Saturday, August 13, 2005
Cathay Pacific Expands Marketing Partnership with CNN
Source: Indian Television To enhance its reach by offering business travellers timely and relevant content, Cathay Pacific has expanded its long-time sponsorship of the CNN Global Market Wrap daily news segment.The airline claims to have added a new dimension to its marketing campaign on the global news network. With this collaboration, CNN viewers can now access the latest global stock quotes on their mobile phones through the CNN Global Market Wrap SMS alert service.
Subscribers to this free service will receive three daily SMS updates on the Asian, European, and US stock markets. CNN viewers may sign up for this alert service by registering their mobile numbers on the web subscription form at www.cnn.com/mobile. They can also retrieve a code to register for the service by calling a special number and sending an SMS keyword. This information is displayed on related television commercials.
A co-branded promotion of this mobile alert service will run on CNN's Asia-Pacific feed and its web-based news service, CNN.com/International.
# posted by ATN @ 3:47 PM 
Turner, CBS Employee Among Injured at PGA Championship
Source: Broadcasting and Cable CNN was reporting Friday that Turner and CBS employees were among the three people injured when a tree branch fell at the PGA championship in Baltusrol in Springfield, N.J.
CBS confirmed that a jib camera operator, Bob Welsh, was under the tree at the time when it fell. He appeared to have a minor injury to his left forearm, according to a source at the course, but was preparing to get back to work Friday night.
The unidentified Turner employee was said to have a broken leg.
CBS confirmed that a jib camera operator, Bob Welsh, was under the tree at the time when it fell. He appeared to have a minor injury to his left forearm, according to a source at the course, but was preparing to get back to work Friday night.
The unidentified Turner employee was said to have a broken leg.
# posted by ATN @ 12:57 PM
TWC Viewers, Get Ready for 'Weathertainment'
The winds of change are blowin' at The Weather Channel. Not only will the 24/7 cable channel devoted to weather debut a new logo and new branding slogan, NEW programs are on the way. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has a great article about the changes and spoke to TWC execs.TWC's Executive Vice President for Marketing Wonya Lucas says the channel knows what its viewers want and will be making several programming changes in the coming months:
> Debuting September 17th will be Weekend View, a Good Morning America style with an in-studio host and meteorologists scattered around the country. The new, live program, which will be shown on Saturdays and Sundays, is meant to have a breezier feel than most Weather Channel fare. The network has built a special studio for the show, with a couch and chair set in a colorful space that doesn't look like the newsy main studio. Then there's the host, Dao Vu, a woman who, before moving to the Weather Channel, helped anchor "The Daily Buzz," a syndicated live morning show carried in many markets around the country. As is the norm in today's TV world, Vu has model-like good looks and a swirl of enthusiasm. She doesn't have weather experience, however, and has been charged with shaping a show that will have few rules. "We can do whatever we want," she said.
> On Nov. 29 the changes are scheduled to continue as the network introduces a short-run series called "The Weather Channel Top Ten." In five episodes, the network will rank major metro areas on measures like cloudiest and rainiest. Vu will host that show as well. It is meant to be a fun show. "I call it weathertainment," she said. While "Weekend View" and "Top Ten" remain unproved, devoted Weather Channel fans have no shortage of opinions on changes that have already occurred, especially "Storm Stories."
The new branding and logo are to appear beginning Monday.
Read the complete article HERE.
# posted by ATN @ 12:14 PM
Miles O'Brien Profiled
Great article in Broadcasting and Cable profiling the career of Miles O'brien. In the article O'brien tells of the early days of his career:
"The Detroit native left Georgetown University one semester shy of graduation in 1981 to take a job at the Washington NBC affiliate, where he had been interning. After ripping wire copy on the overnight shift, he would shadow reporters during the day to learn about reporting and shooting segments. He resolved to land an anchor job, and mailed résumés and a cobbled-together demo tape to at least six stations each week.
After collecting enough rejection letters to “wallpaper a house,” O’Brien recalls, he grew indignant enough to call the general manager at a St. Joseph, Mo., affiliate and demand to know why his efforts earned him only a form letter.
“I said, 'You’re the 191st market [out of some 210], and you just gave me a form letter,’” he says. “'You gotta do me a favor: Tell me right now if I should stop looking for a job on TV.’”
A month later, O’Brien was offered a job there, although the station could not even afford to fly him to Missouri for an interview. In St. Joseph, he became a one-man band, earning $220 a week for shooting, writing, editing, producing and anchoring his own stories for the 6 p.m. telecast, for which he ran the teleprompter with his foot."
"The Detroit native left Georgetown University one semester shy of graduation in 1981 to take a job at the Washington NBC affiliate, where he had been interning. After ripping wire copy on the overnight shift, he would shadow reporters during the day to learn about reporting and shooting segments. He resolved to land an anchor job, and mailed résumés and a cobbled-together demo tape to at least six stations each week.After collecting enough rejection letters to “wallpaper a house,” O’Brien recalls, he grew indignant enough to call the general manager at a St. Joseph, Mo., affiliate and demand to know why his efforts earned him only a form letter.
“I said, 'You’re the 191st market [out of some 210], and you just gave me a form letter,’” he says. “'You gotta do me a favor: Tell me right now if I should stop looking for a job on TV.’”
A month later, O’Brien was offered a job there, although the station could not even afford to fly him to Missouri for an interview. In St. Joseph, he became a one-man band, earning $220 a week for shooting, writing, editing, producing and anchoring his own stories for the 6 p.m. telecast, for which he ran the teleprompter with his foot."
# posted by ATN @ 11:31 AM
Q and A with CNN.com Execs About PipeLine
Source: Broadcasting and CableB and C: If I already have free video from CNN and elsewhere, why would I pay for a streaming video service?
David Payne: Most people spend most of their life at work, away from TV sets. They have Internet access and, on a lot of sites, access to free video to catch up on what happened—and the ability to read stories. This takes that to the next level.
B and C: How?
DP: One way is the live feature, which streams video of stories as they're developing.
B and C: It's odd that the Internet isn't able to keep up with a breaking news story.
DP: Well, it takes us time to write a story, pull a picture, publish a story and get it up on the Web site, and during that process, new facts are coming in. With Pipeline, viewers will get four different live feeds from affiliates and our newsgathering facility. So you get instant gratification.
B and C: And that's why you think people will pay?
DP: Yes. We tried to take the best practices of the television, cable and Internet industries. So you're satisfying VOD needs with clips, TiVo needs with fast forward and pause, and everything live without commercials. And just like with iTunes, the search and menu interface is something that people will understand because it doesn't involve navigating Web pages.
Susan Grant: There's also a small text pop-up that will show up on your desktop to let you know about breaking news, even when the application isn't opened. And if the user wants to keep it running, it can be sized as a small window on the desktop.
# posted by ATN @ 11:23 AM
Friday, August 12, 2005
Blitzed
Slate has a review of CNN's newest
program, The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer. Here's the gist of the article:
"Besides being very, very live and very, very long, the most notable thing about The Situation Room (weekdays 3 to 6 p.m. ET) is its anxiety to define itself as a different kind of news show. In the words of Jon Stewart on last night's Daily Show, The Situation Room is "Wolf Blitzer's show, but with giant screens. Same old s**t." The show's quintessential visual: Blitzer standing in front of a bank of long, narrow screens, each showing a live newsfeed from a just-reported or upcoming story. There's a lot of Terminator-style graphics pulsating around the edges of the screens, as digital clocks tick off the exact time in different parts of the world. In Vienna, Austria, it's 11:03:01 a.m.! In Crawford, Texas, it's 2:03:25 p.m.! Stuff is happening in different time zones, and we here in The Situation Room plan to glancingly refer to at least some of it!"
program, The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer. Here's the gist of the article:"Besides being very, very live and very, very long, the most notable thing about The Situation Room (weekdays 3 to 6 p.m. ET) is its anxiety to define itself as a different kind of news show. In the words of Jon Stewart on last night's Daily Show, The Situation Room is "Wolf Blitzer's show, but with giant screens. Same old s**t." The show's quintessential visual: Blitzer standing in front of a bank of long, narrow screens, each showing a live newsfeed from a just-reported or upcoming story. There's a lot of Terminator-style graphics pulsating around the edges of the screens, as digital clocks tick off the exact time in different parts of the world. In Vienna, Austria, it's 11:03:01 a.m.! In Crawford, Texas, it's 2:03:25 p.m.! Stuff is happening in different time zones, and we here in The Situation Room plan to glancingly refer to at least some of it!"
# posted by ATN @ 6:11 PM
Cooper on Fox, MSNBC's "Downright Ridiculous" Holloway Coverage
Source: Media Matters Anderson Cooper reported on August 11 that although "nothing new is happening" in the case of American teenager Natalee Holloway, "you'd never know that if you listen to just about every other cable news channel." He then showed a video montage of "what the other guys were reporting just last night [August 10]," such as Fox News' Bill O'Reilly and MSNBC's Dan Abrams and Joe Scarborough, documenting the "hours and hours" of what Cooper called the "downright ridiculous" coverage of the Aruba story. Read the transcript and watch video HERE.
