Friday, February 09, 2007
CNN Announces New Senior Producer for Reliable Sources
Source: CNN Press Release CNN announced today that journalist Laura Ellsworth has joined the network as senior producer of the media criticism program Reliable Sources. The announcement was made by Lucy Spiegel, vice president and senior executive producer of CNN’s weekend public affairs programs.
Ellsworth was most recently the executive producer of Voice of America’s Eurasia television, which produces broadcasts for Russia , Ukraine and the Balkans. Her journalism career includes working as a producer for CNN, Headline News and Bloomberg television.
In addition to her media experience, Ellsworth brings to CNN significant policy experience from her tenure as an economic analyst for the U.S. embassy in the Ukraine and as a consultant for Price Waterhouse in the Ukraine . Ellsworth earned her bachelor’s of science degree at Georgetown University ’s School of Foreign Service .
“As CNN gears up for the accelerating presidential election and all the attendant media coverage, we’re pleased to bring aboard someone with Laura’s energy and range of experience,” Spiegel said.
Reliable Sources, which in October 2005 was expanded from 30 minutes to one full hour, is hosted by Washington Post media critic Howard Kurtz. In January 2007, Reliable Sources increased its P25-54 demo delivery 42 percent versus the previous year. The award-winning program is live at 10 a.m. (ET) every Sunday.
Ellsworth was most recently the executive producer of Voice of America’s Eurasia television, which produces broadcasts for Russia , Ukraine and the Balkans. Her journalism career includes working as a producer for CNN, Headline News and Bloomberg television.
In addition to her media experience, Ellsworth brings to CNN significant policy experience from her tenure as an economic analyst for the U.S. embassy in the Ukraine and as a consultant for Price Waterhouse in the Ukraine . Ellsworth earned her bachelor’s of science degree at Georgetown University ’s School of Foreign Service .
“As CNN gears up for the accelerating presidential election and all the attendant media coverage, we’re pleased to bring aboard someone with Laura’s energy and range of experience,” Spiegel said.
Reliable Sources, which in October 2005 was expanded from 30 minutes to one full hour, is hosted by Washington Post media critic Howard Kurtz. In January 2007, Reliable Sources increased its P25-54 demo delivery 42 percent versus the previous year. The award-winning program is live at 10 a.m. (ET) every Sunday.
# posted by ATN @ 12:14 PM 
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Anderson Cooper 360° Offers 24-hour Look at ‘ Murder City USA ’
Source: CNN Press Release nchor Anderson Cooper and a team of CNN correspondents show Anderson Cooper 360° viewers a 24-hour stretch of crime and fear in the Crescent City when the program originates from New Orleans on Thursday, Feb. 8. The special “ Murder City USA ” airs throughout the program.“The city of New Orleans has already reported 18 slayings to date for 2007 and only one related arrest,” said David Doss, senior executive producer of Anderson Cooper 360°. “We offer viewers a 24-hour examination of a city overwhelmed in so many ways—and now with a fear of lawlessness.”
More than a year after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, citizens, police and city officials depict New Orleans ’ judicial system as a broken one. Over a 24-hour period starting at midnight (ET) tonight, correspondent Rick Sanchez rides with plain clothes officers on their early morning rounds; correspondent Randi Kaye profiles homicide victim Helen Hill and later reports on “misdemeanor murders” in which New Orleans courts often resort to plea deals and lesser charges to get convictions; correspondent Sean Callebs reports on the crime lab closest to New Orleans, 40 miles away; correspondent Susan Roesgen reports on citizens who say they live in fear every day after sundown; Cooper profiles Dinerral Shavers, the slain member of the Hot 8 Brass Band; and national correspondent Gary Tuchman reports on the large increase in juvenile crime.
# posted by ATN @ 4:21 PM
CNN, Nevada Democratic Party to Host Presidential Debate on Nov. 4
Source: CNN Press Release CNN and the Nevada Democratic Party will host the Nevada Democratic Presidential Debate on Sunday, Nov. 4 – exactly one year before the 2008 presidential election – at the University of Nevada , Las Vegas . CNN will serve as moderator and exclusive national broadcaster of the debate.
The Democratic Party positioned Nevada as a key state for the 2008 presidential campaign when it recently moved the Nevada caucuses between the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary.
