Sanjay Gupta: Patient

Tonight, I have a few items from Tuesday’s American Morning.

CNN's chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, broken his hand while covering the fires in California. Today, John Roberts talked to him about the injury. Dr. Gupta broke his hand in two places. The x-ray shows a spiral fracture of his finger.

Doctors placed two pins in his hand to help the fracture heal properly. Dr. Gupta is currently receiving physical therapy and expects to be back in the operating room in about 4 – 6 weeks.

While in New York, Dr. Gupta will host the network’s “Fit Nation Solution Summit” on Wednesday, November 14, at the Time Warner Center in New York City. Together with special guest former President Bill Clinton, wellness experts, watchdog groups and community activists, the panel will discuss strategic ideas and initiatives to address the nation’s obesity health crisis. More information about the event is available from the CNN Press Release.

Veronica De La Cruz reported on CNN’s new Second Life (SL) news hub that recently opened. Ali Velshi and she were at the SL CNN hub this morning. Below is a clip from the report:

I’m not exactly sure how Ali Velshi ended up with no clothes in SL.

I ventured into SL earlier today and attended the 5 PM ET tutorial at the CNN SL hub. Below I’ve included a few screen caps of the event and a few excerpts from the press release.

CNN Worldwide today announced it has opened a hub within Second Life, a three-dimensional virtual world entirely created by its residents. The network will look to those most familiar with the virtual world – the Second Life residents themselves – to determine what constitutes news “in-world.”

Just as CNN asks its real-life audience to submit iReports – user-generated content submitted from cell phones, computers, cameras and other equipment for broadcast and online reports – the network invites the residents of Second Life to share their own “SL iReports” about events occurring within the virtual world.

“The thing we most hope to gain by having a CNN presence in Second Life is to learn about virtual worlds and understand what news is most interesting and valuable to their residents,” said Susan Grant, executive vice president of CNN News Services. “Our iReport initiative has generated a great response from CNN viewers and users who contribute a wide variety of news, events and perspectives every day; and we are genuinely excited about the opportunity to forge a similar relationship with Second Life residents, albeit recognizing the need to customize the process for the virtual world.”

When Second Life residents observe an in-world event, they can take snapshots, shoot video, or write a report about the event and submit to CNN with a click. Submissions selected by CNN iReport producers will go back into Second Life as SL iReports for residents to view throughout the virtual world. SL iReports may also be viewed and discussed in the real world at CNN.com’s SL iReport Blog at www.CNN.com/secondlife, where users are invited to share comments and subscribe to daily e-mail updates sent via Real Simple Syndication (RSS).

CNN’s in-world hub includes a news desk where weekly editorial discussions will be held and an amphitheater for in-world events, such as training sessions and appearances by CNN anchors and correspondents. During the weekly editorial discussions, held each Tuesday at 5 p.m. (ET), one of CNN’s SL iReport ambassadors, CNN producers and editors with experience in virtual worlds, will moderate a conversation with residents about the prior week’s SL iReports and upcoming in-world events that might be interesting to cover.

At the network’s hub, residents also can meet SL iReport ambassadors and other resident reporters, as well as access iReport kiosks, free-standing terminals where residents can pick up free gear and tools for gathering and viewing in-world user-generated content.

Kiosks offer a variety of free gear and tools including:

• A “HUD” or “heads-up display,” a small, collapsible window that resides on the user’s computer screen enabling them to view the latest photo and text SL iReports while they are in Second Life;
• A continuous stream of the latest video SL iReports;
• An instructional video on what an SL iReport is and how to submit one;
• Avatar-ready apparel, including hats, T -shirts and press badges; and
• A duplicate copy of the kiosk itself, which residents can place wherever they choose across Second Life.

American Morning, Lou Dobbs and a new SIU

Part 1 of Kiran Chetry's interview with Cathy McMorris Rodgers aired on Monday's American Morning. Representative Rodgers is the proud mother of a beautiful son, Cody, who is 8 months old. She is the first sitting member of Congress to give birth in over a decade. That in itself is special, but the rest of her story is truly touching. You see Cody was born with Down's Syndrome. When Rep. Rodgers and her husband were given the news that their unborn child might be affected their decision really wasn't difficult. Here's the video from Monday's interview. Make sure to tune in to American Morning on Tuesday for part 2.

Monday's Lou Dobbs program aired live from Phoenix, Arizona. Dobbs talked immigration with Sheriff Joe Arpaio as protesters, in disagreement with Dobbs' views, circled outside the venue. Dobbs also was in Phoenix to promote his new book ' Independents Day'. There is a new SIU airing this weekend on Saturday and Sunday evening. It's titled 'Waging War on the VA' and features Dr. Sanjay Gupta reporting. Looks like must see TV to me.