UPDATE: 6:00pm ET An e-mailer makes this observation: "You notice Cooper didn't mention Nancy Grace? The coverage is overboard he's right but, to exclude Nancy, makes him look like a fool."
MORE: 7:10pm ET This from another e-mailer: "Cooper also made comments on Charlie Rose the other night, comparing the sky high ratings of the Holloway “case” to that of his reports on Niger. I think the point he’s trying to make is that what’s popular takes priority over what’s important at other news networks."
And this from another e-mailer:"Maybe Anderson didn't include Grace because she didn't talk about Hollaway for two days, prior to Anderson's remarks, while everyone else kept at it."
Additional: The shots keep coming on this topic. The latest comes from Dan Abrams of that five letter channel. Inside Cable News has the details.
UPDATE: 6:00pm ET An e-mailer makes this observation: "You notice Cooper didn't mention Nancy Grace? The coverage is overboard he's right but, to exclude Nancy, makes him look like a fool."
MORE: 7:10pm ET This from another e-mailer: "Cooper also made comments on Charlie Rose the other night, comparing the sky high ratings of the Holloway “case” to that of his reports on Niger. I think the point he’s trying to make is that what’s popular takes priority over what’s important at other news networks."
And this from another e-mailer:"Maybe Anderson didn't include Grace because she didn't talk about Hollaway for two days, prior to Anderson's remarks, while everyone else kept at it."
Additional: The shots keep coming on this topic. The latest comes from Dan Abrams of that five letter channel. Inside Cable News has the details.
# posted by ATN @ 4:57 PM
Talking Points Taping Postponed
This from the tip box: "Just got word that HLN will postpone the first taping of "Talking Points."
Remember this post from the other day: HLN Preps For "Talking Points" Pilot . It was announcing CNN Headline News was looking for studio audience members to tape a pilot of a new program called "Talking Points". According to the info the program would be hosted by comedian and writer John Fugelsang and it promises to "cut through the spin of today's newsmakers and get to the bottom of what's really going on." The program was to be taped in the Jack Morton Auditorium at The George Washington University in D.C. on Wednesday, August 17.
Remember this post from the other day: HLN Preps For "Talking Points" Pilot . It was announcing CNN Headline News was looking for studio audience members to tape a pilot of a new program called "Talking Points". According to the info the program would be hosted by comedian and writer John Fugelsang and it promises to "cut through the spin of today's newsmakers and get to the bottom of what's really going on." The program was to be taped in the Jack Morton Auditorium at The George Washington University in D.C. on Wednesday, August 17.
# posted by ATN @ 1:15 PM
Gupta and Costello Surprise Each Other on AM
A report by CNN Medical Correspondent Sanjay Gupta upset American Morning substitute anchor Carol Costello this morning. The report seems to be part of Gupta's CNN Presents cancer special this weekend. Below is the transcript of the exchange between Costello and Gupta:
GUPTA: Immther, the drug that apparently saved her life, is still available as part of the Dr. Kleinerman's ongoing clinical trial, but after that, it disappears.
(on camera): So there was a drug out there that, as far as you could tell, at least seemed to be working?
EUGENIE KLEINERMAN, CHIEF, PEDIATRIC DIVISION: Correct.
GUPTA: And then you got a phone call saying that they weren't going to manufacture the drug anymore.
KLEINERMAN: Correct. Basically, I was getting the message that our marketing people have done research and we're never going to be able to recoup our research and development costs. And it doesn't matter who we're going to help and who we're not going to help, the marketing people have made the decision that we're not putting any more resources in this.
GUPTA: And the outcome?
KLEINERMAN: The outcome is we still have only a certain amount of drug.
GUPTA (voice-over): Just enough to treat 60 kids, or about one- third of the kids that get Ewing's Sarcoma each year.
(on camera): This isn't the kind of story people want to hear. If a drug works, why wouldn't they make more of it?
KLEINERMAN: Because sarcomas are a very rare tumor, and you have to understand that drug companies, pharmaceutical companies, have to report to their stockholders, and they're interested in their financials, and this will never be a money-maker.
GUPTA: This really does keep you up, doesn't it?
KLEINERMAN: Oh, yes, of course.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GUPTA: Really remarkable, Carol. You know, Allie remains cancer free, and she is doing well. But no one knows what's going to happen for another patient that comes in with Ewing's Sarcoma after these drugs run out.
COSTELLO: Well, this makes me really angry. My brother died of Ewing's Sarcoma when he was 25. So when you talk about how rare it is...
GUPTA: Sorry, Carol.
COSTELLO: It doesn't really matter when you have a family member who has it. So I have a couple of questions. Is there anything you can do? Because, you know, the drug -- it just seems cruel.
GUPTA: Yes. You know, and we -- I think everybody feels the same way. It's really one of these things that sort of boggles the mind. Couple things. There is something called the Orphan Drug Act. This was actually from federal government to try and create drugs for diseases that affect less than 200,000 people in the United States.
But what we found as we sort of explored this was the pharmaceutical companies, even with these federal incentives, don't always want to make these drug. So maybe there needs to be improvements and amendments to the Orphan Drug Act.
But, you know, I'm sorry to hear about your brother, but this is the reality right now with some of these medications.
COSTELLO: I mean, I'm shaking I'm so mad. Another thing, clinical trials. We had no idea that these drugs existed. So how do you find out something like that? Because he may have been saved.
GUPTA: And there is better ways of doing that now, Carol. There is a Web site, for example -- this is pretty simple. It's called cancer.gov/clinicaltrials. You can go to this Web site, you can punch in the kind of cancer that you have and you can find out about clinical trials that are going on at places like M.D. Anderson or places that are, perhaps, closer to you as well.
And it's important for people to know about this because, when you're given a diagnosis of terminal cancer, this is an option for you if you're someone who wants to fight.
COSTELLO: All right. You're going to have a special on, too, this weekend that I hope will get the message out to a lot of people.
GUPTA: Carol, we're going to tell stories of people like your brother. We're going to honor them, I think, with this special and talk about where we've come in this fight against cancer. You know, it was 35 years ago they declared war. Where are we? I think the stories are going to be uplifting, optimistic, more so than people think -- Carol.
COSTELLO: All right. Thank you, Sanjay. Appreciate it.
GUPTA: Thank you.
GUPTA: Immther, the drug that apparently saved her life, is still available as part of the Dr. Kleinerman's ongoing clinical trial, but after that, it disappears.
(on camera): So there was a drug out there that, as far as you could tell, at least seemed to be working?
EUGENIE KLEINERMAN, CHIEF, PEDIATRIC DIVISION: Correct.
GUPTA: And then you got a phone call saying that they weren't going to manufacture the drug anymore.
KLEINERMAN: Correct. Basically, I was getting the message that our marketing people have done research and we're never going to be able to recoup our research and development costs. And it doesn't matter who we're going to help and who we're not going to help, the marketing people have made the decision that we're not putting any more resources in this.
GUPTA: And the outcome?
KLEINERMAN: The outcome is we still have only a certain amount of drug.
GUPTA (voice-over): Just enough to treat 60 kids, or about one- third of the kids that get Ewing's Sarcoma each year.
(on camera): This isn't the kind of story people want to hear. If a drug works, why wouldn't they make more of it?
KLEINERMAN: Because sarcomas are a very rare tumor, and you have to understand that drug companies, pharmaceutical companies, have to report to their stockholders, and they're interested in their financials, and this will never be a money-maker.
GUPTA: This really does keep you up, doesn't it?
KLEINERMAN: Oh, yes, of course.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GUPTA: Really remarkable, Carol. You know, Allie remains cancer free, and she is doing well. But no one knows what's going to happen for another patient that comes in with Ewing's Sarcoma after these drugs run out.
COSTELLO: Well, this makes me really angry. My brother died of Ewing's Sarcoma when he was 25. So when you talk about how rare it is...
GUPTA: Sorry, Carol.
COSTELLO: It doesn't really matter when you have a family member who has it. So I have a couple of questions. Is there anything you can do? Because, you know, the drug -- it just seems cruel.
GUPTA: Yes. You know, and we -- I think everybody feels the same way. It's really one of these things that sort of boggles the mind. Couple things. There is something called the Orphan Drug Act. This was actually from federal government to try and create drugs for diseases that affect less than 200,000 people in the United States.
But what we found as we sort of explored this was the pharmaceutical companies, even with these federal incentives, don't always want to make these drug. So maybe there needs to be improvements and amendments to the Orphan Drug Act.
But, you know, I'm sorry to hear about your brother, but this is the reality right now with some of these medications.
COSTELLO: I mean, I'm shaking I'm so mad. Another thing, clinical trials. We had no idea that these drugs existed. So how do you find out something like that? Because he may have been saved.