“The Nevada Democratic Presidential Debate represents a significant addition to our extensive coverage plans for the upcoming presidential campaign,” said Jon Klein, president of CNN/U.S. “This debate puts CNN at the forefront of coverage in this important battleground state, whose citizens will play a critical, early role in the selection of the Democratic nominee.”
“I am happy that CNN recognizes the importance of Nevada as it prepares to play a key role in selecting the 2008 Democratic nominee,” said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.). “As I have said before, a candidate who can win in Nevada can capture the West and win the White House. As our partner in the November debate, CNN will highlight the issues that are important to the Western voters who hold the key to victory in 2008. I look forward to welcoming all the presidential candidates to Las Vegas for this pivotal debate.”
In addition to a live prime-time airing on CNN, the debate’s impact will be enhanced by extensive live coverage across CNN’s multiple platforms. The broadcasts will be made available to all CNN Radio affiliates worldwide. In addition, there will be special coverage on CNN.com; CNN Pipeline, CNN.com’s premium live news video service; CNN Podcasting; Headline News and CNN en Español.
The Democratic Party positioned Nevada as a key state for the 2008 presidential campaign when it recently moved the Nevada caucuses between the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary.
“The Nevada Democratic Presidential Debate represents a significant addition to our extensive coverage plans for the upcoming presidential campaign,” said Jon Klein, president of CNN/U.S. “This debate puts CNN at the forefront of coverage in this important battleground state, whose citizens will play a critical, early role in the selection of the Democratic nominee.”
“I am happy that CNN recognizes the importance of Nevada as it prepares to play a key role in selecting the 2008 Democratic nominee,” said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.). “As I have said before, a candidate who can win in Nevada can capture the West and win the White House. As our partner in the November debate, CNN will highlight the issues that are important to the Western voters who hold the key to victory in 2008. I look forward to welcoming all the presidential candidates to Las Vegas for this pivotal debate.”
In addition to a live prime-time airing on CNN, the debate’s impact will be enhanced by extensive live coverage across CNN’s multiple platforms. The broadcasts will be made available to all CNN Radio affiliates worldwide. In addition, there will be special coverage on CNN.com; CNN Pipeline, CNN.com’s premium live news video service; CNN Podcasting; Headline News and CNN en Español.
# posted by ATN @ 2:03 PM
Survivor's Help AC Cope; Considered Leaving CNN Last Year for Another Network
Hot off the press, Anderson Cooper graces the cover of March's Men's Journal. The article titled "Anderson Cooper's Private War" explores AC's personal life and his career as a journalist and how being out in the world with the survivors helps him cope. In the article AC reveals he considered leaving CNN to pursue an anchor job at another network."In early December Cooper was weighing whether to move from his post as host of CNN's nightly news program Anderson Cooper 360 to a traditional anchor position at another network. As he weighed this decision a woman named Angela kept playing on his mind. He's met her on a reporting trip to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in October, at a secret compound outside Goma run by a charity. Five months before, she'd been gang-raped by three soldiers in front of her children. They shot her in the right arm and burned one of her daughters across the stomach and chest. Angela's husband subsequently kicked her out of the house, fearing she might have contracted HIV, and she fled the village.
Cooper spent most of the day with Angela. She had long eyelashes and short braids and a gentle manner. "She was extraordinary beautiful, such a contrast with what'd been done to her. She had every reason to kill herself or spend the rest of her life stewing in hatred," he recounted with some awe. "Instead, she spoke of forgiveness: forgiving her husband and forgiving the men who had raped her."
To Cooper, Angela embodied the extremes of the human experience he has witnessed in his more than 15 years of international reporting: the unimaginable brutality and the expansive will to overcome it. Four million people have died in the DRC since 1998. "Four million in eight years." Cooper told an audience last December. "And virtually no one knows about it. '
" During 22 minutes of news from a desk in New York is just not for me," he said, explaining why he wasn't enticed by the anchor job. At CNN he could be out in the world encountering victims and survivors like Angela, bearing witness. And he needs that."
# posted by ATN @ 12:16 PM
ASBL: Dobbs Pulls Story on Diversion of Billions from America's Middle Class
Press Release from the American Small Business League:
Primetime news program Lou Dobbs Tonight dropped an investigative story exposing the diversion of billions of dollars in federal small-business set-aside contracts to some of the nation's largest corporations and defense contractors just hours before the segment was to air on CNN.
