NYT: CNN Seeks New Ways to Battle Fox News

[DeepModem Mom]

CNN Seeks New Ways to Battle Fox News
By JACQUES STEINBERG
Published: March 23, 2005


....Like a football coach with a stopwatch, (Jonathan Klein, the new president of CNN) has been seeking to overhaul how (Aaron) Brown takes the ball from (Larry) King as part of a broader effort to increase the amount of time viewers spend watching the network's prime-time lineup. Specifically, in a ratings game that he says can be won in inches, Mr. Klein has told his staff that that he wants to increase the average amount of time viewers spend watching CNN's prime-time lineup by an average of 30 seconds a month for the next 12 months - for what would be a total gain of six minutes....

***

That gap in average viewing time has had a profound impact on CNN's ratings: thus far this season, its average audience between 7 and 11 p.m. (775,000) is far less than Fox's during the same time period (two million) , according to Nielsen Media Research. (As recently as four years ago, CNN was drawing more viewers than Fox News at night.)...

***

One of Mr. Klein's mantras - a version of the same one he invoked when announcing in January that he intended to cancel the afternoon shout-fest "Crossfire" - is that the network's prime-time programs should spend less time reporting the news of the day and more time spinning out what he hopes are emotionally gripping, character-driven narratives pegged to recent events....

***

In an effort to narrow the gap with Fox at night, Mr. Klein has ruled out one obvious option: he will not, he says, turn CNN's prime-time lineup into a liberal counterpunch to Fox's opinion-driven programming, which draws a heavily conservative audience. "It's much better to be right down the middle," Mr. Klein said in an interview. "Moderates are our sweet spot."...


http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/23/arts/television/23cnn.html

[Arkana]

1. How entertaining--a race to the bottom

Basically, it's a race to see which owner can deepthroat *'s skin flute first. :puke:

[babylonsister]

3. Wow, the visuals there. But true. nt

[saigon68]

64. Being on CNN

Is like a Bug hitch hiking on a large raft(LOL) as it circles the bowl after being flushed.

[tridim]

2. Report the truth

Simple. It's amazing that CNN doesn't get it.

[rodeodance]

11. eee. gods!!!

is that the network's prime-time programs should spend less time reporting the news of the day and more time spinning out what he hopes are emotionally gripping, character-driven narratives pegged to recent events....

[JerseygirlCT]

15. Seems simple

but it also seems that they haven't even considered it.

I'm with you, though. I don't really *want* news with a liberal spin. I want the news w/o ANY spin. Besides, I can get my liberal fix here!

[Daphne08]

62. Exactly!

Just the Who, What, When, Where, How and Why!

[SharonAnn]

48. Report the NEWS! There's lots of it happening, all over the world!

I don't want any more celebrity trials, etc. If I want tabloid journalism, I'll go the tabloids. Oh, wait, is CNN one?

[TahitiNut]

49. Reporting the truth would be "liberal" ... can't do that.

Nope. Not prudent. :eyes:

[Dulcinea]

65. No money in that.

This is all about ad dollars!

[radfringe]

92. suggesting new slogan for CNN

We report the NEWS not the SPEWS...

might work if they actually reported news...

other suggestions:

1. DUMP Douche-bag NOVAK
2. Pull the spews-feed tube connected to GOP-inc.
3. Try doing some real investigative reporting

[Jon8503]

4. Good Point, stick with the moderates. That will eventually ovetake

just a fringe fanatical group as the right wingers are.

Moderates & others really want a overall news outlet of what is really happening.

I have a nephew who for whatever reason is a religious conservative who watches Fox. On holidays when you see him, he is like a cult type person, speaks the same language as Fox, almost a Stepford Wife kind of thing. Maybe bad comparison.

[Bragi]

8. I'm afraid not

It's actually a quite good comparison.

- B

[Nite Owl]

5. They still don't get it.

All they have to do is really report all of the news. People would be wondering why they hear it no where else. No liberal media slant needed, just tell the truth, all of it. They 'sin' more by omission than commission.

[Laurab]

52. I didn't see that obvious choice

as one of the options they were considering. I'm not sure they're actually ALLOWED to tell the truth in this country anymore.

[OzarkDem]

95. There's something else involved

There has to be. Even they can't believe the BS they're repeating.

