Saturday, August 27, 2005
Blogging Bug Bites The Weather Channel
Well it looks as though The Weather Channel has joined the world of blogging. Here's how weather.com describes the blog: "Welcome to The Weather Channel Blog! Our weather blog brings you expert perspective on the latest U.S. weather news, including information about hurricanes, tornadoes and storm meteorology. Our severe weather experts and on-camera meteorologists share the inside scoop with blog entries from the studio and from the field. Find out what it's like to report from a hurricane -- or the Super Bowl! -- and learn more about the science of meteorology."
You'll find the blog HERE.
You'll find the blog HERE.
# posted by ATN @ 4:39 PM 
I always get requests to post links to LIVE online webcasting of hurricane coverage. So here are some:
WWL- New Orleans
UPDATE 8/28
WKRG - Mobile, Alabama
UPDATE: Weather Server.net - Lots of links to LIVE hurricane coverage.
This list will be updated as more stations go LIVE on the web with coverage.
WWL- New Orleans
UPDATE 8/28
WKRG - Mobile, Alabama
UPDATE: Weather Server.net - Lots of links to LIVE hurricane coverage.
This list will be updated as more stations go LIVE on the web with coverage.
# posted by ATN @ 4:11 PM
Little Debbie Joins Weather Channel
Source: Broadcasting and Cable Little Debbie may start feeling like the Morton Salt Girl, though in this case, when it rains, they snack.As part of an effort to forge an emotional connection with viewers, The Weather Channel has partnered with McKee Foods to create Weather Channel-branded cartons of Little Debbie snacks.
The packaging rolls out in September on some 50 million Little Debbie pastry cartons, including those for popular items such as Honey Buns, Donut Sticks and Pecan Spinwheels.
During the six-month campaign, boxes will advertise the network’s morning show Your Weather Today and pitch its licensed merchandise including umbrellas and parkas. MORE
# posted by ATN @ 3:36 PM
Trying to Reason With TV Hurricane Season
Boca Beacon Editor Gary Dutery says, "The networks have decided that hurricanes are the ultimate in reality television." Below is an excerpt of his article about coverage of the coverage of hurricanes:
"In past years, the cable news operations would send out one or two people who would invariably wind up in the wrong place.
During Hurricane Charley, for instance, the Weather Channel, CNN and MSNBC were waiting for the storm in Tampa. They're still waiting. Fox had Geraldo Rivera standing next to a plastic palm and a big fan in a studio in New York while Bill O'Reilly sprayed him down with a cheap garden hose.
It got so bad, people would begin removing their storm shutters and fetch the patio furniture from the pool the moment the Weather Channel guy drove into town.
Tired of looking ridiculous, the networks are now scattering dozens of human sacrifices into the projected paths of these storms in the hope that at least one of them will be in exactly the right place to be maimed or dismembered by a flying Days Inn sign.
Hurricane TV has become so popular, in fact, that MTV has announced plans for a new series entitled "Pimp My 'Cane." Actually, I just made that up.
But hey? Just take 18 of the dumbest humans on the planet and put them in a trailer directly in the path of a category five. The winner would be the first person to actually notice that "like, it's like windy or something."
And, of course, they could also be forced to eat bugs."
Read the full article HERE.
"In past years, the cable news operations would send out one or two people who would invariably wind up in the wrong place.
During Hurricane Charley, for instance, the Weather Channel, CNN and MSNBC were waiting for the storm in Tampa. They're still waiting. Fox had Geraldo Rivera standing next to a plastic palm and a big fan in a studio in New York while Bill O'Reilly sprayed him down with a cheap garden hose.
It got so bad, people would begin removing their storm shutters and fetch the patio furniture from the pool the moment the Weather Channel guy drove into town.
Tired of looking ridiculous, the networks are now scattering dozens of human sacrifices into the projected paths of these storms in the hope that at least one of them will be in exactly the right place to be maimed or dismembered by a flying Days Inn sign.
Hurricane TV has become so popular, in fact, that MTV has announced plans for a new series entitled "Pimp My 'Cane." Actually, I just made that up.
But hey? Just take 18 of the dumbest humans on the planet and put them in a trailer directly in the path of a category five. The winner would be the first person to actually notice that "like, it's like windy or something."
And, of course, they could also be forced to eat bugs."
Read the full article HERE.
# posted by ATN @ 1:18 PM
Friday, August 26, 2005
CNN Interviews Family Terrorized by FNC 'Mistake'
CNN aired a report on the California family being terrorized because of an "error" by a FNC contributer. CNN's Peter Viles' report aired during NewsNight. No "jabs" were slung towards FNC, the report was just a regular cut and dry news package.
# posted by ATN @ 10:23 PM
FNC Talking Head Terminated...
This is a shocker! Inside Cable News is reporting "FNC contributor John Loftus has been terminated." Remember? He's the one that wrongly accused THIS family of being terrorists.
# posted by ATN @ 6:29 PM
CNN Takes Novel Look At 9/11 Aftermath In ‘Twists of Fate’ Documentary
Source: CNN PressRoom On the fourth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, CNN Presents profiles five people whose lives have been changed in dramatic and surprising ways in the aftermath of 9/11. The five include a flight attendant saved by a typo, who achieves her own personal closure; a woman who lost her fiancé when the towers came down, then ended up in a public fight with his family over the compensation funds; a widower who found healing through therapy dogs and now is raising one of her own; a traveler who developed a lifelong connection to a generous small town; and a famous singer-songwriter who found inspiration in the story of an ironworker who worked to remove debris and find the dead at ground zero.
