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How to fix CNN
Politico.com ^ | 3/31/10 | Michael Calderone

Posted on 03/31/2010 7:05:51 PM PDT by NormsRevenge

The future of CNN, never exactly bright the past couple of years, suddenly looked dire this week when ratings came out showing a 40 percent decline in prime time viewers since 2009.

Jon Klein, the network president, has consistently defended the network’s down-the-middle news strategy despite the increasingly large ratings leads opened up by MSNBC and particularly Fox, ..

So is it time for a radical re-thinking of “the most trusted name in news,” the network of Larry King, Anderson Cooper, Campbell Brown and Wolf Blitzer? We asked a dozen or so prominent media watchers, former industry executives and CNN personalities for their recommendations.

Their near-consensus: It has to change, get more personality, no longer be — as one media critic called it — “the view from nowhere.” ..

Bring back “Crossfire”

Ask a couple of former “Crossfire” hosts for a solution to CNN’s ratings troubles, and maybe it’s not a surprise what their answer is: Resurrect their old show.

Both Michael Kinsley and Bill Press — each of whom had stints taking the liberal side of the right vs. left political slugfest — think it’s worth a shot.

By bringing back “Crossfire,” they argue, CNN could continue with its strategy of not falling squarely on the left or the right in prime time, ..

Five years ago, one of Klein’s first orders of business after becoming network president was killing off the long-running show, a pioneer in high-decibel political debate which had been the recipient of harsh on-air criticism from "Daily Show" host Jon Stewart just a few months before.

“When he unceremoniously dumped it, Jon Klein said he wanted straight news and not commentary or opinion,” Kinsley told POLITICO. “And now he's got everyone expressing opinions left and right — because that's what people like.’

(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Miscellaneous; Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: cnn; fix; howto
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To: Raymann
CNN's problem is respect. They constantly insult, marginalize, and distort the views of conservatives. Then they claim they are down the middle just because they are not as far over the edge as MSNBC.

They lost the respect of the viewers because they don't show any respect when it comes to reporting both sides.

41 posted on 03/31/2010 7:39:32 PM PDT by eggman (Grab a mop Mr. Gibbs! Your boss is making another mess.)
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To: Prole

Are they brothers? They look so much alike!


42 posted on 03/31/2010 7:42:37 PM PDT by nolongerademocrat ("Before you ask G-d for something, first thank G-d for what you already have." B'rachot 30b)
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To: max americana

What do you have against sharks?


43 posted on 03/31/2010 7:42:55 PM PDT by meatloaf
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To: HapaxLegamenon
Crossfire and Inside Politics were they only shows I ever watched on CNN and they are both gone.

Only thing I ever watched was Crossfire on a rare occasion...CNN could disappear and I wouldn't notice it for weeks.

44 posted on 03/31/2010 7:43:53 PM PDT by highlander_UW (Happiness doesn't come from owning something; it comes from being a part of something)
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To: Carling
Jon Klein, the network president, has consistently defended the network’s down-the-middle news strategy

Like Susan Roesgen?


45 posted on 03/31/2010 7:44:56 PM PDT by ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas (Pat Caddell: Democrats are drinking kool-aid in a political Jonestown)
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To: NormsRevenge
defended the network’s down-the-middle news strategy


46 posted on 03/31/2010 7:49:27 PM PDT by softwarecreator (No more excuses ... we need to take our country back. Now.)
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To: NormsRevenge
How to fix CNN

Ya can't.  Best to tear it down & start over again.

47 posted on 03/31/2010 7:52:01 PM PDT by softwarecreator (No more excuses ... we need to take our country back. Now.)
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To: NormsRevenge

I know how CNN could soar in ratings — Tell the whole story, top to bottom, inside and out, and don’t spin it one way or the other. IOW, BE JOURNALISTS!

But CNN is the network of Campbell “The science is settled” Brown, daughter of a crim-o-crat icon ... and they wonder why less and less people buy into their BS.


48 posted on 03/31/2010 7:52:15 PM PDT by spodefly (This is my tag line. There are many like it, but this one is mine.)
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To: NormsRevenge

Don’t.

If it can’t manage in the free market, let it tank.


49 posted on 03/31/2010 7:53:26 PM PDT by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: NormsRevenge

close it


50 posted on 03/31/2010 7:54:32 PM PDT by The Wizard (I support Madam President, the only President in America today)
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To: NormsRevenge
the network president, has consistently defended the network’s down-the-middle news strategy

Of course that would be right down the middle of the leftmost lane.

51 posted on 03/31/2010 8:14:38 PM PDT by Iron Munro ("Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you." - Steinbeck)
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To: NormsRevenge

Fix it??

Let Rush buy it and run it like a good news channel.


52 posted on 03/31/2010 8:23:19 PM PDT by bitt ("WE THE PEOPLE" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVAhr4hZDJE)
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To: NormsRevenge

Crossfire was great with Buchanan, before he went psycho, Tom Braden, while he was psycho, Kinsley, Sununu, and a daily electronic food fight that was smart, vicious and hilarious all at the same time. Quite entertaining.


53 posted on 03/31/2010 8:24:39 PM PDT by Titus-Maximus (Light from Light)
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To: NormsRevenge

CNN is splitting up the pie of America-hating socialist goofballs with MSNBC, CBS, NBC, ABC, etc. Meanwhile, Fox News has normal Americans all to itself. It’s not fair. President Ubanga should do something about this


54 posted on 03/31/2010 8:24:56 PM PDT by Lancey Howard
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To: NormsRevenge

No. Let it crash and burn.


55 posted on 03/31/2010 8:25:28 PM PDT by Clock King (There's no way to fix D.C.)
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To: NormsRevenge

There is only one way to fix CNN. Fire Jon Klein.


56 posted on 03/31/2010 8:25:58 PM PDT by AlanD
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To: Titus-Maximus

Tom Braden and Bob Novack were always hating on each other . .


57 posted on 03/31/2010 8:26:47 PM PDT by AlanD
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To: NormsRevenge

You can’t polish a turd


58 posted on 03/31/2010 8:30:09 PM PDT by motor_racer (That which you manifest is before you.)
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To: NormsRevenge
The thoughtpolice will come and correct any errors to Newspeak, followed by a two-minute hate that ends with Big Brother giving us all calming, if vague, reassurances.

That will bring ratings up to 100% of those people whose whereabouts are still known...

George Orwell, we hardly knew ye...

59 posted on 03/31/2010 9:50:34 PM PDT by LachlanMinnesota
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To: timestax

bttt


60 posted on 04/01/2010 7:17:05 AM PDT by timestax (CNNLIES..BIG TIME)
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