I've come to believe CNN is willing to take a loss in exchange for some greater gain somewhere else in their corporate portfolio. Their coverage is so utterly slavish to the WH message its obvious they're trying to curry favor, in spite of their sinking finances.

They're not planning to continue losing money for no reason, there has to be a payoff somewhere else.

[mediaman007]

6. Moderates don't watch CNN or FOX, they watch CBS, NBC and ABC!

Political junkies are either liberal or conservative. The only time that moderates watch CNN is during a crisis. True there is one, but not the kind to catch the attention of the moderates.

How many moderates are on this board?

[snippy]

20. Excellent point. n/t

[Doremus]

7. If the last few months are his idea of 'moderate'

you coulda fooled me.

The few times I've had the stomach to watch I thought I had the wrong channel.


Lou Dobbs is still hammering away at the export of America, but all the other starlets sound like they're auditioning for jobs at Faux.

[StuckinKS]

27. Yeah!

Today I had to listen to Miles O'Brien keep referring to Michael Schiavo as Terri's "estranged" husband. It was offensive to me but just to be sure I checked many sources for any alternative definition of "estranged." I couldn't find a single one which would appropriately describe the Schiavos' relationship.

So I guess Miles is auditioning for Faux.

[Hamcracker]

9. They should lie through their teeth like Fox. That seems to draw viewers.

[DeepModem Mom]

16. Hi, Hamcracker -- welcome to DU!

[MikeG]

10. Here are my suggestions:

8:00 - Al Franken
9:00 - Carville and Brooks - Hard Ass Liberal and mealy mouth conservative.
10:00 - Phil Donohue.

[Dr.Phool]

24. Stick Amy Goodman in there

But she probably has too much integrity.

[AlCzervik]

12. More Christian Amanpour and less everything else.

[MSgt213]

13. Stop trying to be MiniFox and you might find your groove. Oh and

TRAIN YOUR JOURNALIST TO BE JOURNALIST. There mission is to question the government not support it.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

14. Wan to beat Faux Snooze??? Fix the friggin educational system

in this god forsaken country. Fox will wither on its own shortly thereafter.

[punpirate]

17. If CNN is so moderate...

... why do they run completely different network programming for international news?

CNN cut foreign reporting to save money, to bring their profits more in line with Fox's (because Fox doesn't really do international news--they just comment on it). That didn't work. Then they tried to be more like Fox, and that didn't work, either. Now, they're going to put all their eggs into pushing Aaron Brown and Larry King?

How about doing some in-depth news and investigative reporting instead of depending upon more bloviators, Klein?

How about doing a trial comparison and offer CNN International, without changes, in the same markets as CNN and see how it stacks up against Larry King? That might be a surprise.

[HockeyMom]

22. I stopped watching CNN

when they started becoming Faux Lite, about right after the election. Once in a while I watch MSNBC, but they are only slightly better. Just use the Net now.

[xxqqqzme]

33. stopped watching CNN

when they devoted the ENTIRE evening 2 following a white ford bronco down the 405. That did it 4 me. Haven't been back. I do watch Keith Olberman now but ONLY Keith. That idiot that filled in last week is a train wreck!

[rocktivity]

38. I remember that night well, XXxqqqzme

I went to a Soundgarden concert at an non-air-conditioned armory on an 80-degree night. Dry ice had to be trucked in and blown through high-speed fans. Singer Chris Cornell cracked jokes between songs all evening, so everybody laughed when he said he'd just heard that OJ Simpson was being driven down a freeway while holding a gun to his head.

I got home about 1AM and snapped on the TV while I got ready for bed. And what should my wondering eyes should appear but OJ Simpson being driven down a freeway while holding a gun to his head!

:headbang:
rocknation

[thebigidea]

18. character driven narratives? Shit, might as well add a wisecrackin' kid...

... maybe a wacky neighbor and a laugh track, that'll boost the numbers.

[punpirate]

26. Reminds me...

... are there any bets that we'll be seeing a lot of the nine-year-old Bush lover who's touting SS deform on CNN in the coming months?

I don't have television, so others will have to keep track for me. :)

[yorkiemommie1]

19. so just full objective coverage of the news won't do it, eh?

how about pure, courageous honesty?

[NYdemocrat089]

21. For me none of this matters.

I just don't depend on the media for my news anymore. I watch very little of it now. Instead, I get my news from the internet (Antiwar, Commondreams, Michael Moore, LBN, NYT).