CNN’s new documentary, “Twists of Fate: Stories of 9/11,” reported by Aaron Brown, premieres on Sunday, Sept. 11, at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. on CNN/U.S. (ET) MORE
CNN’s new documentary, “Twists of Fate: Stories of 9/11,” reported by Aaron Brown, premieres on Sunday, Sept. 11, at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. on CNN/U.S. (ET) MORE
# posted by ATN @ 6:06 PM
On The Story Anchor Go Round
This from the tip box: "This week Andrea Koppel will host On the Story as Joe Johns will take vacation time."
# posted by ATN @ 4:52 PM
LK Staying Abreast of Things
Source: Page Six CNN president Jon Klein should watch his own network before he complains to the New York Times about Fox News Channel being "meaningless nonsense." On Monday — the day before Klein was quoted in the Times — CNN's Larry King interviewed busty Pamela Anderson. King asked Anderson a whopping 13 questions about her breasts, including, "What size [are your breasts]?" and, "They expand on camera?" A Fox insider snickered, "King only got 926,000 viewers, proving that nothing on CNN can get a rating — news or trash. Maybe if she took her top off, they would have had higher ratings." A rep for CNN said: "Jon believes that Larry has earned the right to pick his own topics."
# posted by ATN @ 8:26 AM
You Can Be a Star...I Mean News Anchor
Great article in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution basically on how the news business is now just like Hollywood...looking for stars. The article centers around the CNN/Bill Hemmer soap opera. Below is an excerpt from the article:
"Rick Gevers, an agent who works out of suburban Indianapolis, said attractiveness is the trend in hiring talent, even more so than in the past. "Younger and prettier is the thing right now," said Gevers, who mostly represents people in local news.
Yet looks aren't quite enough. Kent Collins, chairman of the radio and TV journalism program at the University of Missouri, said his school tries to discourage students who merely aspire to look cute on TV but have little interest in the nuts and bolts of reporting. About one-fourth of those who major in broadcast journalism, he said, eventually shift to some other subject, notably public relations."
Read the full article HERE.
"Rick Gevers, an agent who works out of suburban Indianapolis, said attractiveness is the trend in hiring talent, even more so than in the past. "Younger and prettier is the thing right now," said Gevers, who mostly represents people in local news.
Yet looks aren't quite enough. Kent Collins, chairman of the radio and TV journalism program at the University of Missouri, said his school tries to discourage students who merely aspire to look cute on TV but have little interest in the nuts and bolts of reporting. About one-fourth of those who major in broadcast journalism, he said, eventually shift to some other subject, notably public relations."
Read the full article HERE.
# posted by ATN @ 8:19 AM
Thursday, August 25, 2005
Soledad O'brien Profiled
American Morning anchor Soledad O'brien is profiled in article at Modern Mom.com. What I was surprised to learn she is writing a book. Below is an excerpt of the interview:MM: What's your secret to balancing career and family?
SO: There’s no secret except to not strive for real balance. I set a low bar on the things that don’t matter, and I set a high bar for the things that do matter – spending lots of time with my kids and husband. It’s about being flexible and understanding that we are all human and make mistakes and there are limits to what we can accomplish in 24 hours. Get off your own back!
MM: Tell us what you're up to now:
SO: I’m working on a book about the importance of family and raising your own children. I’m working on getting my kids ready for school. And working on the one year anniversary of the Tsunami and traveling back to Thailand.
Read the full article HERE.
# posted by ATN @ 8:51 PM
California Family Going Through Hell After FNC Wrongly Identifies Them as Terrorists
Source: LA Times Randy and Ronnell Vorick thought La Habra was about as far away as one could get from terrorism. They were wrong.
For the last 2 1/2 weeks, the lives of the couple and their three children have been plunged into an unsettling routine of drivers shouting profanities.
Their house, a suburban fixer-upper the Voricks bought three years ago, was wrongly identified in a cable news broadcast as the home of a terrorist.
"I'm scared to go to work and leave my kids home. I call them every 30 minutes to make sure they're OK," Randy Vorick said.
"I keep telling myself this can't be happening to me. This can't be happening to my family. But it is. I want our lives to be normal again," he said.
In what Fox News officials concede was a mistake, John Loftus, a former U.S. prosecutor, gave out the address Aug. 7, saying it was the home of a Middle Eastern man, Iyad K. Hilal, who was the leader of a terrorist group with ties to those responsible for the July 7 bombings in London.
Hilal, whom Loftus identified by name during the broadcast, moved out of the house about three years ago. But the consequences were immediate for the Voricks.
FNC's response: Fox offered an apology in a one-line statement to the Los Angeles Times and Loftus in an e-mail to the family — after being contacted by the newspaper. The Voricks say they have yet to see or hear a correction."John Loftus has been reprimanded for his careless error, and we sincerely apologize to the family," said Fox spokeswoman Irena Brigante.Loftus also apologized and told The Times last week that "mistakes happen." MUCH MORE
For the last 2 1/2 weeks, the lives of the couple and their three children have been plunged into an unsettling routine of drivers shouting profanities.
Their house, a suburban fixer-upper the Voricks bought three years ago, was wrongly identified in a cable news broadcast as the home of a terrorist.
"I'm scared to go to work and leave my kids home. I call them every 30 minutes to make sure they're OK," Randy Vorick said.
"I keep telling myself this can't be happening to me. This can't be happening to my family. But it is. I want our lives to be normal again," he said.
