CNN's Extreme (sort of) Makeover

Riddle me this, Batman. If CNN is "The Most Trusted Name In News," why is the cable news network Number #2?

While we're at it, "This Is CNN" should now be known as "This Is The New & Improved CNN."

Will wonders ever cease?

It's only taken CNN 5 years (since Bernard Shaw retired) to figure out that viewers might want actual news reported again. Since September, 2001, the "news" has been demoted to crawl status (read the bottom of your TV screen), and "senior analysts" have lectured us on hypothetical worst case scenarios on every issue from Anthrax poisoning (Secure your suburban mailbox, Granny! That baby powder might someday possibly be real Anthrax!) to gay marriage (Gay Marriage = Man + Box Turtle!).

From USAToday.com...

This is the new CNN: More news, less debate

By Peter Johnson, USA TODAY

CNN announced a slate of programming and anchor changes Monday intended to refocus the No. 2 cable news network on hard news and analysis, and away from opinion and talk.

Hard news? Analysis?

OK, CNN is now devoting an entire hour each day at noon to CNN International News, featuring real news anchors and real news, and that's a Martha Stewart Good Thing; however, the usual suspects ("senior analysts") are still showing up regularly to Rah Rah for BushCo-- only now, there's no attempt to balance the "analysis" whatsoever.

Trotting out Bill (Scary Freeper-Faced) Schneider to "analyze" the Democratic position on any issue is inexcusable.

OK, they're axing Bill (Terrible Two's Meets Terrorizing Thirties) Hemmer, who refused a demotion in rank. Billy's people are probably negotiating with FOX's people right now.

Miles and Soledad O'Brien (no relation) will Barbie & Ken (Yes, I can make up verbs if I want to) CNN's mornings.

Leslie Wolf Blitzer now gets 3 afternoon hours daily to do with as he pleases. Don't look for unbiased BushCo coverage. Do listen for Leslie's vocal pitch to climb like a Met Opera diva when he gets frustrated with contrary guests. Gone: Judy Woodruff, who used to be an unbiased journalist before she started hooking for ratings by baiting liberals on CNN. Begala and Carville have been relegated to guest status, which leaves CNN virtually liberal/objective reporting -free. Novak has been demoted to guest status, too; but that has more to do with sunlight and garlic issues than politics.

(News analyst Andrew) Tyndall says that in veering toward news and away from opinion, CNN deserves credit for positioning itself as a network where news can be reported and analyzed, not just argued.

"Everyone talks in talking points these days," he said. "It's not just on cable news. It's radio. It's everywhere. The entire political world is no longer talking ideas, but talking points."

Hard news? Hardly... except for one hour of CNN International.

Analysis? Don't make me laugh! Bill Schneider is so pro-Republican that he couldn't "analyze" his ass with both hands.

Hm.

I can't help but wonder if Jon Stewart inspired Jon Klein's (CNN's new chief) network shakeup.

So far, I'm still reading CNN's crawl for "hard news" when I tune in, and I'm not holding my breath until CNN reports just the facts, Ma'am.

As long as CNN continues to play the "Michael Jackson Verdict Watch" game and waste several minutes each hour on that "Calling Dr. Gupta" crap, I see little difference in the quality of the network's news coverage.

Hungry for facts?

Click away.


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AP Breaking News

DemocraticUnderground

Talking Points Memo

Hit your refresh button on those sites to stay current.

And read CNN's crawl... if you must.