The only times I watch the news on TV are:

-Imus in the morning for my headlines before I leave (and Imus cracks me up).
-MSNBC during study hall (she has is on, so I watch).
-When i get really bored (O'Reilly when I want a laugh, he really is very stupid)

[napi21]

23. I see another problem.

I have a ritual in my house. I watch Lou Dobbs (CNN) at 6:00, Usually Tweety (MSNBC)at 7:00, and then go to one of the comedy's on broadcast TV. I will check Keith Olberman, and Aaron Brown. Most times I will watch them on the late night rerun.

Do the viewers of the late night reruns have any effect on the ratings?

The other thing that affects the FOX/CNN battle is that I'd bet most fundies HATE the other stuff that's on TV so they watch their dear FOX just for reassurance. Liberals and moderates have better entertainment than talk shows!

[janx]

25. I love writing fiction, but I never pretend it is news.

the network's prime-time programs should spend less time reporting the news of the day and more time spinning out what he hopes are emotionally gripping, character-driven narratives pegged to recent events....

News has been morphing for some time now into movie productions. We've all seen the insulting themes and heard the thematic music. The people creating this stuff don't seem to realize that we want NEWS. We have our films, and (I hope) our novels. (Though according to the NEA, people aren't reading much anymore--dommage.)

One thing I have noticed about FAUX News, though I try to avoid it, is that FAUX News broadcasts their faux news more often than the other cable infotainment. MSNBC and CNN have a lot more filler crap--which is not to say that FAUX News doesn't have crap, but the crap of FAUX News *pretends* at least to be news. They repeat news programs if they have to.

What is the recent, disgusting theme about the school shootings in Minnesota--"Minnesota Rampage" or something?

[warrior1]

28. How about telling truth to power?

.

[janx]

32. Maybe. A little at a time.

;-)

John Irving does that very well. So do many other fiction writers, but they do it in a larger context. Margaret Atwood comes to mind in the Schiavo situation.

[insane_cratic_gal]

29. They have a good thing in Lou

I watch the show regularly. Because like all of you are saying, he has an aura of truth (it's still very much an opinion show.A very sound reasonable one, but like my own, an opinion). The aura is, he criticizes both sides of the line. Most of the time he's spot on with his criticism.

Honestly I can stomach Anderson, he's a likable however my boy is on at 7! Jon Stewart( can never stay awake for the 11:00 show so i watch the reruns)
nothing like a good laugh at the right (for most of the show), and one at yourself to place life into perspective.

At least if Jon talks about M.Jackson, I laugh, because it's 2 min blurb unlike CNN's 16 hours worth of M.Jackson's frail, drugged, freaky pondering "whats wrong with Michael!"

[Charles19]

71. I have completely tuned out but the other day caught Lou and

you're right, he is doing some good work.

[Daphne08]

89. Yes, he is doing excellent work.

[Robbien]

30. Good Plan CNN. Could the last one out please turn off the lights?

You can still shill the propaganda on your international stations.

[VegasWolf]

31. If CNN wants to out-sleaze FOX and become FOX Lite, they will simply

lose their remaining viewers.

[Patchuli]

82. Hey VegasWolf!

Didn't I buy a cool Harley shirt on ebay from you? It was a birthday
gift much liked if it is you!

[VegasWolf]

99. Hi! No, sorry, not me! n/t

[Edgewater_Joe]

34. I'll Keep Pleading For This Until It Happens ...

... TED TURNER, PLEASE CALL TERESA HEINZ AND GEORGE SOROS AND HAVE THEM FRONT YOU THE MONEY TO REPURCHASE CNN AND RETURN IT TO ITS FORMER GLORY!!!!!

[DeepModem Mom]

39. That would be a dream come true --

and something that, of course, could make a real difference.

[DesEtoiles]

35. Pacific Standard Time - and I WANT TO SEE NEWS at night

[rocktivity]

36. Moderates are CNN's sweet spot? WHAT moderates?

Does this guy consider Fox News to be "down the middle?" Does he think he's going to get Fox viewers to go "moderate"? There's an alienated audience out there at LEAST as big as Fox's, and they're ignoring it! Why does he think more left-leaners aren't watching CNN now? Moran--and I don't mean Terry.

x(
rocknation

[manxkat]

37. Hasn't Rupert Murdoch already bought CNN?

Sure looks like it -- especially with that ridiculous graph today.

