Posted on 01/23/2006 3:16:01 PM PST by Racehorse
The cable network's Headline News outlet is poised to give a primetime slot to radio talk-show host Glenn Beck. He goes against everything that CNN has claimed to stand for -- a first-rate pedigree, a non-biased point of view and understated excellence. Beck's chief qualification is that he personifies controversy.
Then again, who do I think I'm kidding with this high-minded blather? OF COURSE, controversy alone is enough. In fact, it's PLENTY. If Beck catches on with his own unique audience, he'll get a shot to go on CNN. Then CNN will reckon that Bill O'Reilly will no longer be a factor on Fox and MSNBC's Joe Scarborough can go find himself a new country.
[. . .]
It's no secret that CNN has been panicking as rival Fox News relentlessly widened the ratings gap between itself and the former "Clinton News Network." Rather than stick to one journalistic style and let an audience gravitate to it (the secret to Fox's success), CNN changed approaches and personnel regularly and, naturally, failed to establish a clear identity with the public and the critics.
[. . .]
The talk-radio host Beck, as the witty Tim Goodman of the San Francisco Chronicle pointed out, "is just to the right of Attila the Hun." This is the guy who criticized some people who lost loved ones on 9/11 because they didn't agree with his political views. For good measure, he blasted some of the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
CNN shouldn't be running a news supermarket. It should stand for something -- anything. Not only would it be a better network, but the morale of its beleaguered troops would go up. Pssst -- so might those precious ratings.
(Excerpt) Read more at marketwatch.com ...
ambivalent here
Beck is a decent man but an acquired taste
Former???
Mr. Friedman's half-truths in characterizing Beck are an excellent example of why the old media is dying out. This type of silliness doesn't go unanswered anymore.
"Attila The Hun" was a liberal punchline for at least 40 years. Exceedingly stale.
I did chuckle, however, the first time somebody described Margaret Thatcher as "Attila The Hen".
What a kneeslapper! That Tim Goodman sure is witty alright.
Glenn Beck isn't a principled, intellectual conservative; he's a somewhat interesting, highly opinionated goofball with a conservative tendency.
CNN chose him as their "token conservative" because, if he sticks to his radio show's persona, he will outrage CNN's liberal audience with goofy takes on the news. That way CNN will reinforce how stupid and evil conservatives are to their liberal audience, create an "inside" story in CNN to increase viewership, and still be able to argue that they're "fair and balanced".
Beck is no dummy, though. He probably could be a good TV news person and reflect the conservative point of view positively. I'm not sure how well that would work for CNN's ratings, and that's all that really counts to TimeWarner.
Originally CNN was mocked as Chicken Noodle Network.
I believe that maxim's also been applied to the benevolent Ann Coulter. Someone on the Left needs to get a new line or two.
That's rich.
I guess CNN's journalistic style is "outrageous DNC partisanship" aimed at leftover leftists. When does the journalist (so-called) who wrote this piece expect the audience to start its gravitating? The strategy certainly hasn't worked lately.
No kidding? I thought it was originally the Clinton News Network. (Then again, I'm still kind of a youngin')
I remember when they first came on the air........You could get the news any time of the day or night. They were always there. It was news all the time, no other programming if I remember correctly.
Tim Goodman of the San Francisco Chronicle pointed out, "is just to the right of Attila the Hun."
I didn't know Attilla was a right winger.
"Beck is no dummy, though. He probably could be a good TV news person and reflect the conservative point of view positively. I'm not sure how well that would work for CNN's ratings, and that's all that really counts to TimeWarner."
I don't think he fits in at all. Their liberal audience won't tune in to watch him because of the extreme things he says (to draw attention to himself, naturally) and what conservative fans they have won't go for the obvious attempt to be like FNC.
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