GUPTA: And there is better ways of doing that now, Carol. There is a Web site, for example -- this is pretty simple. It's called cancer.gov/clinicaltrials. You can go to this Web site, you can punch in the kind of cancer that you have and you can find out about clinical trials that are going on at places like M.D. Anderson or places that are, perhaps, closer to you as well.
And it's important for people to know about this because, when you're given a diagnosis of terminal cancer, this is an option for you if you're someone who wants to fight.
COSTELLO: All right. You're going to have a special on, too, this weekend that I hope will get the message out to a lot of people.
GUPTA: Carol, we're going to tell stories of people like your brother. We're going to honor them, I think, with this special and talk about where we've come in this fight against cancer. You know, it was 35 years ago they declared war. Where are we? I think the stories are going to be uplifting, optimistic, more so than people think -- Carol.
COSTELLO: All right. Thank you, Sanjay. Appreciate it.
GUPTA: Thank you.
# posted by ATN @ 1:07 PM
The Challenge of Being on Death Watch
MarketWatch's Jon Friedman has a pretty good article on CNN's coverage of Peter Jennings' death. Below is an excerpt from the article:
"(Carol) Lin spoke to me in a telephone interview a few days ago. "It was a natural, professional courtesy," she said, insisting that CNN's primary objective was to get the news right. "Regardless of Fox, I've been in enough newsrooms," Lin said. "You don't want to be wrong on this one."
As it turned out, CNN didn't have to make the choice. The confirmation came when ABC's Charles Gibson disclosed Jennings' death.
But Jonathan Klein, the president of CNN/U.S., told me in a separate interview: "I don't know about that. I somehow doubt that. We're a news organization. If we get the news first, I can't imagine any circumstance that we would deprive our viewers" of the news.
I hope Klein and every other news decision-maker recognize that there is nothing wrong with taking the high road -- well, now and then, anyhow.
CNN's dedication truly stood out from the pack as it covered the story in more detail than rivals.
"That was their pure news instinct," Klein said of his CNN colleagues.
He couldn't help but puff out his chest and throw a dart at his counterparts at other networks: "Frankly, we thought everyone would join us" in staying on the air, he said. "
"(Carol) Lin spoke to me in a telephone interview a few days ago. "It was a natural, professional courtesy," she said, insisting that CNN's primary objective was to get the news right. "Regardless of Fox, I've been in enough newsrooms," Lin said. "You don't want to be wrong on this one."
As it turned out, CNN didn't have to make the choice. The confirmation came when ABC's Charles Gibson disclosed Jennings' death.
But Jonathan Klein, the president of CNN/U.S., told me in a separate interview: "I don't know about that. I somehow doubt that. We're a news organization. If we get the news first, I can't imagine any circumstance that we would deprive our viewers" of the news.
I hope Klein and every other news decision-maker recognize that there is nothing wrong with taking the high road -- well, now and then, anyhow.
CNN's dedication truly stood out from the pack as it covered the story in more detail than rivals.
"That was their pure news instinct," Klein said of his CNN colleagues.
He couldn't help but puff out his chest and throw a dart at his counterparts at other networks: "Frankly, we thought everyone would join us" in staying on the air, he said. "
# posted by ATN @ 8:38 AM
Thursday, August 11, 2005
Former CNN'er Joins Logo
Source: Broadcasting and Cable Former CNN correspondent Jason Bellini has been tapped as host of Logo's daily news segments."CBS News on Logo" will appear on the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender network that CBS-parent Viacom launched June 30 to about 13 million subscribers. The segment will start Aug. 15, according to a Logo spokesperson.
The reports will air across Logo’s schedule, which features new and acquired shows. CBS News’ Court Passant will oversee the unit, with Bellini based in New York. The unit will draw up on CBS video footage and will be able to repurpose CBS News reports.
Before his tenure at CNN, Bellini covered the 2000 presidential campaign as a "street team" reporter for MTV News.
# posted by ATN @ 5:43 PM
Whispering at the Watercooler
This from an e-mailer: "It is being whispered at CNN/Atlanta that Daryn Kagan has been passed over for any and all promotion due to her relationship with Limbaugh. If she has a job at the end of the year at CNN it will be a miracle. Bosses are not happy with her boyfriend and his daily bashing of the network."
UPDATE: This from another e-mailer: "The truth iS that she HAS NO PROMOTION OFFERS! The RUMOR IS that she may marry Rush and her time will be devoted to "other things", i.e., less airtime."
Additional: Here's another e-mail: "Kagan does have a soft back stop with her rich boyfriend. But she is not ready to start popping out Rush babies yet. She is being gently shown the door. Too bad. She is a fixture at CNN. We will miss her here."
MORE 8/12 1:08pm ET This from another CNN'er: "Jim Walton has never been partial to Daryn and since you can see where CNN has gone under his direction, I'd say it's pretty clear that he's flat wrong about her. Daryn could be someone that helps brings us out of the current situation we're in."
Additional 8/15 Here's another observation from an e-mailer: "While some people may say outloud that dating Rush is NOT the reason, it is clear to everyone looking that in the last year Daryn Kagan has had disminished responsiblities. She never fills in in NY anymore. She gets shoved off with breaking news. She has not interviewed anyone of importance for over a year. She is a bright star at CNN and she is not being utilized at all. There is no other reason then her relationship with Limbaugh."
UPDATE: This from another e-mailer: "The truth iS that she HAS NO PROMOTION OFFERS! The RUMOR IS that she may marry Rush and her time will be devoted to "other things", i.e., less airtime."
Additional: Here's another e-mail: "Kagan does have a soft back stop with her rich boyfriend. But she is not ready to start popping out Rush babies yet. She is being gently shown the door. Too bad. She is a fixture at CNN. We will miss her here."
MORE 8/12 1:08pm ET This from another CNN'er: "Jim Walton has never been partial to Daryn and since you can see where CNN has gone under his direction, I'd say it's pretty clear that he's flat wrong about her. Daryn could be someone that helps brings us out of the current situation we're in."
Additional 8/15 Here's another observation from an e-mailer: "While some people may say outloud that dating Rush is NOT the reason, it is clear to everyone looking that in the last year Daryn Kagan has had disminished responsiblities. She never fills in in NY anymore. She gets shoved off with breaking news. She has not interviewed anyone of importance for over a year. She is a bright star at CNN and she is not being utilized at all. There is no other reason then her relationship with Limbaugh."
# posted by ATN @ 9:46 AM
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Extended Edition of NewsNight
NewsNight has been expanded tonight thanks to the breaking news of this: Escaped prisoner George Hyatte and his wife captured at Columbus, Ohio, hotel. In surfing the channels, FNC has gone to taped programming. This makes me wonder IF the CNN overnight re-run schedule will change due to this development since this story was mentioned in nearly all the other CNN prime-time programs. I guess we shall wait and see.
11:10pm ET Aaron is still anchoring breaking news coverage and at the moment is interviewing someone withe Tennessee Bureau of Investigations.
11:15pm ET Looks as though NewsNight just might be LIVE the rest of the hour.
Midnight ET The Larry King Live repeat is on. Someone PLEASE e-mail me or use the anonymous tip box and let me know IF the overnight CNN/US schedule gets shuffled due to the breaking news. I am thinking CNN/US will be simulcasting CNN/I overnight due to the developments in this case. Prime News is on Headline News. Looks as though Erica and Mike recut the segment about the fugitve couple to bring it up to date.
UPDATE: 8/11 8:17am ET An e-mailer sent this in:
LKL 12am
NN 1am
LKL 2am
NN 3am
LKL 4am
11:10pm ET Aaron is still anchoring breaking news coverage and at the moment is interviewing someone withe Tennessee Bureau of Investigations.
11:15pm ET Looks as though NewsNight just might be LIVE the rest of the hour.
Midnight ET The Larry King Live repeat is on. Someone PLEASE e-mail me or use the anonymous tip box and let me know IF the overnight CNN/US schedule gets shuffled due to the breaking news. I am thinking CNN/US will be simulcasting CNN/I overnight due to the developments in this case. Prime News is on Headline News. Looks as though Erica and Mike recut the segment about the fugitve couple to bring it up to date.
UPDATE: 8/11 8:17am ET An e-mailer sent this in:
LKL 12am
NN 1am
LKL 2am
NN 3am
LKL 4am
# posted by ATN @ 11:08 PM
American Morning Moves to TWC
As reported here earlier in the week, American Morning will begin broadcasting from the Time Warner Center August 22nd. Broadcasting & Cable has picked up on the news and has an article about the move. Below is an excerpt from the article:In its ongoing effort to focus on news over entertainment in its morning show, CNN is building a new set for American Morning that will be located in CNN's newsroom.
The show currently airs live from a streetside studio in the Time Life building in midtown Manhattan. But starting Aug. 22, it will move to CNN’s headquarters at the Time Warner Center on the Upper West Side and begin airing out of a temporary studio while the newsroom set is constructed over the next few months.
