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Despite its achievements in pioneering the first 24-hour news channel, CNN has not been immune from criticism in its production of news programming.
Despite its achievements in pioneering the first 24-hour news channel, CNN has not been immune from criticism in its production of news programming.


*Amongst the criticisms levied against CNN, as well as the other major US news channels, is the charge that CNN took a ‘kid gloves’ approach to the Bush administration, particularly after the terrorists attacks of September 11th 2001. Critics take particularly strong exception to the handling of the Bush administrations rhetoric leading up to the invasion of Iraq in 2003. CNN’s own veteran reporter Christina Amanpour characterized the behavior of the news media as ‘self-muzzling’ and as ‘cheerleaders for the Bush war drive against Iraq”. [http://www.socialistworker.org/2003-2/470/470_09_MediaMuzzle.shtml] [http://www.usatoday.com/life/columnist/mediamix/2003-09-14-media-mix_x.htm]. CNN had also been critisized for excessively pushing 'human interest' stories and avoiding depictions of the violent images of events during the war; the result of all this being a 'propagandistic' presentation of news. [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m4021/is_6_25/ai_105777529]
*[[Eason Jordan]] admitted in the New York Times that he withheld information of Saddam Hussein's atrocities in order to gain access to him during the 2003 Iraq War. In 2005, he resigned after allegations arose on a blog that he accused the U.S. Military of purposely killing journalists.


*In 2000, Lou Dobbs left CNN, reportedly due to heated clashes with then-president [[Rick Kaplan]] , [http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewNation.asp?Page=\Nation\archive\200009\NAT20000830a.html] who was frequently accused of manipulating news programs to present a liberal slant. [http://secure.mediaresearch.org/news/cyberalert/1997/cyb19970806.html] Dobbs returned the following year at the behest of CNN founder Ted Turner.
*In 2000, Lou Dobbs left CNN, reportedly due to heated clashes with then-president [[Rick Kaplan]] , [http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewNation.asp?Page=\Nation\archive\200009\NAT20000830a.html] who was frequently accused of manipulating news programs to present a liberal slant. [http://secure.mediaresearch.org/news/cyberalert/1997/cyb19970806.html] Dobbs returned the following year at the behest of CNN founder Ted Turner.

Revision as of 15:22, 12 January 2006

Cable News Network
Typecable television network
BrandingCNN
Country
United States
AvailabilityUnited States, worldwide (via CNN International), online (via CNN Pipeline)
OwnerTurner Broadcasting / Time Warner
Key people
Reese Schonfeld
Launch date
June 1, 1980
Official website
cnn.com

The Cable News Network, usually referred to as CNN, is a cable television network founded in 1980 by Ted Turner and Reese Schonfeld [1] [2] (although the latter is not currently recognized in CNN's official history). It is a division of the Turner Broadcasting System, owned by Time Warner. CNN introduced the concept of 24-hour television news coverage, and celebrated its 25th anniversary on June 1, 2005.

In terms of cumulative Nielsen ratings, CNN rates as America's #1 cable news network, however falls short to Fox News in long-term viewers; the network is the most-watched 24-hour news network in the world. CNN primarily from its headquarters at the CNN Center in Atlanta, and from studios in New York City and Washington, DC. As of December 2004, it is available in 88.2 million U.S. households and more than 890,000 U.S. hotel rooms. Globally, the network has combined branded networks and services that are available to more than 1.5 billion people in over 212 countries and territories.

History

File:CNN911scrn.jpg
CNN coverage of the September 11, 2001 attacks
File:IraqWarCoverage-CNN.jpg
CNN Iraq war coverage

Since CNN's launch on June 1, 1980, the network has expanded its reach to a number of cable and satellite television networks (such as CNN Headline News), 12 web sites, two private place-based networks (such as CNN Airport Network), and two radio networks. The network has 42 bureaus around the world and more than 900 affiliates worldwide. CNN has launched many regional and foreign-language networks around the world. CNN debuted its news website CNN.com (then referred to as CNN Interactive) on August 30, 1995, which it describes as the first major news and information website on the Internet.

CNN's global reputation was greatly enhanced in 1991 during the Gulf War, where its saturation coverage was carried around the world. It obtained much of that coverage through close cooperation with the U.S. government, which led to accusations that it did not attempt to investigate the claims of the U.S. government during the war. A television movie, Live from Baghdad, was later made about the network's coverage of the war. Coverage of this and other conflicts and crises of the early 1990s (including, perhaps most famously, the Battle of Mogadishu) led to the coining of the term "the CNN effect", which testified to the perceived impact its pioneering real time, 24 hour news coverage had in influencing the decision-making processes of the American government.