[BlueManDude]

40. Two words - Novak Country!!!!

[Robert Oak]

41. people watch Lou Dobbs because

it's in depth, he often covers stories not covered by corporate media..
i.e. "so called" free trade is a sham and so forth
and he speaks the truth.

If they other shows did the same their ratings would go up.

Instead we have "Anderson Cooper" with "relationships on the job"
as if that's ok and that sort of lightweight crud.

Why don't think report the real news, in depth, that you cannot get
except on the Internet.

Instead they are "lightly" reporting the "blogs".

Sad....but Lou Dobbs is a Godsend and you know there have been
enormous pressure to shut up Lou Dobbs and he never budged.

[wellst0nev0ter]

56. YES! Those GAWDAMN "Blog Reports"

Here's an idea, instead of filming one of your interns sitting in front of a computer screen reading bullshit posted by Little Green Footballs, why don't you actually, I dunno, REPORT the fuggin stories the blogs are alluding to???!!!

[tsuki]

88. I don't always agree with Lou Dobbs, but at least he sounds like

he has looked at a problem and assembled facts. He doesn't scream or emote either. Big Plus.

[Renew Deal]

42. People like action. They should explode a nuke in their offices.

That could work.

[high density]

43. Right down the middle... I wish.

So right down the middle means having Sanjay Gupta do a report on Shiavo while forcing him to include wacko nutjob "experts" who say that Shiavo is somehow going to eventually walk again, even though her brain is atrophied and now mostly fluid? Sorry, but that's not balance. That's just pandering to the righties so they get their side heard, no matter how ignorant or false their point is. It dilutes the real information when such lousy journalism goes on.

[johnnyrocket]

44. Yeah, but CNN sucks in so many ways...

it's pure fluff...tabloid garbage..and DirectTV gets rid of the only thing out of CNN worth a damn: CNN International.

[roguevalley]

45. absolute retardation. Don't go after the audience that would slit

their wrists for an outlet. Keep to the middle where no one is. Dumb asses, complete assholes. Nice admission that they impose a political slant to the news. Assholes.

[Kimber Scott]

46. If they showed news, real news, I'd watch it. I don't need to see a bunch

of primped up talking heads spewing off a bunch of b.s.. They could delve deeper into the issues and the history behind the issues. They have 24 hours a day and they waste 23 of them, at least.

Dear CNN,

Remember the NEWS in Cable News Network and you might get me back.

Sincerely,

Ex-Viewer

[leesa]

47. How about telling the truth...it would be unique among all the trash

[roguevalley]

51. isn't it humorous that they said four years ago they were beating

Fox but now they aren't. when they decided to out fox fox, they lost their audience. Moderates don't go to news unless there is a hint of truth. They could get moderates and liberals just by doing their job.

Assholes. Klein is a fool. I emailed CNN with my thoughts. Wonder if they will call. :-D

[Fleshdancer]

50. Try having the goal be about good honest journalism instead of increasing

viewership and profits. Crazy, I know.

[Jack Rabbit]

53. They could try something call journalism

That's something Murdoch wouldn't stand for on Fox; unfortunately, it's something they've forgotten all about at CNN.

[ngGale]

60. Right, Murdoch will never stand for the truth...

CNN will never go completely liberal, which I think they should.
My first pink slip would go to Wolf Blitzer, he makes me ill.
A FAUX left to compete with FAUX right, better choice than moderate.
I'm sick of moderate to, just more Repub lite. Real journalism instead of opinion would be a big surprise, can't remember what that sounds like anymore.

[Jack Rabbit]

66. I don't really want a 'Fox left'

Propaganda and lies are propaganda and lies, no matter what direction they come from. That is what Fox provides. It doesn't serve us well. Too much of the mainstream media is only a little better than that right now. We, as the citizens of what is putatively a democratic state, deserve better.