In what Fox News officials concede was a mistake, John Loftus, a former U.S. prosecutor, gave out the address Aug. 7, saying it was the home of a Middle Eastern man, Iyad K. Hilal, who was the leader of a terrorist group with ties to those responsible for the July 7 bombings in London.
Hilal, whom Loftus identified by name during the broadcast, moved out of the house about three years ago. But the consequences were immediate for the Voricks.
FNC's response: Fox offered an apology in a one-line statement to the Los Angeles Times and Loftus in an e-mail to the family — after being contacted by the newspaper. The Voricks say they have yet to see or hear a correction."John Loftus has been reprimanded for his careless error, and we sincerely apologize to the family," said Fox spokeswoman Irena Brigante.Loftus also apologized and told The Times last week that "mistakes happen." MUCH MORE
# posted by ATN @ 7:42 PM
Katrina Blows In
Anderson Cooper 360 covered Hurricane Katrina at the top of the program Thursday night. Rob Marciano was in Miami, John Zarrella at Delray Beach and newbie hurricane reporter Jason Carroll was at Deerfield Beach. Strange how the coverage differs from when a weekend hurricane moves through.
Also wanna note Rick Sanchez was subbing for Anderson tonight AND weekend anchor Fredricka Whitfield was out of the studio, doing a LIVE report on where unclaimed airport luggage ends up.
Also wanna note Rick Sanchez was subbing for Anderson tonight AND weekend anchor Fredricka Whitfield was out of the studio, doing a LIVE report on where unclaimed airport luggage ends up.
# posted by ATN @ 7:06 PM
The Weather Channel's Emotional Climate
Source: New York Daily News Okay, so the idea of walking out the front door and hugging a thunderstorm may seem a little abstract to most of us.But the motivation behind such a theoretical gesture - that we respond to weather in an emotional way - has inspired the Weather Channel to undertake a multimillion-dollar makeover of the way it covers earth, air and sky.
It started with a new logo, and before it's finished, later this year, the makeover will have given old shows a new look, introduced new shows and brought new people on camera.
"We did extensive research," said Cindy Jones, vice president of consumer marketing for the Weather Channel, "and we found weather impacts people's lives in ways that go far beyond just the practical.
"They want to know how to dress when they leave the house in the morning. But they also feel a real emotional connection to the weather. We want to tap into that." MORE
# posted by ATN @ 4:58 PM
CNN Political Editor Moving On
CNN Political Editor John Mercurio is leaving the network. Below is an e-mail sent out by him earlier today:
"My apologies for the mass email, but I wanted you to be among the first five thousand friends to know I've accepted a great offer to become senior editor at Hotline, joining Chuck Todd and Danielle Jones in running the National Journal's online publication. I plan to start Sept. 19th. I've never been good at multi-tasking, so this new perch will require me to leave CNN, where I've enjoyed three amazing years and countless humbling opportunities as the network's political editor. I'm leaving the smartest and hardest working group of journalists in the TV news biz to help run and grow this town's preeminent political publication. It's gonna be great."
"My apologies for the mass email, but I wanted you to be among the first five thousand friends to know I've accepted a great offer to become senior editor at Hotline, joining Chuck Todd and Danielle Jones in running the National Journal's online publication. I plan to start Sept. 19th. I've never been good at multi-tasking, so this new perch will require me to leave CNN, where I've enjoyed three amazing years and countless humbling opportunities as the network's political editor. I'm leaving the smartest and hardest working group of journalists in the TV news biz to help run and grow this town's preeminent political publication. It's gonna be great."
# posted by ATN @ 3:47 PM
CNN, 'Ethics Guy' Don't See Eye to Eye on his Face Time
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer Gail Shister writes: "Bruce Weinstein, who bills himself as "the Ethics Guy," appears to have gotten himself into a sticky wicket at CNN.Weinstein, a New York-based ethics consultant who pops up on cable news channels, said Tuesday that he would join Anderson Cooper's 360 as a regular contributor beginning Monday.
Weinstein said he'd appear nightly for the first two weeks, then about once a week on 360, seen at 7 weeknights.
Not so, according to CNN.
Weinstein was scheduled for 360 last night, but he will not appear every night for those two weeks, Laurie Goldberg, senior vice president, public relations, CNN News Group, said yesterday.
He's slated to be on 360 "a few days" during the week of Sept. 5, she said. After that, "he may continue to be on occasionally. At this point, no other role has been determined."
When reached yesterday on his cell phone, Weinstein seemed surprised.
"Thanks for breaking the news to me," he said. "It wasn't my understanding when I left the meeting last week. If that's what they say, who am I to argue?"
Cooper, on vacation, couldn't be reached yesterday. His executive producer, David Doss, declined comment.
Weinstein, 45, a Brooklyn native, said that he began calling himself the Ethics Guy in '99, and that he trademarked the name.
# posted by ATN @ 7:17 AM
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
CNN Founder to be Inducted into The International Civil Rights Walk of Fame
Source: AJC The International Civil Rights Walk of Fame is scheduled to induct 11 additional foot soldiers in the fight for racial equality on Friday.
The 2005 inductees include baseball great Henry Aaron; Turner Broadcasting magnate Ted Turner; the late Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson; and the late Atlanta Constitution Publisher Ralph McGill.
Walk of Fame officials will honor inductees with a special ceremony and unveiling of their footsteps at the civil rights monument on the grounds of the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site, 450 Auburn Ave.
Other inductees are U.S. Congressman John Conyers Jr. of Michigan; the Rev. Fred L. Shuttlesworth; the late U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Elbert P. Tuttle Sr.; the Rev. Addie L. Wyatt; jazz great Nancy Wilson; comedian-activist Dick Gregory; and actor-singer Harry Belafonte.