Globalization Backlash

On Tuesday, Christine Romans gave a lecture at Iowa State University entitled, Globalization Backlash: How Politics, Culture and Sovereignty Complicate Real Globalization. The lecture was part of ISU's Technology, Globalization, and Culture Series and part of the Iowa State 150th Anniversary Alumni Lecture Series. Below is a video clip of the lecture:

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Mystery Journalist

This week's Mystery Journalist was David Mattingly.

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Monday is a holiday in many countries across the globe. Whether you're celebrating Veterans Day, Poppy Day, Armistice Day or Remembrance Day, the day is a way to honor the men and women who have served their countries. November 11th is the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I. (Major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 with the German signing of the Armistice.) (source: wikipedia). To all of those who have served and sacrificed for their country. Thank you!

Lawsuit and What's Coming Up...

According to TVNewser, former CNN correspondent Marina Kolbe who filed a discrimination lawsuit against CNN case has gone to trail.

"Marina Kolbe says the network did not renew her contract in 2003 because she was 42 and white — and that CNN was instead interested in hiring young, minority on-air staff.

According to the Fulton County (GA) Daily Report, "internal CNN memos introduced (at the trial) suggest that, beginning in 1999, in some cases a job candidate's race and ethnicity were key factors in hiring on-air talent. One memo also revealed a push by CNN to hire 'younger, more attractive anchors' to draw younger audiences..."

CNN spokesperson Christa Robinson tells TVNewser, "CNN did not discriminate against Marina Kolbe in any way. CNN made a competitive talent decision that had nothing to do with the race or age of Ms. Kolbe. In addition, we do not agree with the characterizations of the documents presented in the article."

CNN does have a lot of minorities that work for them but I think that shows they are not bias in who they hire. We'll keep you updated on the develops.

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Coming up on Larry King this week...

*Monday he'll have Judge Judy answering viewer's questions.

*Tuesday, Actress, Hunter Tylo joins Larry to discuss her son's tragic death.

*Wednesday, Larry will have Donnie and Marie Osmond on to talk about "Dancing with the Stars" and the death of their father.

*Thursday, James Van Praagh and John Edward join Larry to discuss how they communicate with the dead.

Upcoming Guests:
Joy Behar
Joan Rivers
Sharon Stone
Mario Lopez
Kenneth Cole
Josh Grobin

To email a question for a future question go HERE.

Have a great week everyone!

Morning Papers & New On Capital Hill

Yesterday, The Hill ran an article on CNN's Jessica Yellin. Below are a few excerpts from the article:

Her morning routine involves the coffee as well as what she calls “a manic combination” of reading the paper, scanning what’s online and “doing random yoga stretches.”

But Yellin hardly seems cranky. Instead, she marvels at all there is to cover on Capitol Hill, and looks up to broadcast journalists like ABC’s George Stephanopoulos, CNN veteran Wolf Blitzer and Campbell Brown, who recently joined the network.

“It’s the opposite of the White House,” she says. “There’s so much access and so much information. It’s challenging to stop and say, ‘This is where I have to break and start getting my story.’ ”

Earlier in life, Yellin thought she wanted to be a politician. Growing up in Los Angeles, she watched her father involve himself in city issues, renovating urban buildings in blighted areas and enlisting in the Marines in Vietnam.

Later, after studying modern American history at Harvard, she pursued some other career choices but discovered she was better suited to watching the politician instead of being the politician.

“It was disillusioning to me that I didn’t want to be in the position to make compromises,” she says. “[There] is a real civic contribution you can make as a reporter if you ask the questions that need to be asked.”

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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.

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Happy Birthday to former CNN anchor Aaron Brown who will be celebrating his birthday on Saturday, November 10th.

Of course, I can't resist the opportunity to pull out a video clip from The Morning Papers.

CNN Heroes......Campbell Brown EP Announced

Over the past year on many of the CNN and Headline News shows we have seen stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things. These people are all heroes. Over the past year viewers have nominated people they consider to be heroes.
CNN Heroes culminates in a live global telecast December 6, hosted by CNN's Anderson Cooper with Christiane Amanpour. This event honors the most outstanding viewer-nominated CNN Heroes as chosen by a blue-ribbon panel of world leaders and luminaries. Our salute to ordinary people doing extraordinary things.

Voting in this category continues until Monday, November 12, 2007 (12 p.m. ET)The top vote-getter in each of the six CNN Hero categories will compete in an online vote starting Monday, November 12, with the winner honored at "CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute"!

Keep Voting!!!!!!