The purpose of a free and independent press in a democracy is to inform citizens. Opinion should be wide ranging, intelligent and balanced and facts should be facts -- all of them. We are getting a narrow range of opinion from the MSM (by which I don't include Fox), most of it from the right. Important facts are omitted and even some falsehoods interspersed. The run up to the invasion of Iraq was a classic example. There was information out there that the MSM could have reported that would have brought the junta's case for war into question. To find it, we had to go leftist alternative media (Znet, CounterPunch. Pacifica radio), what I call fringe establishment media (The Nation, Mother Jones, The Progressive, Salon.com) and the foreign press (the Guardian Unlimited, the BBC). It was from those sources that I learned that there were perfectly good reasons to question the junta's stated assessment of the threat posed by Saddam, that he had no ties to al Qaida and that stories of meetings between a 9/11 hijacker and an Iraqi intelligence agent were debunked, that intelligence was being cooked in the Pentagon. Because I looked beyond the MSM, I marched with 10 million others against Bush prior to the invasion as an informed citizen. I was informed not with so much with opinion with which I am predisposed to agree, but with facts; facts are ideologically neutral.

Those who supported the invasion did so out of ignorance. That was not all the fault of FoxNews. These people didn't have the facts. Those who got there news from CNN or the conventional networks were only going to be a little better informed that those who watched Fox. Those who read The New York Times read Judith Miller's stories about Saddam's weapons; for that, she deserved another Pulitzer Prize to add to her collection -- this one for fiction.

A left wing Fox would be no better than Fox as we know it. It would have the same diseases; the only difference is that some people wouldn't find the symptoms as painful. What Fox does is to withhold facts it finds inconvenient. This leaves its viewers misinformed. Obviously, misinformed citizens are not prepared to make informed decisions. That would be just as true if they are misinformed with another set of lies.

[0007]

91. Right on! And Aldous Huxley

once said Brave New World) "Liberties are not given, they are taken."

Citizens, want freedom of expression for the fundamental right to human dignity, and to be a person of independence with self respect and to help change the world to bring peace and justice. We cannot count on the government or the MSM to give us information necessary to be active and critical citizens. We cannot depend upon on those who own the media to give us the opportunity to reach large number of people.

We must take our own liberties as Huxley suggested. We need to be more like Emma Goldman

Emma Goldman (1869–1940) stands as a major figure in the history of American radicalism and feminism. An influential and well-known anarchist of her day, Goldman was an early advocate of free speech, birth control, women’s equality and independence, and union organization. Her criticism of mandatory conscription of young men into the military during World War I led to a two-year imprisonment, followed by her deportation in 1919. For the rest of her life until her death in 1940, she continued to participate in the social and political movements of her age, from the Russian Revolution to the Spanish Civil War.

more......

http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/Goldman/

CNN, FAUX, and MSNBC are for those that haven't the time to think.

[neverforget]

54. I quit cable tv after the fellating the cable news channels did for Bush

so I don't realy give a damn what CNN does anymore. I'm happier without the bullshit that passes for news on cable or tv for that matter.

What CNN should do is move to the left and counter FOX. If Fox panders to the right wing, that means there is a opportunity for growth by going to the left. But they won't do that, they're just another corporation that is on their knees for the Republican Party.

The media is what's wrong with this country. They aren't reporting news because they are too concerned about the bottom line and upsetting the right wing. The media is allowing this country to slide into fascism by not doing their job.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

55. Why don't they try reporting the truth?

[Zerex71]

57. Here's an idea:

Try not being a mouthpiece for the White House. Also, try facts and real journalism. Time was when they actually did that.

[daleo]

58. In addition to all the complaints about bias and trivia

There is also the fact that these channels can't go five whole minutes without a commercial anymore. At least that is the case in the morning, when I try to watch a few minutes before work.

[anitar1]

59. I didn't realize they were reporting the news of the day n/t

[fushuugi]

61. "reporting" propaganda

'Through clever and constant application of propaganda people can be made to see paradise as hell, and also the other way around, to consider the most wretched sort of life as paradise.'

- Adolf Hitler, Mein Kampf, 1923

[DeepModem Mom]

67. Thanks for posting, fushuugi --and welcome to DU!

[SoCalDem]

63. Gee Jon, we know exactly what you're going for..

But NBC beat ya to it.. It's called Dateline, and it's "filler and fluff" at it's very freshest.. Especially when they "re-tool" bits of it and show it on 45 different cable stations at all hours of the day and night..


You are a bit late to the game, Jon, and CNN will still be sucking up sludge from the bottom of that barrel as long as you emulate Fox or NBC or any other venue..

Know what made CNN great, back in the day??

It was an "as it happens" news channel. Any time of the day or night, you could turn on CNN and see something that was HAPPENING.. It could be something happening abroad, or right here.. If you wanted a "packaged re-hash", there was CNN Headline news..