The 2005 inductees include baseball great Henry Aaron; Turner Broadcasting magnate Ted Turner; the late Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson; and the late Atlanta Constitution Publisher Ralph McGill.
Walk of Fame officials will honor inductees with a special ceremony and unveiling of their footsteps at the civil rights monument on the grounds of the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site, 450 Auburn Ave.
Other inductees are U.S. Congressman John Conyers Jr. of Michigan; the Rev. Fred L. Shuttlesworth; the late U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Elbert P. Tuttle Sr.; the Rev. Addie L. Wyatt; jazz great Nancy Wilson; comedian-activist Dick Gregory; and actor-singer Harry Belafonte.
# posted by ATN @ 3:54 PM
Court TV Exec Eyeing Klein's Job?
The New York Observer reports Court TV Chairman Henry S. Schleiff has his eye on Jon Klein's job at CNN. His an excerpt from the article: " Consequently, and because his capacity for self-promotion is as discomfittingly perfect as his smile, Mr. Schleiff has become one of those hot shots whom everyone assumes has preordered curtains to fit the windows on the executive floor of 30 Rock. He has been talked about as a possible successor to Neal Shapiro as president of NBC News, or of a conglomerate that also includes CNBC and MSNBC. He is also rumored to have his eye on Jonathan Klein’s job as president of CNN." Read full article HERE.
# posted by ATN @ 8:33 AM
Klein on Costas and Holloway Coverage
Drudge teased us all last night. Come to find out The New York Times article is all about Bob Costas and him turning down to host Larry King Like last Thursday night. The Times quotes CNN President as saying, "Nothing had been spelled out about my being able to turn down certain topics, but it was implied," Mr. Costas said. Jonathan Klein, president of CNN's domestic operations, backed that up, saying, "It's important that we never have an anchor doing a story he does not believe in."
Then the subject of the article turns to Aruba and Natalee Holloway. Here's the section dealing with that:
The Holloway story has been less prevalent - though not absent - on CNN. In early July, Mr. Klein pulled CNN's correspondent out of Aruba and dropped the subject from most CNN shows in the absence of new developments.
"It's easy and it's brainless," Mr. Klein said in a telephone interview, explaining why cable news outlets have gravitated to it. "They're looking for an ongoing drama" along the lines of the NBC crime show "Law & Order," he said, adding "Except 'Law & Order' doesn't do the same plot every night."
Mr. Klein said that the audience that sought out news all day on the Internet was not clamoring for a rehash of the Holloway case every night. Besides, Mr. Klein said, there has been ample other news to cover.
He said that on the day earlier this month when 14 marines were killed in a roadside bombing in Iraq, Ms. Van Susteren, who was in Aruba that night, stuck with the Holloway case. "Fourteen Americans dead, and they have Natalee Holloway on," Mr. Klein said. "And they're supposedly America's news channel."
Fox executives accused CNN of flailing with holier-than-thou criticisms because the channel is falling farther behind Fox in the ratings. Fox's margin in viewers over CNN has grown 57 percent since Mr. Klein took over last December.
"If Jon performed as well as he talks he wouldn't have to explain his network's dismal ratings," said Irena Briganti, a spokeswoman for Fox News. "We have trounced him on every breaking news story from the London bombings and last week's events in Gaza."
Mr. Klein said CNN is looking at the long term and trying to set itself apart as a news organization that wants to reach the serious news viewer, one who watches less TV news over all, and is younger than the steady audience for more tabloid news fare.
"There are an awful lot of things you can cover if you don't have people tied up with this meaningless nonsense," Mr. Klein said. He clarified, adding that the Holloway case is, of course, far from meaningless nonsense to the young woman's family, and whenever the story had real new details it was worthy of coverage. But, in general, he said cable news has to stop "obsessing over this trivial stuff."
Fox News executives accused Mr. Klein of hypocrisy, saying the Holloway case had indeed been covered by CNN. They mentioned Nancy Grace, the prime-time host on CNN's affiliated network, Headline News, who has done almost as many hours on Ms. Holloway as Ms. Van Susteren has. Mr. Klein said he did not supervise that program.
Nor, apparently, does Mr. Klein directly influence the content of Mr. King's program, which has also frequently dived into the Holloway case. Mr. Klein said that Mr. King's producers have wide autonomy.
"Larry is sui generis," Mr. Klein said. "Larry does what Larry does. He has earned the right to pick his own topics."
Mr. Costas, who agreed to fill in for Mr. King on 20 occasions, said that no bridges were burned by his decision to steer clear of the Holloway case. It was "completely amicable," Mr. Costas said. He is expected to continue filling in for Mr. King when his schedule allows.
Read the full article HERE.
Then the subject of the article turns to Aruba and Natalee Holloway. Here's the section dealing with that:
The Holloway story has been less prevalent - though not absent - on CNN. In early July, Mr. Klein pulled CNN's correspondent out of Aruba and dropped the subject from most CNN shows in the absence of new developments.
"It's easy and it's brainless," Mr. Klein said in a telephone interview, explaining why cable news outlets have gravitated to it. "They're looking for an ongoing drama" along the lines of the NBC crime show "Law & Order," he said, adding "Except 'Law & Order' doesn't do the same plot every night."
Mr. Klein said that the audience that sought out news all day on the Internet was not clamoring for a rehash of the Holloway case every night. Besides, Mr. Klein said, there has been ample other news to cover.