As part of Dobb's series, "The Attack on the Middle Class," the show's producers spent several weeks researching and filming the segment featuring Lloyd Chapman, contracting expert and president of the American Small Business League. During his interview with CNN, Chapman discussed a series of 13 federal investigations by the Government Accountability Office, Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy and the SBA Office of Inspector General that found billions of dollars in federal small business contracts were diverted to Fortune 500 corporations. The Bush Administration reported these contracts - awarded to firms like L3-Communications, General Dynamics, Halliburton and major CNN advertisers Boeing and Lockheed - as "small business" awards.
CNN producers told Chapman that the segment had been pulled in the wake of more pressing news stories but assured him that it would air shortly. After three months of waiting, Chapman has concluded that the station abruptly pulled the story to avoid embarrassing its major advertisers and has no intention of ever airing the segment.
"CNN is never going to run that story," said Chapman. "I think they pulled it because it was unflattering to its major advertisers, Lockheed Martin and Boeing. CNN's reputation as the most trusted name in news obviously doesn't apply when you're talking about its advertisers."
Primetime news program Lou Dobbs Tonight dropped an investigative story exposing the diversion of billions of dollars in federal small-business set-aside contracts to some of the nation's largest corporations and defense contractors just hours before the segment was to air on CNN.
As part of Dobb's series, "The Attack on the Middle Class," the show's producers spent several weeks researching and filming the segment featuring Lloyd Chapman, contracting expert and president of the American Small Business League. During his interview with CNN, Chapman discussed a series of 13 federal investigations by the Government Accountability Office, Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy and the SBA Office of Inspector General that found billions of dollars in federal small business contracts were diverted to Fortune 500 corporations. The Bush Administration reported these contracts - awarded to firms like L3-Communications, General Dynamics, Halliburton and major CNN advertisers Boeing and Lockheed - as "small business" awards.
CNN producers told Chapman that the segment had been pulled in the wake of more pressing news stories but assured him that it would air shortly. After three months of waiting, Chapman has concluded that the station abruptly pulled the story to avoid embarrassing its major advertisers and has no intention of ever airing the segment.
"CNN is never going to run that story," said Chapman. "I think they pulled it because it was unflattering to its major advertisers, Lockheed Martin and Boeing. CNN's reputation as the most trusted name in news obviously doesn't apply when you're talking about its advertisers."
# posted by ATN @ 11:20 AM
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
CNN.com Leads the Pack of Online News Sites in 2006
The Hollywood Reporter has a story today about the numbers released last week by CNN. The article repeats the numbers from the news release. Above is a graphic from the article.
# posted by ATN @ 1:57 PM
CNN-IBN Wins 5 Telly Awards
Source:IBN Live Five CNN-IBN shows have won honours at the Indian Telly Awards held in Mumbai on Tuesday evening.While CNN-IBN’s special show State of the Nation won the best news talk show, Missing in Action was adjudged the Best television documentary.
Our Special Investigation Teams Red Corridor, a story on the Naxals, was declared the was the best non-fiction programme on Indian television and Love of cricket won the best sports show award.
CNN-IBN's pathbreaking concept of Citizen Journalist won the Big Idea of the Year Award.
# posted by ATN @ 1:48 PM
CNN Going Mobile in Europe
Source: Associated Press Ericsson, the Swedish maker of mobile phone technology, said Monday it partnered with Turner Broadcasting System International to deliver news and programming to mobile phones.The deal will allow mobile phone users to receive and view content from Turner networks such as CNN International and the Cartoon Network. Turner is a unit of media conglomerate Time Warner Inc.
# posted by ATN @ 11:08 AM
Monday, February 05, 2007
AM Anchor to Receive President's Award at 38th NAACP Image Awards
Source: CNN Press Release NAACP President and CEO Bruce S. Gordon today announced that Soledad O’Brien, co-anchor of CNN’s “American Morning,” will receive the 2007 NAACP President's Award. The prestigious award, given in recognition of special achievement and distinguished public service, will be presented on Friday, March 2 during a live broadcast ( 8 p.m. ET /PT) of the 38th Image Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles .“We are delighted to recognize Soledad O’Brien and her achievements with this honor," said Gordon. "She is being recognized for her humanitarian efforts and journalistic excellence. She is also an intelligent, highly educated, powerful role model for all young women. She has been an inspiration to her viewers and colleagues through her welcoming smile, genuine concern for people and her consummate professionalism.”