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Tonight Brian Williams, Tom Brokaw and Barbara Walters are teaming up tonight to honor a former co-worker. Joan Scarangello, who worked as a writer for NBC News and earlier for ABC News, died seven years ago this month. A lung cancer diagnosis came just nine months before Scarangello died. The 47-year-old never smoked.
Tonight's event at New York's Jazz at Lincoln Center will be a who's who of broadcasting: CNBC's Jonathan Wald, former ABC & NBC EP Ben Sherwood, CNN's David Doss and TV news medical correspondents Robert Bazell of NBC and Dr. Timothy Johnson of ABC.
In its five years, Joan's Legacy has funded $3.5 million in research grants for projects at the nation's top cancer centers

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CNN Names Mitch Semel as Producer for New Campbell Brown Program
Veteran Television and New Media Executive Signs On as Senior Executive Producer

Broadcast and media technology veteran Mitch Semel joins CNN as senior executive producer for CNN’s new prime time program anchored by Campbell Brown, it was announced today by CNN/U.S. president Jon Klein. Semel will be drawing upon more than 30-years of experience in broadcasting and new media as he leads the development and production of the new program which is slated to debut in early 2008 and will air weeknights at 8 p.m. (ET) on CNN.

Semel begins Monday, Nov. 12, and will be based at CNN’s New York bureau.
“Mitch’s breadth of experience and passion for news makes him the perfect choice for this position,” Klein said. “No matter the medium, he has always shown a knack for bringing edgy ideas into the mainstream and has helped nurture the kinds of thought-provoking, freewheeling and fun shows that are right up Campbell Brown’s alley.”

“I’m thrilled to be working with a journalist of Campbell ’s stature,” Semel said. “Her wide-ranging news experience and interviewing skills make her the ideal host to bring a fresh perspective on the day’s news to the 8 p.m. hour. I look forward to partnering with her to present a smart and engaging broadcast.”

Semel has worked in broadcast, cable, and public television, having overseen programming and produced prime-time and late-night shows for CBS, NBC, Nick@Nite, TVLand and Comedy Central. He served as the national head of programming for PBS and oversaw all news and public affairs programming in addition to all entertainment areas. He has been instrumental in the development of such groundbreaking shows as Politically Incorrect and Late Night with Conan O’Brien.

Semel’s expansive career spans from entertainment television to helping design and launch a 24/7 worldwide TV network and Web site for U.S. military personnel. He also created a broadband video portal for the popular Veggie Tales animated children’s series and devised strategy for cell carrier Virgin Mobile’s push into advanced mobile screen content. Semel graduated cum laude from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University.

Brown, who joined CNN in August, debuts on CNN next week as a panelist questioning presidential candidates in CNN’s Democratic debate in Las Vegas on Nov. 15. In addition, Brown will host the Broken Government special report “Campaign Killers” later this month. The documentary examines political mudslinging, the history of negative advertisements and the role of the Internet as a viral weapon in politics today.

Zakaria Joins CNN and Last Week's Ratings

Fareed Zakaria Joins CNN as Host of International News Program

Fareed Zakaria, editor of Newsweek International and one of the world’s leading journalists and commentators on international affairs, has joined CNN as the host of a weekly international news program that will air both on CNN/U.S. and on CNN International around the world, it was announced on Wednesday by Jon Klein, president of CNN/U.S.

In addition to anchoring the new weekend program, Zakaria will contribute analysis to other CNN programs across CNN Worldwide. He is based in New York.

“Fareed is the best in the world at boiling down – without dumbing down – complex issues,” Klein said. “His weekly global get-together on CNN will be invaluable to viewers who are beginning to realize that, for their own personal and financial security, they urgently need to know what’s really going on in their world.”

“CNN’s global reach is such a powerful tool for understanding a world that is growing ever more interconnected,” Zakaria said. “For one hour a week we’ll shrink the planet down to a digestible size and get to know the most important people and ideas from everywhere that are affecting our viewers’ lives.”

Zakaria will continue in his role as editor of Newsweek International, overseeing all of Newsweek’s editions abroad, as well as writing his regular column on foreign affairs in the magazine.

Zakaria has served as an analyst for ABC News, a roundtable member of This Week with George Stephanopoulos and host of Foreign Exchange with Fareed Zakaria on PBS. Before joining Newsweek, he was managing editor of Foreign Affairs, a leading journal of international politics and economics. Zakaria is the author of, most recently, The Future of Freedom, an international bestseller published in 2003 and now being translated into 20 languages. He has a new book forthcoming in May 2008. He's won numerous awards and been named to various lists, most recently the Prospect/Foreign Policy list of the world's 100 most important intellectuals. He serves on the board of Yale University, the Council of Foreign Relations and a number of other not-for-profit organizations.


Zakaria earned a bachelor’s degree from Yale University and a doctorate in political science from Harvard University.