He said that on the day earlier this month when 14 marines were killed in a roadside bombing in Iraq, Ms. Van Susteren, who was in Aruba that night, stuck with the Holloway case. "Fourteen Americans dead, and they have Natalee Holloway on," Mr. Klein said. "And they're supposedly America's news channel."
Fox executives accused CNN of flailing with holier-than-thou criticisms because the channel is falling farther behind Fox in the ratings. Fox's margin in viewers over CNN has grown 57 percent since Mr. Klein took over last December.
"If Jon performed as well as he talks he wouldn't have to explain his network's dismal ratings," said Irena Briganti, a spokeswoman for Fox News. "We have trounced him on every breaking news story from the London bombings and last week's events in Gaza."
Mr. Klein said CNN is looking at the long term and trying to set itself apart as a news organization that wants to reach the serious news viewer, one who watches less TV news over all, and is younger than the steady audience for more tabloid news fare.
"There are an awful lot of things you can cover if you don't have people tied up with this meaningless nonsense," Mr. Klein said. He clarified, adding that the Holloway case is, of course, far from meaningless nonsense to the young woman's family, and whenever the story had real new details it was worthy of coverage. But, in general, he said cable news has to stop "obsessing over this trivial stuff."
Fox News executives accused Mr. Klein of hypocrisy, saying the Holloway case had indeed been covered by CNN. They mentioned Nancy Grace, the prime-time host on CNN's affiliated network, Headline News, who has done almost as many hours on Ms. Holloway as Ms. Van Susteren has. Mr. Klein said he did not supervise that program.
Nor, apparently, does Mr. Klein directly influence the content of Mr. King's program, which has also frequently dived into the Holloway case. Mr. Klein said that Mr. King's producers have wide autonomy.
"Larry is sui generis," Mr. Klein said. "Larry does what Larry does. He has earned the right to pick his own topics."
Mr. Costas, who agreed to fill in for Mr. King on 20 occasions, said that no bridges were burned by his decision to steer clear of the Holloway case. It was "completely amicable," Mr. Costas said. He is expected to continue filling in for Mr. King when his schedule allows.
Read the full article HERE.
# posted by ATN @ 7:15 AM
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
FNC Criticizes CNN for Too Much Coverage of Robertson Comments
FNC seems to be pointing the finger at CNN for too much coverage of the remarks made by 700 Club's Pat Robertson. The Newshounds picked up on the story. Here's what was found at FNC's website:
Pat not so powerful?
"Televangelist Pat Robertson's political influence may have been declining since he came in second in the Iowa Republican caucuses 17 years ago and he may have no clout with the Bush administration, but you wouldn't know that from watching CNN today.
CNN covered his call for Hugo Chavez's assassination at length, undeterred by the fact that during the noon hour CNN's own analyst, Bill Schneider, said Robertson had little influence. At the top of the next hour, there it was again followed by a glowing report on the alliance between Chavez and Cuban President Fidel Castro. And it led CNN's three-hour "Situation Room," followed minutes later by live coverage of reaction from the Venezuelan ambassador, and then nearly two hours after that an in-studio interview with the ambassador."
To me it sounds like CNN was just covering the news. It was the lead story at 5pm today on a local news station and even made news this morning on the network and evening newscasts. I wonder how much time FNC devoted to the story? I bet it was just ran in one of its one minute 'news' updates. I find the story interesting myself. A devout Christian Leader calls for the killing of another human being.
Pat not so powerful?
"Televangelist Pat Robertson's political influence may have been declining since he came in second in the Iowa Republican caucuses 17 years ago and he may have no clout with the Bush administration, but you wouldn't know that from watching CNN today.
CNN covered his call for Hugo Chavez's assassination at length, undeterred by the fact that during the noon hour CNN's own analyst, Bill Schneider, said Robertson had little influence. At the top of the next hour, there it was again followed by a glowing report on the alliance between Chavez and Cuban President Fidel Castro. And it led CNN's three-hour "Situation Room," followed minutes later by live coverage of reaction from the Venezuelan ambassador, and then nearly two hours after that an in-studio interview with the ambassador."
To me it sounds like CNN was just covering the news. It was the lead story at 5pm today on a local news station and even made news this morning on the network and evening newscasts. I wonder how much time FNC devoted to the story? I bet it was just ran in one of its one minute 'news' updates. I find the story interesting myself. A devout Christian Leader calls for the killing of another human being.
# posted by ATN @ 11:23 PM
Klein Calls FNC Coverage 'Meaningless Nonsense'
From Drudge: CNN President Jonathan Klein implies ratings news leader FOXNEWS is mired in coverage of "meaningless nonsense," claiming: "Fourteen Americans dead, and they have Natalee Holloway on," Klein says. "And they're supposedly America's news channel."
"It's easy and it's brainless," Klein charges in a telephone interview set for publication at the NEW YORK TIMES, explaining why cable news outlets are gravitating to the Aruba story. "They're looking for an ongoing drama" along the lines of the NBC crime show "Law & Order," he said, adding, "Except 'Law & Order' doesn't do the same plot every night."
"There are an awful lot of things you can cover if you don't have people tied up with this meaningless nonsense," Klein says.
In early July, Klein pulled CNN's correspondent out of Aruba and dropped the subject from most CNN shows in the absence of new developments.
"If Jon performed as well as he talks, he wouldn't have to explain his network's dismal ratings," says Irena Briganti, a spokeswoman for FOXNEWS. "We have trounced him on every breaking news story from the London bombings and last week's events in Gaza."
"It's easy and it's brainless," Klein charges in a telephone interview set for publication at the NEW YORK TIMES, explaining why cable news outlets are gravitating to the Aruba story. "They're looking for an ongoing drama" along the lines of the NBC crime show "Law & Order," he said, adding, "Except 'Law & Order' doesn't do the same plot every night."