The move, which brings together all of CNN’s New York-based shows under one roof, is meant to further emphasize American Morning as a news deestination to counterprogram, music, cooking or other entertainment fare on other morning shows.
Additional 8/11 8:13am ET New York Daily News has comments from CNN/US Prez Jon Klein: "Moving the show upstairs is an attempt to differentiate "American Morning" from the competition, said CNN's U.S. president Jonathan Klein."
"We've got a newfound dedication to being the newsy alternative," Klein said. "We've always intended to be that, but we haven't quite been as up to that as we should have."
"We definitely know that there are viewers out there who crave news and information in the morning," said Klein. The new look, he said, is "a bold differentiation that clearly sets us apart from the dreary me-tooism of morning news programming."
# posted by ATN @ 10:04 PM
New Face on TWC
Source MediaLine Kevin Robinson made a huge leap from Jackson, Mississippi (DMA 91) to join The Weather Channel, based in Atlanta, and is part of their new weekend morning show. Kevin was the morning meteorologist at WAPT in Jackson, Mississippi since 2001.UPDATE: According to the TWC Classics forum, Robinson made his debut July 8th.
# posted by ATN @ 7:14 PM
Former President to Appear on TSR Thursday
Source: CNN PressRoom Former President Bill Clinton will speak with anchor Wolf Blitzer on the Thursday, Aug. 11, edition of CNN’s The Situation Room. The interview will air live during the program’s 3 p.m. segment.
And speaking of The Situation Room, B and C Beat is live blogging today's program.
And speaking of The Situation Room, B and C Beat is live blogging today's program.
# posted by ATN @ 5:41 PM
CNN Student News Offers New Web Features
Source: CNN PressRoom CNN Student News returns for the 2005-2006 school year offering new and improved features including a new Web site and a new segment for educators. CNN’s daily news program for middle and high schools begins Monday, Aug. 15.As part of CNN.com’s free video content, CNN Student News offers high quality videos at a high-bit rate, available in wide screen format with 16x9 ratio, similar to HDTV dimensions.
For the new year, CNN incorporates the former CNN Student News Web site into www.CNN.com/Education, just one click from the CNN.com home page. The new site allows users to find the highest-quality classroom content from CNN Student News plus the latest education news from CNN.com all on one page. The Web site offers a streamed version of the full 10-minute CNN Student News program without a password as in previous years. Additionally, the Web site will offer 14 days of archived video for educators.
The new school year also sees the debut of a new segment for educators called “10 Questions for 10 Minutes.” This feature, available Monday through Thursday, will offer 10 recall and critical-thinking questions for students associated with the day’s top news stories. On Fridays, CNN Student News will offer a “News Quiz.” The quiz will require quick recall of answers from a week’s worth of shows.
# posted by ATN @ 5:35 PM
TWC New Branding Launches Monday
According to this article, the re-branding of The Weather Channel will occur Monday, August 15th. Also there are a number of other changes slated to take place at The Weather Channel on down the road and you'll find a complete list of them on THIS blog post from a couple of weeks ago. BUT the biggest change will be the new logo.
Additional: 7:20pm ET TV Week reports,"The Weather Channel has also struck a partnership with L.L. Bean, which becomes the network's official outfitter. Members of the Weather Channel Severe Weather Team will wear L.L. Bean outerwear while covering storms. The partnership will also feature co-branded promotional spots and advertisements airing on The Weather Channel, ads on weather.com and product integration."
Additional: 8:00pm This from the TWC Classics forum: "The old logo that is on the side wall, near the travel desk and behind the news desk, has been replaced with the new logo. The old logo above the Global Forecast Center has not been replaced." BUT later the new logo was gone and the old one was back up.
Below is a screen cap.
# posted by ATN @ 1:28 PM
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
Gupta Confronts Cancer in ‘Taming the Beast’
Source: CNN PressRoom CNN’s medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta travels to the frontlines of the battle against cancer in the CNN Presents documentary, “Taming the Beast: Inside the War on Cancer,” airing Sunday, Aug. 14, at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. on CNN/U.S. The program will re-air on Saturday, Aug. 20, at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. (ET)Gupta visits The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston to learn about cutting-edge methods used to fight the disease and to meet some of its survivors. He provides a deeply personal glimpse into the lives of five cancer patients as he reveals their daily struggles and explores the revolutionary science helping keep them alive. CNN Presents also provides rare and personal access to those battling cancer by providing a unique video recording room in the hospital to allow patients, doctors, families, clergy and others the opportunity to share and record information about their experiences with cancer. MORE
There's already a couple of segments from the special on CNN.com.
# posted by ATN @ 11:37 PM
CNN to Air Ad Opposing Supreme Court Nominee
Matt Drudge is having another one of his CNN hates "us" moments. Drudge is reporting CNN has agreed to air "A controversial ad produced by a pro-abortion group’s that falsely accuses Supreme Court nominee John Roberts of filing legal papers supporting a convicted abortion clinic bomber." Drudge says CNN has agreed to a $125,000 ad buy by NARAL. Watch the ad HERE.
UPDATE: I wonder if we'll see Drudge report that FNC will be running the ad too? That's what RedState.org is reporting.
UPDATE: I wonder if we'll see Drudge report that FNC will be running the ad too? That's what RedState.org is reporting.
# posted by ATN @ 9:39 PM
Turner Helping Plot a Breakup of TW?
According to an article from Reuters, Ted Turner is among a group of investors organizing to force a breakup of the world's largest media company. The article says Activist shareholder Carl Icahn is said to be getting the group together. One source familiar with the matter said Turner, CNN founder and outspoken critic of the company and board member, has not been approached. MORE
# posted by ATN @ 9:06 PM
Carville Speaks Out About Novak Incident
CNN Political Pundit James Carville appeared today on The Situation Room. Wolf Blitzer asked Carville about the Bob Novak's situation. Here's a transcript:
BLITZER: In New York state. All right, let's -- this is the first opportunity, James, I've had a chance to speak with you since that exchange you had with Bob Novak here on CNN last week that's caused huge, huge commotion, as you well know.
"The Wall Street Journal," writing on its editorial page yesterday, and one of the sparks that got Bob Novak to utter that bad word and to walk off the set was when you said he was playing to the editorial writers of "The Wall Street Journal." They wrote this yesterday: "Mr. Novak has since appropriately apologized for losing his cool, but Mr. Carville is lucky he didn't get punched in the nose. After more than four decades of criticizing both Republicans and Democrats, Mr. Novak doesn't need to apologize to anyone for his sincerity." You have a chance to think about that.
CARVILLE: You know, if I can tell you one thing that I'm not going to think about is "The Wall Street" editorial page. If you want to know something...
BLITZER: But what about Bob Novak?
CARVILLE: I love Bob, and I like Bob. You know, and he's got a lot going on. And you know, we do things. I'm not -- I'm a big believer that sometimes people do things. The guy said he made a mistake. And so, that's fine. We'll do the show again. I assume that he wants to. What is -- there's redemption in everything. And God knows -- I'm 60 years old. I've done things I shouldn't have done -- that this is not a huge thing. He didn't really hurt anybody. This wasn't an offense against anything. It was probably a matter of bad judgment. And he says he's sorry, that he shouldn't have done it. And it's fine with me and I look forward to his return. I mean, this is...
BLITZER: Have you spoken with him?
CARVILLE: I haven't with him, but there's no -- if I see him -- somebody asked me what would you say if you saw Bob? I'd say hey, Bob, how you doing. I mean, understand in the world of offenses that people do, this is hardly like, you know, capital offense or, as Bob and I are two Catholics, this is hardly a mortal sin. This was a venial sin. He admitted that it was something in poor judgment. I mean, "The Wall Street Journal" editorial page is punching people in the nose. You know, they're kind of cowards.
BLITZER: But very quickly, because we're out of time, in the scheme of things and the debating with Bob Novak over the years, what you said the last time, would you say that was the worst or average?
CARVILLE: It was nothing. It was just kind of a throwaway. I was just trying to have a little fun. I think in retrospect, Bob probably recognizes that. But again, I think that it was a -- he said he made a mistake. Fine. If you can't -- if you have no redemption in this world, if somebody can't make a mistake and say, I made a mistake, and you accepted it, then why live? Why live?
BLITZER: That's fair enough. You started out by saying Bob Novak. Do you love him or you like him?
CARVILLE: I like -- I said I like Bob. I like Bob. I like him, but I don't have -- I don't harbor anything against Bob. We disagree sometimes. We get passionate about things. We fight about things. I think he is somebody that made a mistake and said he did. I'm going to get into -- there are very few -- you know, I love my wife, and I'll leave it at that. And my kids.
BLITZER: James Carville, Rich Galen, thanks very much.
BLITZER: In New York state. All right, let's -- this is the first opportunity, James, I've had a chance to speak with you since that exchange you had with Bob Novak here on CNN last week that's caused huge, huge commotion, as you well know.