CNN International now provides regional editions of its news service, in response to foreign demand for less U.S.-centric news coverage, and also rival services such as BBC World and Sky News. It uses local reporters in many of its news-gathering centers, though they cover stories from an international (some would still say U.S.) perspective.

On September 11, 2001, CNN was the first network to break news of what would prove to be the September 11 attacks. Anchor Carol Lin was on the air at that time.

File:Zahn-crop.jpg
Paula Zahn

CNN launched two specialty news channels for the American market which would later close amid competitive pressure: CNNSI shut down in 2002, and CNNfn shut down after nine years on the air in December 2004.

CNN has also been parodied. See for instance, Groland and CNNNN. Many movies outside of the Turner Broadcasting Network also mention CNN in their storylines. Ted Turner doesn't mind as long as they don't use CNN for promotional purposes or for malicious use.

The most famous station ID is a five-second musical jingle with James Earl Jones's simple but classic line, "This is CNN." Jones' voice can still be heard today in updated station IDs.

The term "CNNing" [3] is sometimes used to refer to how television news has become "news entertainment" by focusing on celebrity, ratings, storylines, and spectacle, as well as on its own authority and corporate-related products and features.

Management

The current President of CNN/U.S. is Jonathan Klein. He was appointed in November 2004.

CNN shows

Current CNN shows

File:Cnn am.jpg
American Morning anchors Miles O'Brien and Soledad O'Brien.
  • American Morning - The network's morning news program, airing from 6-10am ET. Hosted by former NBC News anchor Soledad O'Brien and Miles O'Brien. Carol Costello provides news updates.
  • The Situation Room- A fast-paced look at the day's top stories, focusing on politics and homeland security. Anchored by Wolf Blitzer. Airs weekdays from 4-6pm ET and from 7-8 pm ET.
  • Lou Dobbs Tonight - A nightly news and discussion program that airing live at 6pm ET weeknights; evolved from Moneyline, a nightly business newscast.
  • Paula Zahn Now - A look at the current issues affecting the world, with former CBS and Fox News anchor Paula Zahn. Airing at 8pm ET weeknights.
  • Larry King Live - A nightly talk program that airs daily at 9pm ET and reruns 12am-1am ET.
  • Anderson Cooper 360° - A fast-paced, nightly news program with former ABC News reporter Anderson Cooper. Airs weekdays from 10pm-12am ET, and reruns 1am-3am ET.
  • Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer - CNN's political talk show, similar to CBS's "Face the Nation" or NBC's "Meet the Press." Airs from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. EST on Sundays.

Former CNN shows

CNN specialized channels

CNN personalities

Past

Present

CNN Bureaus

Note: Boldface indicates that they are CNN's original bureaus, meaning they have been in operation since the network's foundin.

CNN Bureaus within United States

CNN Bureaus outside United States

Similar networks

The CNN format has been replicated by other cable news services (year of launch in parentheses):

Controversies and Allegations of Bias

See also: Media bias and Propaganda model

Despite its achievements in pioneering the first 24-hour news channel, CNN has not been immune from criticism in its production of news programming.

  • Amongst the criticisms levied against CNN, as well as the other major US news channels, is the charge that CNN took a ‘kid gloves’ approach to the Bush administration, particularly after the terrorists attacks of September 11th 2001. Critics take particularly strong exception to the handling of the Bush administrations rhetoric leading up to the invasion of Iraq in 2003. CNN’s own veteran reporter Christina Amanpour characterized the behavior of the news media as ‘self-muzzling’ and as ‘cheerleaders for the Bush war drive against Iraq”. [4] [5]. CNN had also been critisized for excessively pushing 'human interest' stories and avoiding depictions of the violent images of events during the war; the result of all this being a 'propagandistic' presentation of news. [6]
  • In 2000, Lou Dobbs left CNN, reportedly due to heated clashes with then-president Rick Kaplan , [7] who was frequently accused of manipulating news programs to present a liberal slant. [8] Dobbs returned the following year at the behest of CNN founder Ted Turner.
  • CNN has come under criticism by conservatives claiming that CNN has liberal bias. Critics have claimed that CNN's reporting contains liberal editorializing within news stories, and have jokingly referred to CNN as the "Clinton News Network," the "Communist News Network," or "Clearly Not Neutral".[9]
  • In 1998, CNN, in partnership with corporate sister Time magazine, ran a report that Operation Tailwind in 1970 in Indochina included use of Sarin gas to kill a group of defectors from the United States military. The Pentagon denied the story. Skeptics deemed it improbable that such an extraordinary and risky atrocity could have gone unnoticed at the height of the Vietnam War's unpopularity. CNN, after a two-week inquiry, issued a retraction. [10]. The story's producers, April Oliver and Jack Smith, were summarily sacked.

See also

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=CNN&oldid=34894305"