"There are an awful lot of things you can cover if you don't have people tied up with this meaningless nonsense," Klein says.
In early July, Klein pulled CNN's correspondent out of Aruba and dropped the subject from most CNN shows in the absence of new developments.
"If Jon performed as well as he talks, he wouldn't have to explain his network's dismal ratings," says Irena Briganti, a spokeswoman for FOXNEWS. "We have trounced him on every breaking news story from the London bombings and last week's events in Gaza."
# posted by ATN @ 10:30 PM
Battle of the Cable News Blogs
Forget about the cable news race, it seems now there is a battle brewing in the cable news blog arena. Read all about it HERE. One of them got some great training from the folks at FNC.
# posted by ATN @ 6:38 PM
Now Here's Some Breaking News
This from Jossip: Somehow a silly (likely minor) accident involving an SUV on West 39th Street was a big enough story to warrant coverage on Wolf Blitzer's The Situation Room. Because if the same thing happened in Camden, Arkansas, we're sure Wolf would've been on top of it. Media-fucking-centrics. But we're sure glad they're making use of all those video screens over there.
# posted by ATN @ 5:43 PM
Costas Praised for Saying NO to Holloway Story
Source: The Wilmington News-Journal Meet Bob Costas, media dissenter.
Mr. Costas, best known for announcing sports games, did something unthinkable for a broadcaster these days. He acted on principle.
Bravo.
Mr. Costas refused to exploit the tragedy of Natalee Holloway, the Alabama teenager who disappeared weeks ago while vacationing in Aruba. Mr. Costas was the scheduled fill-in host on Larry King's CNN talk show. But when he learned that the topic would be Miss Holloway -- again -- he "respectfully declined to participate."
Miss Holloway's disappearance is a terrible thing, especially for her family and friends. Unfortunately, this being a slow-news summer and cable TV networks being what they are, her disappearance was ripe for exploitation.
The main exploiter is Greta Van Susteren on Fox News. She has been floundering about for a topic since Laci Peterson's murderous husband was convicted and put away. MORE
Mr. Costas, best known for announcing sports games, did something unthinkable for a broadcaster these days. He acted on principle.
Bravo.
Mr. Costas refused to exploit the tragedy of Natalee Holloway, the Alabama teenager who disappeared weeks ago while vacationing in Aruba. Mr. Costas was the scheduled fill-in host on Larry King's CNN talk show. But when he learned that the topic would be Miss Holloway -- again -- he "respectfully declined to participate."
Miss Holloway's disappearance is a terrible thing, especially for her family and friends. Unfortunately, this being a slow-news summer and cable TV networks being what they are, her disappearance was ripe for exploitation.
The main exploiter is Greta Van Susteren on Fox News. She has been floundering about for a topic since Laci Peterson's murderous husband was convicted and put away. MORE
# posted by ATN @ 5:16 PM
Another Missing Person Story Makes 'News' on Cable
An e-mailer asks this question: "Ponder this, who will "host" LKL tonight, Tuesday as King's own last 'Live" show was over a week ago and the subject tonight is "where is Olivia Newton-Johns missing boyfriend? The mind reels."
# posted by ATN @ 5:01 PM
Hear Novak Tell All!
Source: Village Voice Robert Novak, whose "confidential" sources helped him light the match that set off the Plamegate wildfire, is now on the Internet blithely hawking "confidential" sessions with Washington's power elite. He's only asking $595 a person. The invitation says: "This meeting is 100% off the record." The e-mail letter goes on to explain that the secrecy is necessary so that the speakers can speak candidly and tell the truth. The truth, in the nation's capital—that's certainly worth $595. MORE
# posted by ATN @ 4:13 PM
Inquiring Minds Wanna Know
Is Rudi Bakhtiar gone from CNN? Inside Cable News has made the observation Rudi's bio has been taken off CNN.com. It has been awhile since she has popped up Anderson Cooper 360.
# posted by ATN @ 8:33 AM
Natalie Holloway Saga Caught Aruban Officials Off Guard
It seems folks in Aruba aren't used to BIG media attention in any case. In an article in the St. Petersburg Times, Matthew Felling of the Center for Media and Public Affairs in Washington, D.C. says, "They are the "Not ready for prime time island." The article continues, Felling, and other media watchdogs, say Aruba is a victim of a network fascination with missing white women as ideal fodder for 24-hour cable TV.
"The networks realized that there is nothing more durable than the damsel-in-distress," he said, reciting a growing list of cases, going back to Chandra Levy, Elizabeth Smart and Laci Peterson.
At first, Aruban authorities handled the Holloway case as they would any other.
Like most European-based police and judicial systems, little public information was released. That smacked of a coverup in the minds of the U.S. media, which is used to a steady diet of tips from police and judicial sources.
The government tried to counter that by staging a handful of press conferences. They explained Aruba's discreet judicial system. They explained that 20 percent of the 500-man police force was working the case. Behind the scenes, FBI and Dutch authorities were also involved, they said. MORE
"The networks realized that there is nothing more durable than the damsel-in-distress," he said, reciting a growing list of cases, going back to Chandra Levy, Elizabeth Smart and Laci Peterson.
At first, Aruban authorities handled the Holloway case as they would any other.
Like most European-based police and judicial systems, little public information was released. That smacked of a coverup in the minds of the U.S. media, which is used to a steady diet of tips from police and judicial sources.
