Try reading the following without busting out in uproarious laughter: the good folks at CNN see themselves as the "middle ground" between Fox News and MSNBC -- "the only news channel to give you all sides."
"No spin. No affiliation. No agenda."
Bet you can't.
Well, as hysterical as it might seem, such was asserted -- with a straight face, no less! -- in a Los Angeles Times piece Tuesday (emphasis added, h/t TVNewser):
To maintain its momentum, CNN is trying to seize the middle ground and distinguish itself from its rivals' opinion-laden programming, even with the outspoken Lou Dobbs on its schedule.
"Get the facts from the only news channel to give you all sides," declares a promotional spot on the network. "No spin. No affiliation. No agenda."
"The mood of the country today I think is aggressively independent," said Jon Klein, president of CNN/U.S., over lunch in his Time Warner Center office on a recent afternoon. "And what they're looking for are answers, not pat talking points generated by the party headquarters."
"The conventional wisdom up until now has been the more opinionated the better. Our competitors are doing that. . . . We've really tried hard to differentiate ourselves as the real news network."
Now THAT's entertainment!




















Editor at Large
Comments Policy
"No spin. No affiliation. No agenda."
June 11, 2008 - 09:30 ET by CTBULL$HIT
Yeah, that illustration on
June 11, 2008 - 09:34 ET by motherbeltYeah, that illustration on the right says it all, doesn't it?
Two words to that mess of
June 11, 2008 - 09:33 ET by taterTwo words to that mess of lies...Ted Turner.
www.theholyrosary.org
"There is no problem, I tell you, no matter how difficult it is, that we can not resolve by the prayer of the Holy Rosary." -Sister Lucia
sure...........
June 11, 2008 - 09:38 ET by Susan INow that Hillary is out of the running. They don't have to be Clinton News Network!
Minor relabeling no measurable change in content.
June 11, 2008 - 09:49 ET by CTCOMMUNIST NEWS NETWORK
No spin. No affiliation. No agenda
June 11, 2008 - 09:38 ET by sarcasmoNo libertarians whatsoever...
JMR
The tax & spend drug war looks racist in the real world.
No Libertarians?
June 11, 2008 - 10:38 ET by Roger the ShrubberBob Barr has been on Glen Beck's show on CNN's Headline News channel.
The Workers World Party, Green Party, Constitution Party, and Populist Party are all being ignored, too!
Gotta be a joke. There are
June 11, 2008 - 09:40 ET by bassndudeGotta be a joke. There are so many liberals at CNN they wouldn't know the other side.
Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!
a good laugh
June 11, 2008 - 09:48 ET by AgentAmerican...well, things haven't been the same since people could afford computers and get their information from upstarts like Drudge Report, and competition raised its ugly head (from the point of view of Tsar Turner) from Fox News.
Should we throw them a teddy bear and and a blankie? Read them a story...
Drill ANWAR
LOL
June 11, 2008 - 09:50 ET by pbthinkerActually, since it was in the LAT, it just might work, in California. Since that state is more liberal, than liberal, they would consider anything to the right of MSNBC, to be Conservative anyway. Too bad, for CNN, they've already crossed the line between editorial and news reporting, on too many occasions, to be considered in the middle of the political spectrum.
Democrats: Stuck on Stupid since 2000.
Logic would dictate
June 11, 2008 - 09:53 ET by JTPthat ratings would back up a statement that the people would watch the news that DID give both sides of candidates and issues.
If his "competitors" were not serving balanced news than would they not have higher ratings?
CNN has a lot of catching up to it's competitors to even come close to their ratings.
Logic would dictate
June 11, 2008 - 09:54 ET by JTPthat ratings would back up a statement that the people would watch the news that DID give both sides of candidates and issues.
If his "competitors" were not serving balanced news than would they not have higher ratings?
CNN has a lot of catching up to it's competitors to even come close to their ratings.
"No spin. No affiliation. No agenda." He left out opinion????
