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CNN

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For other uses, see CNN (disambiguation).
Cable News Network
TypeCable television network
BrandingCNN
Country
United States United States, Canada Canada
AvailabilityUnited States United States, worldwide (via CNN International), online (via CNN Pipeline), radio (news reports on the half hour)
OwnerTurner Broadcasting (Time Warner)
Key people
Reese Schonfeld
Launch date
June 1, 1980
Official website
www.cnn.com

The Cable News Network, commonly known as CNN, is a major cable television network founded in 1980 by Ted Turner.[1][2] It is a division of the Turner Broadcasting System, owned by Time Warner. CNN introduced the idea of 24-hour television news coverage, and celebrated its 25th anniversary on June 1, 2005.

In terms of cumulative (Cume) Nielsen ratings, CNN rates as America's #1 cable news network; however, it is surpassed by the Fox News Channel in long-term viewers (Nielsen's Points ratings). CNN broadcasts 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 American hotel rooms. The U.S version of CNN is also shown in Canada. Globally, the network airs through CNN International and 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's coverage of the September 11, 2001 attacks
File:IraqWarCoverage-CNN.jpg
CNN's 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.

A television movie, Live from Baghdad, was later made about the network's coverage of the first gulf 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 is still, however, second in world rankings when it comes to international news coverage, getting just over half of the audience the BBC does, perhaps due to its relative youth compared to the oldest largest news and broadcasting institution in the world. The BBC, known for its impartiality and unbiased reporting, differs from CNN International which uses local reporters in many of its news-gathering centers, although they cover stories from an international (some would still say U.S.) perspective. [citation needed]

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. Sean Murtagh, CNN vice-president for finance & administration, was the first network employee to get on the air.

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.

Jim Walton is the president of CNN Worldwide. The current President of CNN/U.S. is Jonathan Klein. He was appointed in November 2004.

In 2006, reacting to the wide-spread growth of social media and user-generated content, CNN launched CNN Exchange and CNN iReport, initiatives designed to further introduce and centralize the impact of everything from blogging to citizen journalism within the CNN brand.

Trivia

  • The most famous station ID is a five-second musical jingle with James Earl Jones' simple but classic line, "This is CNN." Jones' voice can still be heard today in updated station IDs.
  • The most widely-used slogan at time of writing is "The Most Trusted Name In News" as compared to Fox News' slogan "The Most Powerful Name In News" Fox retaliated with a new slogan usually used at the end of The Fox Report "The News Channel More Americans Trust... Period."
  • On March 21, 2006, the Gallup polling company dropped CNN as its outlet for electronic distribution, due in part to CNN's lower ratings.[3]
  • CNN has also been parodied. Many movies outside of the Turner Broadcasting Network also mention CNN in their storylines. In the movie Mr Bones appears a news network with the name "CCN", its logo being in the same font as CNN's. In the video game Desert Strike, CNN is parodied by calling the news station, EANN, with the EA standing for the video game company's name, Electronic Arts.
    See also: Groland and CNNNN

Current shows

Former shows

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Specialized channels

Personalities

Present

Past

Bureaus

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

United States

Worldwide

Controversies and allegations of bias

Main article: CNN controversies and allegations of bias

CNN has been accused of bias for allegedly promoting a liberal agenda based on previous incidents. It has also been accused of being slanted toward US interests when reporting on world conflicts and wars.[5] Critics such as LA Weekly say it is part of an alleged pro-war news media[1]. CNN denies any bias.

Similar networks

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

See also

References

  1. ^ Me and Ted ... Reese Schonfeld Bio
  2. ^ Charles Bierbauer, CNN senior Washington correspondent, discusses his 19-year career at CNN.
  3. ^ Gallup Polling Drops CNN After 'Low Ratings', Drudge Report
  4. ^ Rev. Jesse Jackson
  5. ^ CNN Exposed, cnnEXPOSED.com
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