"The Wall Street Journal," writing on its editorial page yesterday, and one of the sparks that got Bob Novak to utter that bad word and to walk off the set was when you said he was playing to the editorial writers of "The Wall Street Journal." They wrote this yesterday: "Mr. Novak has since appropriately apologized for losing his cool, but Mr. Carville is lucky he didn't get punched in the nose. After more than four decades of criticizing both Republicans and Democrats, Mr. Novak doesn't need to apologize to anyone for his sincerity." You have a chance to think about that.
CARVILLE: You know, if I can tell you one thing that I'm not going to think about is "The Wall Street" editorial page. If you want to know something...
BLITZER: But what about Bob Novak?
CARVILLE: I love Bob, and I like Bob. You know, and he's got a lot going on. And you know, we do things. I'm not -- I'm a big believer that sometimes people do things. The guy said he made a mistake. And so, that's fine. We'll do the show again. I assume that he wants to. What is -- there's redemption in everything. And God knows -- I'm 60 years old. I've done things I shouldn't have done -- that this is not a huge thing. He didn't really hurt anybody. This wasn't an offense against anything. It was probably a matter of bad judgment. And he says he's sorry, that he shouldn't have done it. And it's fine with me and I look forward to his return. I mean, this is...
BLITZER: Have you spoken with him?
CARVILLE: I haven't with him, but there's no -- if I see him -- somebody asked me what would you say if you saw Bob? I'd say hey, Bob, how you doing. I mean, understand in the world of offenses that people do, this is hardly like, you know, capital offense or, as Bob and I are two Catholics, this is hardly a mortal sin. This was a venial sin. He admitted that it was something in poor judgment. I mean, "The Wall Street Journal" editorial page is punching people in the nose. You know, they're kind of cowards.
BLITZER: But very quickly, because we're out of time, in the scheme of things and the debating with Bob Novak over the years, what you said the last time, would you say that was the worst or average?
CARVILLE: It was nothing. It was just kind of a throwaway. I was just trying to have a little fun. I think in retrospect, Bob probably recognizes that. But again, I think that it was a -- he said he made a mistake. Fine. If you can't -- if you have no redemption in this world, if somebody can't make a mistake and say, I made a mistake, and you accepted it, then why live? Why live?
BLITZER: That's fair enough. You started out by saying Bob Novak. Do you love him or you like him?
CARVILLE: I like -- I said I like Bob. I like Bob. I like him, but I don't have -- I don't harbor anything against Bob. We disagree sometimes. We get passionate about things. We fight about things. I think he is somebody that made a mistake and said he did. I'm going to get into -- there are very few -- you know, I love my wife, and I'll leave it at that. And my kids.
BLITZER: James Carville, Rich Galen, thanks very much.
# posted by ATN @ 7:59 PM
FNC's Parent Woos Democrats
Source: Wall Street Journal In becoming the nation's top-rated cable news network, Fox News Channel was helped by millions of conservative viewers who tuned in to watch the likes of Bill O'Reilly, Tony Snow and Cal Thomas. But to win a ratings war in Washington, Fox-parent News Corp. is counting on the support of some unlikely allies: Democrats.
News Corp. is quietly courting Democratic lawmakers on Capitol Hill to block a new local-TV ratings system that lowers ratings for many of its stations. The company contends the new ratings system, launched by Nielsen Media Research in four major television markets last year, greatly undercounts the number of African-Americans and Hispanics watching shows such as "Girlfriends" and "The Parkers" on the UPN network. Although Viacom Inc. owns UPN, News Corp. owns several big-city affiliates of the network.
Read the complere article HERE.
News Corp. is quietly courting Democratic lawmakers on Capitol Hill to block a new local-TV ratings system that lowers ratings for many of its stations. The company contends the new ratings system, launched by Nielsen Media Research in four major television markets last year, greatly undercounts the number of African-Americans and Hispanics watching shows such as "Girlfriends" and "The Parkers" on the UPN network. Although Viacom Inc. owns UPN, News Corp. owns several big-city affiliates of the network.
Read the complere article HERE.
# posted by ATN @ 6:40 PM
AC on Charlie Rose Tonight
An e-mailer tells WHAC: The Charlie Rose Show with guest Anderson Cooper was taped and is re-scheduled for tonight, Tuesday on PBS, 11pm ET.
# posted by ATN @ 6:11 PM
The Situation Room #'s From Monday
Source TV Newser
3pm: Shep: 1,143,000 / Wolf: 332,000 / MSNBC: 170,000
4pm: Cavuto: 829,000 / Wolf: 477,000 / MSNBC: 139,000
5pm: Gibson: 957,000 / Wolf: 422,000 / Connected: 155,000
3pm: Shep: 1,143,000 / Wolf: 332,000 / MSNBC: 170,000
4pm: Cavuto: 829,000 / Wolf: 477,000 / MSNBC: 139,000
5pm: Gibson: 957,000 / Wolf: 422,000 / Connected: 155,000
# posted by ATN @ 4:47 PM
LKL to Feature More Jennings Friends and Colleagues Tonight
According to CNN.com, tonights Larry King Live will take look at Peter Jennings' battle with lung cancer as he is remembered by friends and colleagues. Tune in at 9 p.m. ET. Last night it was said Bob Schieffer would be among the panelists.# posted by ATN @ 4:43 PM
CNN's Prime Numbers Up Monday
Source: TV Newser
8pm: O'Reilly: 2,789,000 / Zahn: 807,000 / Grace: 855,000 / Countdown: 369,000 / CNBC: 283,000
9pm: H&C: 2,128,000 / King: 1,790,000 / Prime News: 367,000 / Rita: 665,000 / Mad Money repeat: 345,000
10pm: Greta: 2,291,000 / NewsNight: 1,144,000 / Grace repeat: 474,000 / Scarborough: 398,000 / Deutsch: 201,000
11pm: O'Reilly repeat: 1,263,000 / Dobbs repeat: 452,000 / Showbiz repeat: 223,000 / Situation: 157,000 / CNBC: 193,000
8pm: O'Reilly: 2,789,000 / Zahn: 807,000 / Grace: 855,000 / Countdown: 369,000 / CNBC: 283,000
9pm: H&C: 2,128,000 / King: 1,790,000 / Prime News: 367,000 / Rita: 665,000 / Mad Money repeat: 345,000
10pm: Greta: 2,291,000 / NewsNight: 1,144,000 / Grace repeat: 474,000 / Scarborough: 398,000 / Deutsch: 201,000
11pm: O'Reilly repeat: 1,263,000 / Dobbs repeat: 452,000 / Showbiz repeat: 223,000 / Situation: 157,000 / CNBC: 193,000
# posted by ATN @ 4:32 PM
Jennings Special Report #'s
Source:TV Newser
CNN's Jennings special report, between 11:43pm and 1am, averaged 586,000 viewers. (The 11pm hour, before the special report, averaged 270,000.) FNC averaged 930,000 viewers for its six-minute special report at 11:57pm.
I can only wonder what FNC's #'s were for the 11:43pm to 1am time frame? FNC didn't 'release' them to TVN now did they.
CNN's Jennings special report, between 11:43pm and 1am, averaged 586,000 viewers. (The 11pm hour, before the special report, averaged 270,000.) FNC averaged 930,000 viewers for its six-minute special report at 11:57pm.
I can only wonder what FNC's #'s were for the 11:43pm to 1am time frame? FNC didn't 'release' them to TVN now did they.
# posted by ATN @ 4:08 PM
Drudge Orgasms Over 10 Year-old Photoshopped Magazine Cover
I am surprised we didn't see the little strobe light at the top of this report on The Drudge Report: "Soledad O'Brien knows where the latest news can be found on the Internet: The DRUDGE REPORT!The fast-rising cable news star was all smiles as she posed for the cover of SMALL BUSINESS COMPUTING magazine, proudly displaying her "favorite website."
Wonkette points out: "56K modem reviews? Clearly, she's been a fan for a very long time!"
Wonkette points out: "56K modem reviews? Clearly, she's been a fan for a very long time!"
# posted by ATN @ 4:04 PM
American Morning Move...More Info
More info is here on the anticipated American Morning move to the Time Warner Center. A source tells WHAC: Off air Friday, Aug 19th (from current streetside studio); On air from the Showbiz tonight set on Monday Aug 22nd. I would get used to this new (and slightly strange looking) American Morning, as it's earliest anticipated move to the 4th floor newsroom is around or about Nov 14th. Set construction has yet to begin on the 4th floor.
# posted by ATN @ 3:41 PM
HLN Preps For "Talking Points" Pilot
TV Newser reports:CNN Headline News is looking for a studio audience for an "entertaining special on politics, pop culture and current events." The pilot, called Talking Points, is being billed as "a show that's sure to put a twist on the traditional newscast." It will be taped in the Jack Morton Auditorium at The George Washington University in D.C. on Wednesday, August 17 at 7:30pm.Talking Points will be "hosted by comedian and writer John Fugelsang," an e-mail invitation to the program says. It promises to "cut through the spin of today's
newsmakers and get to the bottom of what's really going on."