Yeah ...
June 11, 2008 - 10:24 ET by MeanderingRiiiiiiiiiigghhtt!
What about their
June 11, 2008 - 10:34 ET by dboWhat about their self-appointed slogan "The best political team on tv". What garbage.
Spongebob, Patrick & Mr. Krabbs
June 11, 2008 - 10:51 ET by SickofLibsOh please, Nickelodeon has a better political team.
Operation Tailwind
June 11, 2008 - 11:00 ET by iveseenitallRemember how the scum at CNN lied about Operation Tailwind? A blatant attempt to impune our military! Only two "journalists" were fired. They all should have been fired or worse. CNN is puke!
Who is Barry Sotero?
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
In my opinion they are
June 11, 2008 - 15:00 ET by Carl KolchakIn my opinion they are probably comparable to Deutscher Fernsehfunk.
Here is a good link that breaks down their reporting on Operation Tailwind by an actual Vet and not Arnett. CNN really seemed to be non-biased in that reporting and presented both sides now didn't they.
http://www.rjsmith.com/SOG-raid.html
"Well I got nothing against the press. They wouldn't print it if it wasn't true" 'Sunday Papers'
The truth is apparent...
June 11, 2008 - 11:09 ET by Wilbur747in the words they use no matter which side they talk to for a story:
Using "Anti-women's rights" or "Anti-Choice" instead of "Pro-life" while using "Pro-Choice" for abortionists.
Using 'right-wing' to identify a conservative, while using 'progressive' to identify a liberal (if they even identify anyone as a progressive/liberal).
Talking to gun control 'advocates' following a shooting while leaving out the "gun-rights activists".
'Activists' are bad, unruly and emotional, while 'advocates' are wise and have well thought out opinions.
CNN will have a long way to go before they'll be anything other than the Clinton News Network to me.
Wilbur, only one thing wrong
June 11, 2008 - 11:16 ET by MassConservWilbur, only one thing wrong with your analysis.
The media won't even use the term 'progressive' for liberals. They call them 'centrists' or 'moderates' so they appear more mainstream. The left seems more in tune with middle America that way.
You're right MC,
June 11, 2008 - 12:10 ET by Wilbur747You're right, MC, but I actually heard a talking head on MSNBC say it once describing Nancy Pelosi, but I'm sure their co-host kicked his shin hard under the desk and later chastised him during the break!
LOL. Quite likely.
June 11, 2008 - 12:23 ET by MassConservLOL. Quite likely.
All Sides
June 11, 2008 - 11:18 ET by mattmThe Liberal, the Democrat, the Communist, the Socialist, the Environmentalist, the Hedonist, the homosexualist, the atheist, the humanist, the progressive,... that covers it pretty well, doesn't it?
I believe you...
June 11, 2008 - 12:44 ET by Bighead227and I would now like to take a look at that bridge you're selling.
I believe them!
June 11, 2008 - 13:35 ET by blogonatorI believe CNN will represent both side. For example:
That must be why
June 11, 2008 - 15:04 ET by NorthCoasterThat must be why CNN has the highest ratings numbers right?
FOX to the forefront!
I Watch CNN Anyway
June 11, 2008 - 15:22 ET by roadgeek9I think that the far-right's perspective on CNN is too extreme. Yes, CNN is a liberal network, but it is nowhere near MSNBC or NPR. Just not completely moderate. FOX isn't completely moderate either, but I think that they allow more sides to speak.
Classification of Obama Supporters...
Very funny
June 11, 2008 - 19:55 ET by nkviking75"Get the facts from the only news channel to give you all sides," declares a promotional spot on the network. "No spin. No affiliation. No agenda."
My response is the slogan of one of their sister networks: "Very funny".
When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.
"We've really tried hard to
June 19, 2008 - 23:23 ET by fitzfong"We've really tried hard to differentiate ourselves as the real news network."
...and, unsurprisingly, you've failed.
"Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it." -Ronald Reagan