There were not "shows"..CNN showed us what was happening..pure and simple..

When CNN started buying lip gloss by the vat, got swooshy graphics, and started with the "smiley-talk" you lost your base..

Your base was not right or left.. it was intelligent people who wanted to know what was going on.. We do not need spin, we just need facts.. We don't need "Up Close and Personal" (we are assaulted with that at every Olympics)..

News is not "fair and balanced" it's not "red or blue" .. It does NOT emanate from a White House Fax machine..

CNN blew it ..starting with the 2K election ...CNN (and others) just shrugged, and said.."Gee whiz..lookey what happened".. "protesters?? what protesters??"

You continue to "miss" the story on practically everything, and "your elephant is showing".. (the one standing in the middle of the parlor.. the one that everyone pretends not to see..)

WE SEE THE ELEPHANT...

[SOS]

68. Nielsens for September 2004

show CNN primetime at 998,000.
This article says primetime is at 775,000
They've lost 25% of their audience since the election.
Probably mostly people like us DUers who couldn't stand it anymore.
Now they're presenting Rick "DWI" Sanchez getting zapped with a stun gun.
That should help their "news" image!

[gkhouston]

76. Yup, I've bailed completely on CNN since Sep 2004

some folks over in Election Results & Discussion kept talking about "Countdown" on MSNBC (8-9pm Eastern, weeknights), so I decided to check it out, even though I'd previously written off MSNBC as a right-wing wasteland. If you haven't seen it, it's worth a try. Keith Olbermann is actually reporting the news, lets the people he's interviewing finish their sentences, and responds intelligently to what they're saying, as opposed to riding roughshod over them so he can ram home a pre-approved list of personal talking points.

If you've never seen the show, there's a lot of humor in there, too, but there's a fair bit of hard news hiding in there and he's not afraid to ask awkward questions. He's not rude about it, in the way a lot of hosts are these days, but if you've got your wits about you, you can see the daggers. }( If you lean way to the left, I'll warn you that he's not into sucking up to one side or the other: when Democrats act like "morans", he won't suffer fools gladly, but I personally want to get my news from somebody who's willing to acknowledge idiots of all stripes for what they are so that suits me just fine.

As for CNN, I usually forget Lou Dobbs is on until his show is over. I remember him as being pretty good, though. If they went back to doing something that remotely approached straight news reporting, that would be worth watching, but it seems like they slid way downhill during the Iraq war.

[roughandtumble]

69. Do unto Faux as Faux has done unto you...

START reporting the Left point of view and attach the shit out of Faux!!

[woosh]

70. they're trying to appeal to the wrong audience.

[SOS]

73. Analgous to our Party?

CNN wants to appeal to moderates. Yet their ratings have collapsed using this strategy.
Sounds kinda familiar.....

[depakid]

72. Good riddance, CNN

Keep making stupid business decisions- the more money and viewers Klein loses, the better.

It's hard to believe they actually pay people like Klien to come up with such stupid ideas.

[Pacifist Patriot]

74. Let's call a spade a spade...

They are entertainment, not journalism. Seems now they are just more willing to acknowledge that in a round about sort of way.

more time spinning out what he hopes are emotionally gripping, character-driven narratives pegged to recent events

Isn't this just another way of saying "Movie of the Week: starring the victims themselves?"

[Lilith Velkor]

75. CEO cage death match

Two millionaires enter, one millionaire leaves. Think of the ratings!

[spooky3]

77. Just to play Devil's Advocate, have you ever noticed...

that when Yahoo! headlines a celebrity trial story, it gets rated by thousands of people, but real news might get rated by 100 or 2? What do you think most people are reading and wanting to know more about?

I hate to say it, but I think most people (at least those in the demographic groups all the advertisers want--but probably in every group) prefer fluff and weird stories, to honest news.

Because of this, I have some sympathy for any news network that has to struggle with how to get more people to watch their shows in order to get their ad $. Also, any honest news network has to compete for the reasonable people not with Fox but with the many networks showing non-news programs that reasonable people are watching. Fox may get a bigger audience but many of those people are looking for a cult fix.

[mmonk]

78. There is only truth

That would be the best counterpunch. But I guess that's not in the cards in the new America with its prepackaged propaganda.

[GetTheRightVote]

79. Go for the left and you win over a large group w/ the need for news

Oh well, problem w/ the repub media pay offs.