# posted by ATN @ 1:47 PM
CNN Commits to iChat AV Experiment
Source: MacWorld CNN has begun an experiment that uses iChat AV to conduct face-to-face interviews.A new US show hosted by Wolf Blitzer, "Situation Room", aims to mix traditional reporting with new online technologies - such as iChat AV.
One of the first interviewees on the show was Joichi Ito, who wrote about the interview on his blog.
Ito is optimistic on the possibilities for the new technology, saying: "By using cheap Internet technology, they will be able to reach people all over the world on very short notice."
# posted by ATN @ 10:10 AM
TV News on the Downward Spiral
Source: Chicago Sun-Times Doug Elfman begins the article this way: "Coverage of Peter Jennings' death proved how TV news has changed for the worse during the 22 years he anchored ABC's "World News Tonight."
ABC announced his death shortly before 11 p.m. Sunday, and the network and CNN interviewed friends and co-workers through the night. But Fox "News"? At 11:08 p.m., it was milking tragedy with the non-news of Natalee Holloway, who went missing in Aruba 10 weeks ago. At 12:12 a.m., Fox broke this: "TEACHERS GONE WILD!""
He wraps up the article this way: "In 2003, Jennings told Larry King he liked Internet news but found it unreliable: "I sometimes think I may be talking to a goat." He thought viewers should be told what angles news is delivered from, be it the left, right or bottom. TV news hasn't bottomed out yet. But with Jennings gone, it just got closer."
Read the complete article HERE.
ABC announced his death shortly before 11 p.m. Sunday, and the network and CNN interviewed friends and co-workers through the night. But Fox "News"? At 11:08 p.m., it was milking tragedy with the non-news of Natalee Holloway, who went missing in Aruba 10 weeks ago. At 12:12 a.m., Fox broke this: "TEACHERS GONE WILD!""
He wraps up the article this way: "In 2003, Jennings told Larry King he liked Internet news but found it unreliable: "I sometimes think I may be talking to a goat." He thought viewers should be told what angles news is delivered from, be it the left, right or bottom. TV news hasn't bottomed out yet. But with Jennings gone, it just got closer."
Read the complete article HERE.
# posted by ATN @ 9:59 AM
Monday, August 08, 2005
Your Thoughts on The Situation Room
Send me an e-mail OR use the anonymous tip box to send me your thoughts about The Situation Room.UPDATE: 3:12pm ET OMG I can't believe Jack Cafferty just said what he did about MSNBC. Paraphrasing, he told Wolf someone could be on the FBI's Top 10 Most Wanted List and be on MSNBC and no one would know. And took a punch toward Tucker Carlson too. I think the comments took Wolf by surprise.
3:20 pm ET So far we've heard from Kyra Phillips, Miles O'brien, Barbara Star, and a business update from The Turnaround guy...what's his name....Ali Velshi. Now we are getting some international news. First hiccup of the program just occured. No audio from Gaza. Wolf just told us to expect technical glitches as this is LIVE TV. I can't wait til Jack Cafferty comes back on!!
3:45pm ET Hey here's another fresh face. Zain Verjee just popped in The Situation Room. Good to see alot of different faces. A check in with Jack Cafferty is on the way...can't wait! Additional: The first Inside the Blogs segment. GONE are the desktop computers. Abbi Tatton and Jacki Schechner are standing reading the blogs from plasma screens.
3:53 pm ET This from an e-mailer: "How many times will we hear "This is the Situation Room" within a 15 mintue period? I don't know. I lost count after 12." The e-mailer continues, "I think it is trying to be a little too high tech for CNN. I prefer an anchor sitting at a desk."
3:57pm ET No more Lou Dobbs Report? I guess not. Ali Velshi is providing a business update.
4:00pm ET The first hour is behind us. My thoughts so far? I wish the program would pick up the pace a bit. Things are moving a bit too slow for me BUT let's see what the rest of the program holds. Time now for the Inside Politics segment. Mary Snow, Ed Henry and others on tap to make their precense known this hour.
4:14pm ET A number of e-mails have come in. Here's a sampling:
> "I love it. I like the video streams coming in from around the world with snap shots of what is happening. It is giving me just enough of what I want to know."
> "The graphics and camera work is great but don't think i could watch it on a daily basis. "Live" news!!, what a concept."
>"What is the point of Cafferty taking a shot at Tucker's show which comes on at 11pm? Very lame, I didn't think CNN did that sort of thing. I don't like it from any network."
>"Re: Jack Cafferty: Only bright light on "The Situation Room". So good to see him back on air with his outrageously "dry" wit."
>"The Situation Room wants to be Mad Money for News, but they have Wolf "Mr. Stiffness" Blitzer as a host."
4:45pm ET The CNN Fan forum is on fire with discussion about The Situation Room.
5:12pm ET Wolf just announced former CNN'er Bernard Shaw will be in The Situation Room next. YES! If CNN is smart they will let Bernie become a regular.
5:15pm ET And there Bernie is. He is on speaking about his time working with Peter Jennings.
5:59pm ET After seeing the majority of the premiere of The Situation Room, it will be interesting to see how the program will be improved. I would focus on tempo, graphics and the possibilty of getting a co-anchor for the program. By the way, did anyone else notice there wasn't a LIVE bug for the majority of the program. After experimenting with a LIVE bug early in the program, CNN finally took it away all together.
Additional 08/09: Wonkette blogged the entire three hour program minute by minute.
# posted by ATN @ 3:09 PM
'Big Three' Salute Jennings Tonight
Source: Broadcasting and Cable Network news' remaining chief standard bearers over the past three decades will get together Monday night to talk about their late colleague, ABC World News Tonight anchor Peter Jennings, in a tribute on ABC News' Nightline.Former CBS Evening News anchor Dan Rather and retired NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Brokaw will appear on Nightine, which will be hosted by Ted Koppel, who himself is exiting ABC at the end of the year.
Additional: This from an e-mailer: "Tonight on Newshour on PBS Tom Brokaw; and Charlie Rose on PBS is devoting the entire show to "Remembering Peter Jennings". hmmm, no AC or Bill Maher as previously scheduled."
Pic from CNN.com
# posted by ATN @ 2:45 PM
ABC and CNN Did Jennings Proud
Source: MarketWatch Peter Jennings would have been proud of the way ABC and CNN covered his passing.Jennings, 67, who died on Sunday of lung cancer, made his mark by covering a story from many angles, showing enormous curiosity about the world and demonstrating sensitivity toward his subjects.
ABC, Jennings' home for four decades, and CNN distinguished themselves on all fronts. They covered the story as a serious breaking-news event, scrambled to present many knowledgeable commentators and didn't overlook Jennings' foibles.
What about the other networks? They did so little, by comparison, that it doesn't even pay to mention them in this space. Either they were lazy or unprepared or disinterested -- or maybe they simply preferred to broadcast old movies and re-runs.
Whatever. Shame on them all.Last night and early this morning, to their credit, ABC and CNN remained on the air long past midnight, often airing telephone interviews with sleepy journalists who used to work with Jennings.
The coverage, of course, was generally very favorable to Jennings, but CNN, in particular, didn't shill for him.
CNN's cool and composed anchor, Carol Lin, covered everything from how Jenning's good looks helped him get ahead on TV to how his competitive instincts and drive for perfection occasionally hurt the feelings of correspondents who wanted desperately to gain his approval (and get their mugs on the air).
Read the full article HERE.
# posted by ATN @ 2:12 PM
Former CNN'er Joins PBS
Source: PR Newswire Maria Hinojosa, an award-winningjournalist and author, has joined the acclaimed PBS newsmagazine NOW as senior correspondent. Hinojosa, who formerly covered urban affairs for CNN, will begin work at the Emmy-winning PBS series immediately. She will continue as anchor of National Public Radio's Latino USA, a weekly national program reporting on news and culture in the Latino community.# posted by ATN @ 12:52 PM
The Situation Report
With the premiere of The Situation Room comes a web based feature for the program, The Situation Report. CNN.com describes it as, "a running log of dispatches, quotes, links and behind-the-scenes notes filed by the correspondents and producers of CNN's Washington Bureau." Included on the page is CNN's political e-mail newsletter, The Morning Grind, a hodge podge of what's happening in DC and around the country in Political and other news.
UPDATE: A CNN press release tells us little bit about we can expect this afternoon on The Situation Room: "During today’s premiere of CNN’s The Situation Room, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff will speak with CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer about plans to guard the United States from terrorist attacks inside its own borders.
In addition, CNN’s Kyra Phillips will deliver an unprecedented look inside one of the world’s most famed situation rooms. For today and Tuesday, Aug. 9, Phillips will report from Cheyenne Mountain, Colo., home of the NORAD Command Center and the Joint Operations Center for the Northern Command."
UPDATE: A CNN press release tells us little bit about we can expect this afternoon on The Situation Room: "During today’s premiere of CNN’s The Situation Room, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff will speak with CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer about plans to guard the United States from terrorist attacks inside its own borders.