The government tried to counter that by staging a handful of press conferences. They explained Aruba's discreet judicial system. They explained that 20 percent of the 500-man police force was working the case. Behind the scenes, FBI and Dutch authorities were also involved, they said. MORE
# posted by ATN @ 7:27 AM
Monday, August 22, 2005
No More FOX For CNN
Roger Ailes is on the war path to quickly severe ties between CNN and FOX TV stations. Ailes had this to say in an article in TV Week:
"Mr. Ailes dished about the competition, CNN, whose longstanding affiliate relationship with the Fox stations he is expected to abolish as soon as he is able."
ALSO
"One thing Ailes-watchers can put big money on: He will, with a great deal of satisfaction, if not outright glee, confront the supreme irony of Fox-owned stations having been allowed to remain affiliates of CNN well after he turned 9-year-old Fox News Channel into the King Kong of cable news and reduced CNN to the butt of his jokes."
"Mr. Ailes dished about the competition, CNN, whose longstanding affiliate relationship with the Fox stations he is expected to abolish as soon as he is able."
ALSO
"One thing Ailes-watchers can put big money on: He will, with a great deal of satisfaction, if not outright glee, confront the supreme irony of Fox-owned stations having been allowed to remain affiliates of CNN well after he turned 9-year-old Fox News Channel into the King Kong of cable news and reduced CNN to the butt of his jokes."
# posted by ATN @ 7:10 PM
HLN Beats CNN/US at 8pm 10pm and 11pm Friday
I hear the biz is all about ratings and numbers so here we go. Nancy Grace beat PZN in the 8pm hour and NewsNight in the 10pm hour. Even Showbiz Tonight beat Lou Dobbs Tonight at 11pm. Here are the numbers Inside Cable News:
8PM - O’Reilly Factor - 1,891,000 Nancy Grace - 713,000 Paula Zahn Now - 494,000 Countdown with Keith Olbermann- 269,000 CNBC On Assignment - 30,000
9 PM - Hannity & Colmes - 1,545,000 Larry King Live - 768,000 Rita Cosby - 373,000 Prime News Tonight - 337,000 Mad Money -113,000
10PM- On the Record w/Greta Van Susteren- 1,614,000 Nancy Grace (r) - 367,000 Scarborough Country - 356,000 NewsNight with Aaron Brown - 348,000 Donny Deutsch - 91,000
11PM -The O’Reilly Factor - 974,000 Showbiz Tonight - 297,000 Lou Dobbs Tonight - 176,000 The Situation (sub host) - 150,000 CNBC on Assignment - 52,000
8PM - O’Reilly Factor - 1,891,000 Nancy Grace - 713,000 Paula Zahn Now - 494,000 Countdown with Keith Olbermann- 269,000 CNBC On Assignment - 30,000
9 PM - Hannity & Colmes - 1,545,000 Larry King Live - 768,000 Rita Cosby - 373,000 Prime News Tonight - 337,000 Mad Money -113,000
10PM- On the Record w/Greta Van Susteren- 1,614,000 Nancy Grace (r) - 367,000 Scarborough Country - 356,000 NewsNight with Aaron Brown - 348,000 Donny Deutsch - 91,000
11PM -The O’Reilly Factor - 974,000 Showbiz Tonight - 297,000 Lou Dobbs Tonight - 176,000 The Situation (sub host) - 150,000 CNBC on Assignment - 52,000
# posted by ATN @ 5:33 PM
A Blog Reader Wonders.....
This from an e-mailer: "White House Correspondent Suzanne Malveaux was pinch hitting for Fredericka Whitfield who had weekend morning fill-in duties for the second time in three weeks. Hmmm are CNN suits testing the chemistry between Fred and Tony? "
# posted by ATN @ 4:59 PM
CNNRadio to Discuss Supreme Court Nomination Process
Source: CNN PressRoom CNNRadio will air a special live one-hour program focusing on the upcoming Senate confirmation process for Judge John G. Roberts. The program will be hosted by CNNRadio anchor Stan Case for the nearly 2,000 CNNRadio affiliates.“The Road to the High Court” will air live Thursday, Aug. 25, from 2-3 p.m. (ET). Program participants will discuss how partisan politics plays a role in the Supreme Court nomination process. Scheduled guests include former Supreme Court nominee Robert Bork, Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), and Supreme Court historian David Yalof. The program will be produced by CNNRadio supervising producer Sherri Maksin.
“The road traveled by a Supreme Court nominee is a long winding one sometimes filled with revelations and scandals,” said Jerry DeMink, vice president, CNN News Services. “This CNNRadio program will provide affiliates an inside look at the nomination process from the point of view of former nominee Robert Bork with additional commentary from elected officials, historians and others.”
# posted by ATN @ 3:46 PM
CNN's Worm Coverage a Good Thing?
An article in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer suggests CNN's computer worm coverage last week just might have alerted corporate adminstrators to apply the patch to their system's computers before they got bit.
"In fact, in some respects, the urgent tone of the coverage may have helped, said David Perry, director of education with antivirus company Trend Micro and one of the experts on Blitzer's show Tuesday. Reports of a spreading worm may have caused corporate systems administrators to jump into action to apply the patch that Microsoft had supplied the previous week."
Read the full article HERE.
"In fact, in some respects, the urgent tone of the coverage may have helped, said David Perry, director of education with antivirus company Trend Micro and one of the experts on Blitzer's show Tuesday. Reports of a spreading worm may have caused corporate systems administrators to jump into action to apply the patch that Microsoft had supplied the previous week."
Read the full article HERE.