:kick:

[VegasWolf]

80. Easy! Grow a pair of balls. Case closed. End of discussion. n/t

[arwalden]

81. Here's The Answer: ---> BLENDED SHOWS

Ten minutes of Larry King... followed by ten minutes of Aaron Brown... back and forth. We'll just have two full hours of mini-shows to compensate for the viewer's short attention span.

KING: "More of our interview with Karen Hughes... right after this news segment with Aaron Brown."

BROWN: "Stay tuned... because right after Larry King's next segment, we'll be right back with an insider's report on Karl Rove and possible drug dealers in the White House."

[Logansquare]

83. Stupid fucker. If I were a stockholder, I'd SELL SELL SELL this pig

It should be obvious to everyone over the age of potty-training that the country is very polarized. If the far-right network makes moola, then so can the far-left. How 'bout a little teensy-weensy bit to the left? Oh, Michael Moore's revenues must have been a fluke. And Al Franken's book on the bestseller list for what, 20 some weeks? Let's be a bunch of craven cowards in the face of our wrathful corporate sponsors, and cleave unto that powerful "moderate" (i.e. Scott Peterson, 24/7) demographic. May I say this again? Stupid fucker.

[Zen]

84. The media is SUPPOSED to be liberal - moron!

Part of the definition of a "free" press implies an application of LIBERAL principals. It's the same thinking that is required to have a free-flow of ideas in universities. Liberalism is the natural product of a FREE DEMOCRACY!! Don't let them fool you - if the media and universities in this country are NOT liberal by default, then we are no longer a democracy and are on our way to fascism!! Both institutions can take conservative positions on certain issues, but the core principals of a free and thriving democracy require the free flow of ideas of it's citizens. FREEDOM means LIBERAL - this definition MUST BE TRUE IF WE ARE TO SURVIVE AS A NATION!! There is no more important issue facing our democracy today.

[0rganism]

85. Here's how: fire the Zahn, hire Jon Stewart to take Brown's slot, and...

...start reporting the actual news, instead of rightwing propaganda push stories.

I can dream...

[tsuki]

86. "Moderates are our sweet spot."...

I don't think this is true. If they were moderate, I could watch them.

[shadowknows69]

87. two words: NAKED NEWS!!! n/t

[0007]

90. A new way to distort the news that will out do FAUX ??

How about just plain honest non-bias news? And less time on tabloid journalism.

[Robb]

93. "spend less time reporting the news of the day"

Less?
:wtf:

[OzarkDem]

94. BWA-HAHAHAH!

Good luck with that Mr. Klein.

He's either one of the worst liars ever or in complete denial about the content of his own programming. Their news coverage comes straight from Karl Rove's desk.

I'm just waiting for someone to develop a device for my tv that blocks both Fox and CNN.

[DainBramaged]

96. "Moderates" don't watch shout fests

mod·er·ate ( P ) Pronunciation Key (mdr-t)
adj.
Being within reasonable limits; not excessive or extreme: a moderate price.
Not violent or subject to extremes; mild or calm; temperate: a moderate climate.

Of medium or average quantity or extent.
Of limited or average quality; mediocre.
Opposed to radical or extreme views or measures, especially in politics or religion.

n.
One who holds or champions moderate views or opinions, especially in politics or religion.

v. mod·er·at·ed, mod·er·at·ing, mod·er·ates (md-rt)
v. tr.
To lessen the violence, severity, or extremeness of.
To preside over: She was chosen to moderate the convention.

v. intr.
To become less violent, severe, or extreme; abate.
To act as a moderator.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
moder·ate·ly adv.
moder·ate·ness n.
moder·ation n.

I blocked FUCKED VIEWS on all of my TV's after the election. I want news and BALANCED commentary and debate, not bullshit shoutfests with ConJob stacked decks. CNN is dreaming if they think moderates watch them. Drooling turds and cable handicapped morons watch them now.

[Flammable Materials]

97. They could take a cue from Al Franken ...

... and do a daily fact-checking segment on their competitor.

[MurrayDelph]

98. How about a section of Daily Corrections?

As in, "here's how Fox got it wrong today"?

[WhiteTara]

100. How best to beat Faux? Why report some news!

Lately every time I turn on CNN, it is some Hollywood minute
type thing.  Who cares?  For that I can turn on E! These
people are really stupid! How did this guy get to be the head
of a major NEWS organization?