In addition, CNN’s Kyra Phillips will deliver an unprecedented look inside one of the world’s most famed situation rooms. For today and Tuesday, Aug. 9, Phillips will report from Cheyenne Mountain, Colo., home of the NORAD Command Center and the Joint Operations Center for the Northern Command."
# posted by ATN @ 12:04 PM
Brokaw and Rather on LKL Tonight
No surprise here: Remembering a legend: Dan Rather and Tom Brokaw share memories of Peter Jennings, along with other friends and colleagues. Tune in at 9 p.m. ET.# posted by ATN @ 10:43 AM
Going on the Inside of Inside the Blogs
The Columbian Journalism Review talks with Inside the Blog's Abbi Tatton and Jacki Schechner. I was glad to learn the segment will continue to air on Wolf Blitzer's new program, The Situation Room. Read the q and a HERE.
# posted by ATN @ 10:38 AM
Space Shuttle Discovery: The Landing
Well here we are, time for the space shuttle to make its way back to earth and CNN Met Chad Meyers just informed us NASA has scrubbed the first landing opportunity. Next landing attempt will be made at 6:22am ET. Miles O'brien provided a brief update from Florida. NOW it looks as though CNN/US is airing CNN/International programming.
Note: I'm heading to bed. Send Space Shuttle Discovery landing coverage observations to my inbox OR use the anonymous tip box. Thanks!
Quick note 4:17pm ET: HLN is LIVE with Christie Paul and the gang!
Additional: CNN/US has cut away to a repeat of a CNN 25 Special, the Top 25 business stories.
UPDATE: 5:02am ET Ok so I never made it to bed. Anyway, the shuttle will not be coming home today. Another attempt will be made tomorrow morning!
Note: I'm heading to bed. Send Space Shuttle Discovery landing coverage observations to my inbox OR use the anonymous tip box. Thanks!
Quick note 4:17pm ET: HLN is LIVE with Christie Paul and the gang!
Additional: CNN/US has cut away to a repeat of a CNN 25 Special, the Top 25 business stories.
UPDATE: 5:02am ET Ok so I never made it to bed. Anyway, the shuttle will not be coming home today. Another attempt will be made tomorrow morning!
# posted by ATN @ 4:00 AM
Blitzer Puts His Faith in Hard News
Source: JS Online Wolf Blitzer says he "can't get overexcited" about cable news ratings that show CNN regularly bested by Fox News Channel."You think about it because you're competitive," he told Inside TV & Radio while preparing for today's launch of CNN's new "Situation Room," a three-hour news block airing from 2 to 5 p.m. "You want to be number one, whether you're in news or playing tennis.
"I welcome the competition," he says. "It makes me better."
And CNN is trying to compete these days with a harder-news feel and less mud wrestling of the Robert Novak-James Carville variety. That traditional definition of news has been Blitzer's specialty for his 15 years at the first of the all-news channels, where he covered the Pentagon and the White House before becoming an anchor.
The marching orders that the 57-year-old Blitzer has received from CNN president Jon Klein have been "to be what I am, not to be somebody I'm not. I'm a hard-news kinda guy."
Read the complete article HERE.
# posted by ATN @ 2:40 AM
Peter Jennings Dead at the Age of 67
Source: CNN.com Longtime ABC "World News Tonight" anchor Peter Jennings died Sunday of lung cancer, according to the ABC news network. He was 67.His death came nearly four months to the day since he announced in a hoarse voice on his evening newscast that he had been diagnosed with the disease.
At a time when all three major broadcast networks saw their evening news anchor spots change hands in less than a year, Jennings' departure was a surprise. Both NBC's Tom Brokaw and CBS' Dan Rather announced their plans well in advance, but Jennings' illness forced a quick decision.
Jennings, a native Canadian who became a U.S. citizen in 2003, said he would continue to host "World News Tonight" when possible. Since the announcement, ABC News' Charles Gibson and Elizabeth Vargas have filled in for him as temporary anchors.
But he said he was determined to fight the disease, citing National Cancer Institute statistics that nearly 10 million Americans are living with cancer. "I have a lot to learn from them, and 'living' is the key word," he said.Since April 5, when Jennings announced his diagnosis on the news program, he kept his public comments positive. Even during the initial announcement, he said he would be undergoing chemotherapy and joked about losing his hair.
"I wonder if other men and women ask their doctors right away, 'OK, doc, when does the hair go?'" said the immaculately dressed and coifed Jennings.
He acknowledged being a smoker until about 20 years ago, and said he "was weak, and I smoked over 9/11."
In an April 29 letter posted on the ABC News' site, Jennings said he had been "spoiled rotten" by well-wishers and added, "I assume there are a few others out there who, like me, are going with the flow until the day gets better."
Since he began anchoring the program in 1983, Jennings won numerous awards, including a National Headline Award and a George Foster Peabody award. He also won 16 Emmys, according to the ABC News Web site.Asked how it felt after anchoring ABC's evening news program for 20 years, Jennings told CNN's Larry King on Sept. 8, 2003, "Seems like yesterday; seems like forever -- all at the same time."
"It's sort of, how do you measure it? Do you measure the fact that I'm 20 years older? No. I think I measure it by the events. You know, I came just as the Cold War was coming to an end."
"When you think about the events that we've been through, from the fall of the Berlin Wall to, I guess you'd say, 9/11 being the culmination at the end of that, of that scope, what extraordinary changes there have been."
Jennings was born July 29, 1938 in Toronto with journalism in his blood. His father, Charles, was the first voice of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation when it was established in the mid-1930s. At age 9, Jennings hosted "Peter's People," a short-lived Saturday morning children's show on the Canadian Broadcasting Corp.
A high school dropout, Jennings worked as a bank teller for several years before moving into radio and then into television in 1961. He was hired by ABC in 1964.
The following year, when he was 26, Jennings was picked to anchor "The ABC Evening News." But two years later, he told his bosses he needed more seasoning and returned to field reporting, CNN Correspondent Jeff Greenfield, a former ABC News employee, has said.He became a foreign correspondent for the network, covering such stories as the 1972 Summer Olympic Games in Munich, Germany, when members of the Arab terrorist group Black September seized the Israeli compound and took athletes hostage before eventually killing them.
After he took the anchor chair of World New Tonight, Jennings led ABC's coverage of the 1986 explosion of the space shuttle Challenger and the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.
"On 9/11, those of us who do the jobs that I do, flew without a net for hour and hour and hour after end. And then you hope and pray that you've had the experience to be up to it. Because then you're editor, analyst, reporter, correspondent, ringmaster, the whole thing.
An ABC spokesman said in April that Jennings had been feeling ill for a couple of months and underwent a number of tests before the diagnosis was made. He did not travel to cover the tsunami in South Asia in December 2004 or the death of Pope John Paul II earlier this year.When the announcement of Jennings' diagnosis was made, ABC did not divulge the stage of his cancer. Cancer stages range from 1 to 4, with 4 being the most advanced.
The network's "World News Tonight" Web site has maintained an online forum where viewers could post expressions of support and good wishes for Jennings. It has also posted statements from Jennings thanking viewers for their support and his thoughts on topics such as the recent terrorist bombings in London.
The last posting came on July 29, Jennings' birthday. "Many thanks to all of you for your birthday wishes," the statement from Jennings said. "Your words -- as always -- are a great source of strength. I am celebrating today with my family -- we are all grateful."
UPDATE: 1:10am ET Check out THIS bio package put together by CNN's Tom Foreman.
Additional: HERE's ABC's look back at the career of Jennings.
# posted by ATN @ 12:38 AM
Sunday, August 07, 2005
Peter Jennings Passes Away
11:40pm ET Special report on ABC right now, anchored by Charles Gibson!
11:45pm EDT CNN providing breaking news. The news is nowhere to be seen on FNC.
11:49pm EDT Carol Lin still anchoring breaking news coverage. Aaron Brown is on the phone speaking about his time working with Peter at ABC. Nothing on FNC yet!!
11:50pm EDT An out of breath FNC anchor is on in full FOX NEWS ALERT mode.
11:51pm EDT WOW, didn't take FNC long to get back to a tapped program. CNN still in breaking news mode. CNN/US is being simulcasted on CNN/HLN. 11:54 EDT CNN's Jeff Greenfield now on the phone talking with Carol Lin. Greenfield once worked with Jennings at ABC also. 08/08 12:03am ET CNN still providing breaking news coverage. Currently CNN is carrying ABC's coverage. FNC, after a 5 minute or so Fox News Alert, is back to reruns.12:15amET CNN is still LIVE. CNN has been carrying highlights of ABC's coverage. FNC in reruns, talking about Natalie Holloway. 12:26am ET CNN's and former ABC'er Tom Foreman on the phone with Carol Lin. 12:30am ET ABC's George Stephanopoulos is now on the phone with Carol Lin. 12:40pm ET Didn't know alot of former ABC'ers call CNN home these days. CNN'er David Ensor is on the phone speaking about his time working with Jennings. AND just found out Carol Lin herself used to work at ABC. 12:49am ET CNN'er and former ABC'er Jim Bitterman on the line speaking about his time working with Peter. 1:00pmET CNN has wrapped up Breaking News coverage. CNN is using its head this early morning Monday and is airing an interview Larry King did with Peter in September 2003. 2:00pm ET Back to regular programming now. A CNN 25 Special. 3:00am ET CNN is re-airing the interview Larry King did with Peter in September 2003.