O’Brien joined CNN’s “American Morning” in 2003, and since then has been a part of the team that broadcast award-winning coverage of Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath and the tsunami disaster in Southeast Asia in December 2004.
“There is a lot of diversity in reporting but Soledad often represents those who are not represented and gives them a voice,” Gordon added. “When she reports the news, she reports all of it. She tells the stories that need to be told and asks the hard questions that need to be asked and follows up often when others have moved on.”
# posted by ATN @ 10:32 PM
Sunday, February 04, 2007
CNN Apologizes to Bangladesh Government for Mistakes in Report
A tipster sends this in: "CNN gave a written apology to Bangladesh Government for mistakes in their reportage by their correspondent Seth Doane. The coverage showed video of Afghanistan camps and called it camps of terrorism in Bangladesh.Bureau chief Phil Turner is the one who apologized in writing."
# posted by ATN @ 11:05 PM
CNN Appoints Paula Newton as International Security Correspondent
Source: CNN Press Release With the increased emphasis on terrorism, security and cultural tension around the world, CNN has appointed Paula Newton to fill the newly created role of international security correspondent, it was announced today by Tony Maddox, senior vice president for CNN International newsgathering. Newton , an international correspondent for CNN since 2005, will be based in the network’s European headquarters in London .This new post will enable CNN to widen its coverage of the issues surrounding the threat of global terrorism, including the implementation of anti-terrorism measures, tensions within communities and immigration as well as the impact these issues have on the daily lives of people worldwide.
“This role has been created in recognition of the growing significance of international terrorism in the global news agenda,” Maddox said. “ London is on the frontline in the war on terrorism, and we want to use CNN’s strong newsgathering and production infrastructure in London to explore this issue.”
As international security correspondent, Newton will report for all of CNN’s services investigative stories involving terrorism, security, immigration and cultural conflict. The mandate is to primarily cover Britain and Europe but will also touch on issues in the Middle East, Africa and elsewhere.
Newton is a seasoned political reporter whose career has combined coverage of the wars in the Middle East , Kosovo and the Balkans with political affairs reporting from the major G8, NATO and Commonwealth Summits. She joined CNN following a 12-year career with the Canadian broadcaster CTV. Her high profile roles at CTV included Moscow bureau chief and national affairs correspondent in Ottawa . She also worked as the Atlantic affairs reporter in Halifax and Quebec affairs correspondent in Montreal and occasionally anchored some of CTV’s flagship new shows.
# posted by ATN @ 11:02 PM
Schonfeld: Loyal, but old best defines the current Fox audience
CNN co-founder Reese Schonfeld still watches and crunches the numbers in the cable news biz. His conclusion in his latest blog posting is FNC is for the loyal but old. He also comes to the conclusion that the people who like George Dubya Bush watch FNC. Once again not a big surprise there. Here's his write up about the recent State of the Union ratings:
If anybody ever doubted it, it has now been proven, at least to my satisfaction, that FoxNews viewing and George Bush are intractably entangled. Fox had the fourth and fifth most viewed primetime programs last week. Bush’s State of the Union was fourth and the Fox State of the Union Analysis was fifth. Neither CNN nor MSNBC had enough viewers to come in anywhere in the top fifty. Seemingly the people who still like George Bush are people who watch Fox. The other networks might as well not carry it.
The Bush viewing carried FoxNews into fourth place primetime viewing for the whole week. As to demographics, the great Fox numbers in total viewers did not help in the 18-49 audience segment. Though the programs had more than 4.5 million viewers they couldn’t get Fox into the top fifty cable programs for viewers under 50. Loyal, but old best defines the current Fox audience.
If anybody ever doubted it, it has now been proven, at least to my satisfaction, that FoxNews viewing and George Bush are intractably entangled. Fox had the fourth and fifth most viewed primetime programs last week. Bush’s State of the Union was fourth and the Fox State of the Union Analysis was fifth. Neither CNN nor MSNBC had enough viewers to come in anywhere in the top fifty. Seemingly the people who still like George Bush are people who watch Fox. The other networks might as well not carry it.
The Bush viewing carried FoxNews into fourth place primetime viewing for the whole week. As to demographics, the great Fox numbers in total viewers did not help in the 18-49 audience segment. Though the programs had more than 4.5 million viewers they couldn’t get Fox into the top fifty cable programs for viewers under 50. Loyal, but old best defines the current Fox audience.
