express travel to various parts of the country to cover the 2008 Presidential Primary candidates campaigns: New Hampshire, New York, South Carolina, Iowa, Illinois, etc.

Many of the candidates have even taken a ride on the Election Express or at least stepped on board for an interview.

On Friday's The Situation Room, Wolf Blitzer announced that the Election Express was heading to Denver, Colorado and then would be making it's way to Las Vegas, Nevada in time for the November 15th Democrat debate that Blitzer will be moderating.

From there, the Election Express will go to St. Petersburg, Florida for the November 28th Republican YouTube Debate.

If you catch up with the Election Express bus along it's travels, we'd love to hear about it. Drop us an email at: allthingscnn@hotmail.com

Reminder: Starting Monday, November 5th

The Situation Room will be on from 4pm - 7pm ET
Lou Dobbs will air from 7pm - 8pm ET

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Mystery Journalist

This week's Mystery Journalist was Fredricka Whitfield.

Bias?

Probably writing a post about Bias on a blog called "All Things CNN" might, in itself, be perceived as bias but there was a story that I saw on Inside Cable News that I felt I wanted to address.

Last Wednesday they posted a story about the FOX program Hannity and Colmes. The show decided to ask certain students at the University of Alabama to view the AC360 documentary "Planet in Peril" and give their opinions in a forum. On Friday, Oct 26 Hannity and Colmes interviewed the forum's moderator, Dr. John Christy, and asked him about the opinions of the students. His statements lead viewers to believe that many of the students saw problems and disparities in the documentary. The clips that were shown on H&C were critical of "Planet in Peril" and they did not show the other opinions.

In an email to Inside Cable News one student that attended, Christopher Hain, had a different view of what happened then what was presented on FOX. From ICN: "He wrote that several of the students there felt that what aired on Hannity & Colmes was not an accurate portrail of either the forum or some of the views represented on it." To read more of his email and some other student's emails that shared his opinions go to ICN.

My first thought when reading this was why in the heck would Hannity and Colmes care so much about what CNN does? We all know that FOX has the best ratings in news and it seems to me that what they attempted to do was to take a huge swipe at a highly regarded CNN effort. It seems not only petty but more than a little bias to attack CNN over a program that they, in fact, haven't even attempted to do themselves and probably won't. As a person that watches CNN a lot, especially 360 I can say that they don't take the time to talk about what FOX is doing, as it should be.

No matter what the critics or viewers thought of "Planet in Peril" it was obvious to me that the scope of the project was far greater than anything done by FOX or MSNBC. The effort and time that was put into the documentary was commendable as well as the effort to showcase a subject that is one of the most important of our time. It's easy to sit back in your studio at FOX and never go anywhere to witness what is happening in the "real" world.... to see, in person, the effects of these environmental issues that CNN investigated.

To me, even talking about it was petty and highly unnecessary to begin with, but then to go on the air and only show one side of it, to spin the results to make you look better is really pretty lame! (For lack of a better word). It's hard for me to have any kind of respect for people that sit on their butts and bad mouth something that they wouldn't even have the guts to talk about themselves or better yet, go see for themselves. Why waste time on your supposed "news" program to talk about something that is obviously not news but spin? Isn't it Bill O'Reilly (on FOX) who says "It's a no SPIN zone"? If I could give the boys at H&C some advice I'd say to follow your colleague's tag line and then get off your butt and see what's really happening in the world. Maybe Anderson Cooper could give them advice on that but I doubt he has time while he's in Africa doing a story about something that really matters!

Where In The World Is CNN Going Now?

Next week is going to bring many changes to CNN. Did you know that they were opening a new news bureau? Where is the world does CNN not have a news presence?

Media Week had an article this week that talked about CNN's newest outpost. Below are a few excerpts:

In the week of Nov. 5, the news giant is set to open a news- gathering outpost in Second Life. And unlike news service Reuters, which embedded a real reporter in the online virtual world last year, CNN will rely on Second Life "residents" to do all the legwork.

In the space, the network will create a variation of its i-Reports, the real-world vehicle through which average citizens contribute eyewitness reports. CNN will equip Second Life denizens with kits enabling them to transmit copy and photos. Visitors to Second Life will be able to get the latest news via kiosks scattered throughout the virtual community.

And the network will act as a sort of journalism school, offering guidance to avatar citizen journalists via weekly "news meetings" directed by CNN.com staffers. And top CNN personalities including Larry King will conduct virtual training sessions for budding cyber journalists.

Given that Second Life users tend to be highly passionate about the virtual space, CNN execs believe the community will embrace user-generated journalism—more than they would embrace simply repurposed content.

"We looked at what are people doing [in Second Life] that is meaningful to what we do," said Susan Grant, executive vp of CNN News Services. "I love that we don't have to take things from the real world and force them in."

Not familiar with Second Life? CNN's Kristie Lu Stout reported on the virtual world earlier this year. Below is clip from that report:

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Today, MyUrbanReport posted a recent interview that he did with CNN's Krya Phillips. She talks about her recent documentary work as well as her very first interview.

Click To Play

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Mystery Journalist

Can you name this CNN journalist?

Let us know who you think it is and we'll reveal this journalist's identity in Sunday's post.

News From Headline News

Headline News' Robin & Company to become Morning Express with Robin Meade

Monday, November 5th, Headline News' morning program Robin & Company will become Morning Express with Robin Meade. Noted as "Your News in the Fast Lane", Morning Express will be promoted as the fastest morning news show on television. Morning Express airs Monday to Friday 6AM – 10 AM ET.

October Ratings: Glenn Beck's Big Month

Headline News' Glenn Beck had its best month ever in October. Beck had 360,000 total viewers and 172,000 in A25-54. The radio talker moved to TV and Headline News 15 months ago. And he's about to get some new competition. On Monday, his CNN colleague Lou Dobbs moves to 7pm ET.

Larry King Participates in Ottawa Fundraiser

Since Larry King airs on Headline News in the morning, I thought I would share this article I found about Larry King in the Ottawa Citizen about Larry King’s appearance at a fundraiser put on by the Jewish National Fun of Ottawa.

“I was just a little kid in Brooklyn, New York, who just wanted to be a broadcaster. That’s all I wanted to be,” said Mr. King. Mr. King was a hit with the audience, telling funny story after funny story in his usual folksy manner. He recalled the time Marlon Brando planted a wet one on him during the first of his two interviews with the legendary actor.
“I’d never been kissed on the lips by a man in my life!” he said. “And I have to confess, I can’t stop thinking about it. Sometimes, I get up in the middle of the night yelling ‘Stella!’ And I don’t know anybody named Stella.” After speaking for about 45 minutes, Mr. King thanked his audience for “being so nice and for not giving me a plaque.” Mr. King’s philanthropic work includes the Larry King Cardiac Foundation and his donation of $1 million to George Washington University’s School of Media and Public Affairs for scholarships to students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Getting to Know Erica Hill

A few months ago our sister blog All Things Anderson had a Q & A with Erica Hill of Headline News’ Prime News with Erica Hill. Erica was so gracious to answer our reader’s questions. Today while I was checking out Erica show page on CNN.com, I can across a couple of videos of Erica answering some questions. Thanks to Quitty for getting the videos up.