11:45pm EDT CNN providing breaking news. The news is nowhere to be seen on FNC.
11:49pm EDT Carol Lin still anchoring breaking news coverage. Aaron Brown is on the phone speaking about his time working with Peter at ABC. Nothing on FNC yet!!
11:50pm EDT An out of breath FNC anchor is on in full FOX NEWS ALERT mode.
11:51pm EDT WOW, didn't take FNC long to get back to a tapped program. CNN still in breaking news mode. CNN/US is being simulcasted on CNN/HLN. 11:54 EDT CNN's Jeff Greenfield now on the phone talking with Carol Lin. Greenfield once worked with Jennings at ABC also. 08/08 12:03am ET CNN still providing breaking news coverage. Currently CNN is carrying ABC's coverage. FNC, after a 5 minute or so Fox News Alert, is back to reruns.12:15amET CNN is still LIVE. CNN has been carrying highlights of ABC's coverage. FNC in reruns, talking about Natalie Holloway. 12:26am ET CNN's and former ABC'er Tom Foreman on the phone with Carol Lin. 12:30am ET ABC's George Stephanopoulos is now on the phone with Carol Lin. 12:40pm ET Didn't know alot of former ABC'ers call CNN home these days. CNN'er David Ensor is on the phone speaking about his time working with Jennings. AND just found out Carol Lin herself used to work at ABC. 12:49am ET CNN'er and former ABC'er Jim Bitterman on the line speaking about his time working with Peter. 1:00pmET CNN has wrapped up Breaking News coverage. CNN is using its head this early morning Monday and is airing an interview Larry King did with Peter in September 2003. 2:00pm ET Back to regular programming now. A CNN 25 Special. 3:00am ET CNN is re-airing the interview Larry King did with Peter in September 2003.
UPDATE: 8/08 11:06am ET No wonder FNC didn't do much Jenning's coverage, it couldn't even get his age right. Go HERE and take a look at the pic.
# posted by ATN @ 11:41 PM
This from Newsblues:LATE BREAKING ABC alerts affiliates to prepare for the death of Peter Jennings.
UPDATE: 08/07 Newsblues has posted this additional info:
NewsBlues has confirmed that several ABC general managers were contacted by telephone Saturday evening and advised to prepare for the imminent death of Peter Jennings.
One GM was contacted at 6 p.m. and told to "expect an announcement within 24 hours." A second GM confirmed receiving a similar call.
A spokesperson for ABC says the NewsBlues report "is not accurate."
And SOME has been added to the headline.
UPDATE: 1:15pm ET WHAC stumbled upon this little tidbit on the web: "ABC News has scheduled a presser at 2PM Eastern, Sunday."
# posted by ATN @ 10:59 PM
AM Moving Soon?
If I remember correctly the date everybody heard as the date American Morning would move from its current street-side location to the Time Warner Center was August 19th. A poster in the CNNFan forum says, "American Morning will be moving to the Showbiz Tonight set, on the fifth floor. Another CNN Fan forum poster says, "AM will only be on the Showbiz set for about a month or so, while their new set gets built in the newsroom on the 4th floor."
No official word from CNN on when the move will occur.
# posted by ATN @ 5:06 PM
The Situation Room Page Up on CNN.com
The program page is up at CNN.com for The Situation Room. The new 3-hour program debuts tomorrow at 3pm ET. Here's how the program is officially described:"The Situation Room, anchored by Wolf Blitzer, assembles top CNN correspondents, analysts, contributors and guests for complete, up-to-the minute coverage of the day's events. Modeled on the concept of the White House Situation Room, the program combines traditional reporting methods with the newest innovative online resources, making the entire process of newsgathering more transparent and placing the latest news and information at the viewers' fingertips. The Situation Room airs weekdays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. (ET)"
NOTE: 10pm ET Just saw a promo for The Situation Room on CNN/US and Robert Novak's pic was included in the lineup of contributers. Another face that caught my eye was CNN/I's Zain Vergee. Apparently Zain will be a contributer also.
Additional:10:46pm ET Want a sneak peak of the video wall that will be used during The Situation Room? During CNN Sunday Night Wolf gave viewers a peak at the wall of monitors which shows many, many different video feeds at one time. The segment was showed at about 45 minutes into CNN Sunday Night which will be repeated at 1am ET.
# posted by ATN @ 3:54 PM
Natalie Holloway Obsession
YES! Another article about the coverage overload of the Natalee Holloway soap opera. Really the article is about Greta what's her name, at that other so called 'news' channel ratings' surge while covering the 'story'. There are a couple of items in the article I will point out:
> "I think she's (Greta) registered to vote in Aruba now," joked NBC News reporter Josh Mankiewicz, who narrated a "Dateline NBC" report examining why television networks pay an inordinate amount of attention to missing white women.
> With war and terrorism in the news, critics wonder how one missing person case can so dominate a news program. Even on the night President Bush nominated John Roberts to the U.S. Supreme Court, "On the Record" spent far more time on Holloway. Her name came up 178 times during a computer search of "On the Record" transcripts from the past two months, only seven times for the same period on Keith Olbermann's "Countdown" on MSNBC. The count was 434 times for Fox's three prime-time news shows; 50 for CNN's.
> "Emotional pornography like the Natalee Holloway story is more alluring, just as a car crash is better TV than a news conference," said Matthew Felling of the Washington-based Center for Media and Public Affairs. "But this media rubbernecking is partly to blame for the public's dissatisfaction in the media as a newsgathering enterprise.
> Criticism of cable networks for a slavish devotion to a story, whether it merits the attention or not, is nothing new; just insert the names Chandra Levy or Laci Peterson for Holloway. One of many reasons why Fox has been able to soundly beat CNN in the ratings with a considerably smaller news staff is that viewers respond more to this approach. "Maybe part of their brilliance is they're not as guilt-ridden about it," Rosenstiel said.
> "I think she's (Greta) registered to vote in Aruba now," joked NBC News reporter Josh Mankiewicz, who narrated a "Dateline NBC" report examining why television networks pay an inordinate amount of attention to missing white women.
> With war and terrorism in the news, critics wonder how one missing person case can so dominate a news program. Even on the night President Bush nominated John Roberts to the U.S. Supreme Court, "On the Record" spent far more time on Holloway. Her name came up 178 times during a computer search of "On the Record" transcripts from the past two months, only seven times for the same period on Keith Olbermann's "Countdown" on MSNBC. The count was 434 times for Fox's three prime-time news shows; 50 for CNN's.
> "Emotional pornography like the Natalee Holloway story is more alluring, just as a car crash is better TV than a news conference," said Matthew Felling of the Washington-based Center for Media and Public Affairs. "But this media rubbernecking is partly to blame for the public's dissatisfaction in the media as a newsgathering enterprise.
> Criticism of cable networks for a slavish devotion to a story, whether it merits the attention or not, is nothing new; just insert the names Chandra Levy or Laci Peterson for Holloway. One of many reasons why Fox has been able to soundly beat CNN in the ratings with a considerably smaller news staff is that viewers respond more to this approach. "Maybe part of their brilliance is they're not as guilt-ridden about it," Rosenstiel said.
# posted by ATN @ 3:00 PM
CNN/I on CNN/US
CNN/International is covering the breaking news of the Russion submarine being brought to the surface and the crew rescued for CNN/US. An e-mailer says CNN/US also carried CNN/International coverage of the rescue breaking news at around 11:26pm EDT Saturday.
UPDATE: 1:10PM EDT Want LIVE news this early morning Sunday? CNN/International is once again being simulcasted on CNN/US. Instead of re-running a repeat of CNN Saturday Night with Carol Lin at 1am ET, CNN/US viewers are getting an hour of LIVE updated news courtesy of CNN/International. CNN/I's Shihab Rattansi is anchoring the newscast. See I think LIVE news overnight, everynight would be good.
UPDATE: 1:30am ET CNN/US viewers still getting CNN/I simulcast BUT now Design 360 is on.
UPDATE: 1:10PM EDT Want LIVE news this early morning Sunday? CNN/International is once again being simulcasted on CNN/US. Instead of re-running a repeat of CNN Saturday Night with Carol Lin at 1am ET, CNN/US viewers are getting an hour of LIVE updated news courtesy of CNN/International. CNN/I's Shihab Rattansi is anchoring the newscast. See I think LIVE news overnight, everynight would be good.
UPDATE: 1:30am ET CNN/US viewers still getting CNN/I simulcast BUT now Design 360 is on.
# posted by ATN @ 12:05 AM