# posted by ATN @ 10:51 PM
News Corp Head Admits "Trying" to Help Shape the Agenda of War in Iraq
We all knew it but now News Corp Head, FNC's parent company, Rupert Murdoch admits in 'trying' to help shape the war agenda in Iraq. Murdoch was on the panel at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland last week and was asked if News Corp. had managed to shape the agenda on the war in Iraq. Murdoch responded,"No, I don't think so. We tried [...] We basically supported the Bush policy in the Middle East...but we have been very critical of his execution."
Fair and balanced???? We report, you decide.
Fair and balanced???? We report, you decide.
# posted by ATN @ 10:35 PM
Iranian Parliament Member Criticizes Authorization for Christiane Amanpour and "Zionist Media"
Source: Islamic Republic News Agency "Member of Parliament from Tehran, Mehdi Kouchekzadeh, Sunday criticized authorization of CNN correspondent, Christiane Amanpour, for her activities in Iran.The lawmaker made the remark at a press conference held on the sidelines of today's Majlis open session.
"Authorizing those representing the countries which are obviously hostile to the Islamic Republic of Iran to enter Iran has no justification from viewpoint of the Iranian nation," he added.
The MP said that Iran's Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance as well as Foreign Ministry should be answerable to the nation about allowing an agent acting under the guise of the sacred profession of journalism to enter the country to release conspiratorial reports aiming to sow seeds of discord.
"We have all witnessed that over the past years, she released the worst reports to the people of the world, which contradicted the facts about Iranian society," he added.
Kouchekzadeh criticized the officials for inviting the Zionist media and their affiliates to the country to prove their support for democracy and freedom of speech.
"In addition to government organizations, people from all walks of life are bound to protect their environment from impurities," said the MP.
He said that reporters in Iran should have reacted to the presence of Amanpour in Iran. "
# posted by ATN @ 8:44 PM
Like Sands Through the Hourglass...These Are The Days of Cable News..
There's an article in Variety today about how blogs seem to be keeping feuds..namely feuds about cable news stirring these days. Below is an excerpt from the article:
"What ordinary viewers make of all this is anybody's guess, but any way you slice it, our media stars have begun spending an ungodly amount of time talking to -- or rather, at and about -- each other.
Certainly, it's hard to imagine anyone but the most committed Fox-philes or Fox-phobes being transfixed by Bill O'Reilly trading self-referential jabs with MSNBC's Joe Scarborough, who features the Fox News host so regularly within his MSNBC program that a channel-surfer could be forgiven for assuming O'Reilly is moonlighting as his co-host.
Most roads, in fact, lead to O'Reilly, the Fox News star who can't resist retaliating against any perceived slight, even against relatively obscure sources. Recent higher-profile targets have included "The View's" Joy Behar (for criticizing his comments about a long-missing, then-found child), "The Daily Show" (despite a cross-promotional stunt with "The Colbert Report"), U.S. TV critics and NBC News, which he accused last week of drifting into "dangerous territory" in making a "dramatic shift to the left," while awkwardly stretching to link CNBC anchor Maria Bartiromo's ethics cloud to the network's alleged bias.
CNN, for its part, thumbed its nose at Fox for running with a false story about Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. FNC shot back by comparing CNN anchor Anderson Cooper to Paris Hilton. Fox hosts also questioned aspects of CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer's interview with Vice President Dick Cheney.
Amid all this tongue-flapping, it's easy to overlook where the fracas began, but you don't have to look hard. At the heart of it sits MSNBC's acerbic Keith Olbermann who, in somewhat juvenile but occasionally quite funny fashion has made a sport of heckling direct timeslot competitor O'Reilly, frequently anointing him the "worst person in the world" in one of the show's daily features. (On Jan. 29, Olbermann, in rare form, bestowed two of his three "worst person" honors on a Fox News exec and the net's feisty PR department).
With O'Reilly having grown inordinately sensitive to what he characterizes as "smears" (much to the glee of up-punchers like Al Franken), his reps went so far as to appeal to NBC brass to rein in Olbermann, to no avail. Indeed, why change course when Olbermann's once-puny ratings have grown, spurring press attention that has seemingly angered O'Reilly further.
So O'Reilly widened his quarrel to include all of NBC News, insisting "no conservatives" are employed there, which came as news to Scarborough, a former Republican congressman. He has also begun "policing" TV critics, assuming that any negative comments directed at cable leader Fox (or praise for Olbermann) must be ideologically motivated. This reasoning would come as news to most critics -- consider the apolitical scorn heaped on summer blockbusters and many pop superstars -- but no matter.