# posted by ATN @ 8:25 AM
Cronkite On Cable News
Former CBS Evening News anchor Walter Cronkite tells us what he thinks in an article today in the The UK Observer. Here's his thoughts about cable news:
'I think most of the 24-hour news now done by so many cable stations is valuable, but not all of it. We have the talk shows that are shouting matches now - they're entertainment, not informational, and that seems unnecessary to me. On the other hand the whole next wave is beginning with the internet. The young people today are spending their time at the computer rather than the television set. This is going to change the balance quite a lot. It's going to bring us back to print journalism and we may eventually be able to get hold of young people again.'
Read the complere article HERE.
'I think most of the 24-hour news now done by so many cable stations is valuable, but not all of it. We have the talk shows that are shouting matches now - they're entertainment, not informational, and that seems unnecessary to me. On the other hand the whole next wave is beginning with the internet. The young people today are spending their time at the computer rather than the television set. This is going to change the balance quite a lot. It's going to bring us back to print journalism and we may eventually be able to get hold of young people again.'
Read the complere article HERE.
# posted by ATN @ 7:13 AM
Larry King to Speak in Sacramento
Source: The California Aggie Emmy award-winning broadcaster Larry King will appear in Sacramento on Saturday night as a guest speaker for the UC Davis Cancer Center’s sixth annual Celebration Gala.
King, the host of CNN’s popular talk show “Larry King Live,” will be the first-ever guest speaker at the annual gala and will speak on various topics, including his own life.
The black-tie affair will also feature a cocktail reception, dinner, dancing and music courtesy of The Cheeseballs.
Sponsored by The Regent Foundation and underwritten by Comcast, the Celebration Gala is an opportunity to celebrate cancer survivors as well as a method to fundraise for the UC Davis Cancer Center.
King, the host of CNN’s popular talk show “Larry King Live,” will be the first-ever guest speaker at the annual gala and will speak on various topics, including his own life.
The black-tie affair will also feature a cocktail reception, dinner, dancing and music courtesy of The Cheeseballs.
Sponsored by The Regent Foundation and underwritten by Comcast, the Celebration Gala is an opportunity to celebrate cancer survivors as well as a method to fundraise for the UC Davis Cancer Center.
# posted by ATN @ 7:08 AM
AM's New Temporary Digs
American Morning began broadcasting from the Time Warner Center this morning. AM will continue to broadcast from the temporary set until its new newsroom set is constructed. It has been reported the new set could be finished by the end of the year. The move brings together all of CNN’s New York-based shows under one roof. The new digs are quite colorful. Miles and Soledad joked at the beginning of the program, saying the window is now closed.
CNN/US President had this to say about the move in an article a couple of weeks ago: "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."
Many have wondered what will become of the old American Morning studio in the Time Life building. The YES Network is expected to take over that space.
UPDATE: 7:19 am ET Hmmm... Has Miles and Soledad been told to keep the chit chat to nothing? Chad Myers was trying to ask Miles about the new set and Miles said that's enough of that what about the weather. I will have to say so far this morning on AM I have seen several LIVE shots versus taped packages and the pace of the program seems to be up.
7:30am ET Carol Costello is doing the "Now in the News" updates. No desk for her on the new set, she did the update standing.
Update 3:55pm ET: CNN Fan has several pics and a video of the new set. Below are just a couple you will find HERE.
# posted by ATN @ 7:05 AM
Sunday, August 21, 2005
Dilbert's Easy News Channel
Check out today's Dilbert cartoon. Was not sure how long it would stay up on Dilbert's website so I uploaded to another location.
# posted by ATN @ 5:27 PM
FNC Hates America
Fox News hates America, oh yes they do. Jon Stewart has the dirt. One Good Move has the video. This is quite funny.
# posted by ATN @ 12:08 PM
Big Three Need New Mind-Sets
South Bend Tribune Columnist Alesia Redding seems to think the network news programs serve a purpose but must go in a new direction to retain and gain viewers. Below is an excerpt from the article:
"Sure, it's the end of the total domination of the Big Three newscasts, which once held a monopoly on the news and set the agenda.
But that shift didn't happen in the last several months, with the retirements of Tom Brokaw and Dan Rather and the death of Jennings. No, that's been happening in the years since CNN and the Fox News Channel completely changed the dynamics of television news. Small adjustments -- such as a later start time and perhaps a bit more time for reporting packages -- would be a welcome acknowledgment of those changes. CBS seems to be shifting in a new direction, with its Bob Schieffer-led newscast, which breaks the "anchor as voice of God" mode that the networks have relied on for so long.
As network news analyst Andrew Tyndall said in a recent USA Today story, networks have to "stop thinking in terms of big anchors and salaries and start thinking about formats and where the most interesting stories on these broadcasts can be repurposed.""
"Sure, it's the end of the total domination of the Big Three newscasts, which once held a monopoly on the news and set the agenda.
But that shift didn't happen in the last several months, with the retirements of Tom Brokaw and Dan Rather and the death of Jennings. No, that's been happening in the years since CNN and the Fox News Channel completely changed the dynamics of television news. Small adjustments -- such as a later start time and perhaps a bit more time for reporting packages -- would be a welcome acknowledgment of those changes. CBS seems to be shifting in a new direction, with its Bob Schieffer-led newscast, which breaks the "anchor as voice of God" mode that the networks have relied on for so long.
As network news analyst Andrew Tyndall said in a recent USA Today story, networks have to "stop thinking in terms of big anchors and salaries and start thinking about formats and where the most interesting stories on these broadcasts can be repurposed.""
# posted by ATN @ 11:50 AM