NOW DON’T SHOOT THE MESSENGER….BY YOUR “FRIENDLY” RATINGS GURU

There is no point in comparing any of the cable news broadcasts in the 8-11PM time periods this past week to the California fire coverage the week prior, as that really boosted audience viewership on all of the channels. However, this past week, slipping in some events and specials before the November Ratings Sweep started (Thursday Nov. 1 – Wednesday Nov. 28) definitely had an impact as did ESPN’s Monday Night Football - Packers versus Broncos - along with a “Cooperless” 360 broadcast all week. AC was “Congo-ing” but not in the dance way…

November Sweeps you ask – yes, the television networks and many cable channels schedule their strongest programming this month to give advertisers a month average of their programming on which to base winter advertising buys. Don’t ask why, it would take two days of arcane explanations, particularly when the practice was invented well before being able to receive overnight ratings. Do the cable news channels pay attention to it – not as much as the broadcast networks – for example, the networks will try to produce their best work, have all their top correspondents on the air and under penalty of death, all anchors of the evening news broadcasts are present. Clearly that penalty doesn’t extend to cable anchors….

In cable, we had a presidential debate showcasing the democrats with Brian Williams and Tim Russert on MSNBC (it really helped COUNTDOWN prior to the debate – viewers tune-in, in anticipation of the program and it the special edition of HARDBALL immediately following at 11PM was a plus for Chris Matthews who normally airs early to much smaller ratings, outside of primetime); CNN rebroadcast GOD’S WARRIORS Jewish segment of the three part series from 9-11PM on Halloween (to receive lower than the time period average but not a bad audience delivery considering how many times it has been aired since August); and the cable news channel also aired THE NOOSE in a special time period of 8PM on Thursday, the start of the November sweeps posting a better than average time period audience (where OUT IN THE OPEN normally airs).

ALL AUDIENCE IS ADULTS 25-54^:

8PM:

FOX News: 523,000
CNN: 165,000*
MSNBC: 282,000

What can I say? Bill O’Reilly had his highest audience delivery in 10 years on Halloween. And no, the tea leaves are blank on that one….OUT IN THE OPEN’S best showing was also Halloween – see why I won’t say anything? And of course COUNTDOWN had a huge audience burst the night of the debate – Tuesday which really helped the program’s week average. THE NOOSE, the CNN special on Thursday boosted 8PM on CNN by 28% over the week’s average of “OPEN.” Billo, true to form, lost substantial audience on Friday -50% from the Thursday performance and -56% off of his top Wednesday program delivery. Can we be a little snarky here in the normally unbiased world of research and think that with this Friday pattern is it date night or the early bird restaurant deals that pull viewers away from The Spin Zone (yes, yes, I know it is The No Spin Zone, but let’s be real…even Fox News’ Washington Bureau Chief said Bill isn’t a journalist).

9PM:

Fox News: 378,000
CNN: 220,000**
MSNBC: 136,000***


Clearly helped by a very strong lead-in, HANNITY & COLMES also had its strongest night Wednesday up against CNN’s rebroadcast of GOD’S WARRIORS and an average performing DAN ABRAMS. Debate watchers left H&C on Tuesday, but LKL had a typical audience that night. Larry’s best night was Debate Tuesday and his audience fluctuated greatly this week – this program tends to be very guest dependent for good audience numbers and is affected by ESPN on Mondays. DAN ABRAMS pretty much performed as normal when the debate audience is not included in his program average – and it shouldn’t be – specials and events should always be eliminated from the week’s average when examining regularly scheduled programming.

10PM:

Fox News: 304,000
CNN: 210,000
MSNBC: 161,000****

GRETA and 360 are always affected on Mondays with ESPN Football being such a big draw of typically 10-12 million viewers. GRETA had a fairly weak Monday and Tuesday due to the Debate and ESPN but bounced back strong on Halloween (sorry, no comments from this one…) and Thursday with excellent lead-ins from Fox News programming. Friday is also desertion night for GRETA with viewers but even then a “Cooperless” 360 could not top her. The only night this week 360 (with Soledad O’Brien) beat GRETA was Tuesday….debate night. This is one of the lowest averaging weeks for 360 against its competition with it only being pre-empted for the time period on Halloween. The 11PM performance that night wasn’t that far off the 10PM weekly average for 360. MSNBC Investigations/Doc Block had some good nights against 360 (Monday and Thursday) along with the debate coverage airing on Tuesday.

Was CNN at least as strong in any of the time periods this past week in comparison to the week prior to the fire coverage you ask? No.
Now remember the Elton John album title, “Don’t Shoot Me, I’m Only The Piano Player…”

Ratings Guru

*4 day average applied to 5 days – Special aired one day.
**4 day average applied to 5 days – Special aired one day.
***3 days average applied to 5 days – Debate and Doc Block aired two days.
****4 day average applied to 5 days – Debate aired one day.
^Courtesy Nielsen Media Research, Adults 25-54 LIVE+SAME DAY (LS) Fast Track Nationals.