A final impetus behind the feuding is a general infatuation with pop culture, which is seen as a bridge to attracting a younger audience to cable and talkradio outlets patronized mostly by senior citizens. Hence, poor Scarborough incorporates a pandering celebrity segment into his show, "Hollyweird," even if he appears uncomfortable venturing that far west of the Beltway.
There's something especially irritating about media figures devoting so much time to themselves in such a perilous age, but it parrots the blogosphere's cacophony of voices as well as the reality TV values that now permeate news -- manufacturing conflict and exalting personality at the expense of analysis and reporting.
Feuds clearly make filling airtime more personal and "edgy," which consultants surely love. With their gaze trained so steadfastly inward, though, these TV stars could be the last to know if it turns out the main audience for their verbal jousting is each other, blinded by the adoring faces they see in the mirror."
"What ordinary viewers make of all this is anybody's guess, but any way you slice it, our media stars have begun spending an ungodly amount of time talking to -- or rather, at and about -- each other.
Certainly, it's hard to imagine anyone but the most committed Fox-philes or Fox-phobes being transfixed by Bill O'Reilly trading self-referential jabs with MSNBC's Joe Scarborough, who features the Fox News host so regularly within his MSNBC program that a channel-surfer could be forgiven for assuming O'Reilly is moonlighting as his co-host.
Most roads, in fact, lead to O'Reilly, the Fox News star who can't resist retaliating against any perceived slight, even against relatively obscure sources. Recent higher-profile targets have included "The View's" Joy Behar (for criticizing his comments about a long-missing, then-found child), "The Daily Show" (despite a cross-promotional stunt with "The Colbert Report"), U.S. TV critics and NBC News, which he accused last week of drifting into "dangerous territory" in making a "dramatic shift to the left," while awkwardly stretching to link CNBC anchor Maria Bartiromo's ethics cloud to the network's alleged bias.
CNN, for its part, thumbed its nose at Fox for running with a false story about Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. FNC shot back by comparing CNN anchor Anderson Cooper to Paris Hilton. Fox hosts also questioned aspects of CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer's interview with Vice President Dick Cheney.
Amid all this tongue-flapping, it's easy to overlook where the fracas began, but you don't have to look hard. At the heart of it sits MSNBC's acerbic Keith Olbermann who, in somewhat juvenile but occasionally quite funny fashion has made a sport of heckling direct timeslot competitor O'Reilly, frequently anointing him the "worst person in the world" in one of the show's daily features. (On Jan. 29, Olbermann, in rare form, bestowed two of his three "worst person" honors on a Fox News exec and the net's feisty PR department).
With O'Reilly having grown inordinately sensitive to what he characterizes as "smears" (much to the glee of up-punchers like Al Franken), his reps went so far as to appeal to NBC brass to rein in Olbermann, to no avail. Indeed, why change course when Olbermann's once-puny ratings have grown, spurring press attention that has seemingly angered O'Reilly further.
So O'Reilly widened his quarrel to include all of NBC News, insisting "no conservatives" are employed there, which came as news to Scarborough, a former Republican congressman. He has also begun "policing" TV critics, assuming that any negative comments directed at cable leader Fox (or praise for Olbermann) must be ideologically motivated. This reasoning would come as news to most critics -- consider the apolitical scorn heaped on summer blockbusters and many pop superstars -- but no matter.
A final impetus behind the feuding is a general infatuation with pop culture, which is seen as a bridge to attracting a younger audience to cable and talkradio outlets patronized mostly by senior citizens. Hence, poor Scarborough incorporates a pandering celebrity segment into his show, "Hollyweird," even if he appears uncomfortable venturing that far west of the Beltway.
There's something especially irritating about media figures devoting so much time to themselves in such a perilous age, but it parrots the blogosphere's cacophony of voices as well as the reality TV values that now permeate news -- manufacturing conflict and exalting personality at the expense of analysis and reporting.
Feuds clearly make filling airtime more personal and "edgy," which consultants surely love. With their gaze trained so steadfastly inward, though, these TV stars could be the last to know if it turns out the main audience for their verbal jousting is each other, blinded by the adoring faces they see in the mirror."
# posted by ATN @ 8:11 PM
