CABLE BATTLE: CNN HEAD CALLS FOXNEWS COVERAGE 'MEANINGLESS NONSENSE'

Drudge Report ^ | 8/23/05 | Matt Drudge

[wagglebee]

CNN President Jonathan Klein implies ratings news leader FOXNEWS is mired in coverage of "meaningless nonsense," claiming: "Fourteen Americans dead, and they have Natalee Holloway on," Klein says. "And they're supposedly America's news channel."

"It's easy and it's brainless," Klein charges in a telephone interview set for publication at the NEW YORK TIMES, explaining why cable news outlets had gravitated to the Aruba story. "They're looking for an ongoing drama" along the lines of the NBC crime show "Law & Order," he said, adding, "Except 'Law & Order' doesn't do the same plot every night."

"There are an awful lot of things you can cover if you don't have people tied up with this meaningless nonsense," Klein says.

In early July, Klein pulled CNN's correspondent out of Aruba and dropped the subject from most CNN shows in the absence of new developments.

"If Jon performed as well as he talks, he wouldn't have to explain his network's dismal ratings," says Irena Briganti, a spokeswoman for FOXNEWS. "We have trounced him on every breaking news story from the London bombings and last week's events in Gaza."

Impacting...

[Tall_Texan]

"It's easy and it's brainless,"

Sorta like covering Cindy Sheehan.

[Shqipo]

1. Able Danger
2. Sandy Burger
3. Swift Boat Vets
4. Progress in Iraq
5. Dick Turban treason
6. UN Oil for Food scandal
What do they have in common? Some stories you wouldn't know existed if you watched CNN instead of FNC. 'Nuff said.

[Neenah]

Do you know if Linda Vester is still at Fox?..

I think I am right on this...I believe Linda is pregnant. That could be the reason she is gone.

[Texagirl4W]

She is on maternity leave. (< |:)~)

[Txsleuth]

That makes sense...and is good news...

Thank you both...

[Calamari]

Now I just watch Free Republic with a little bit of Drudge thrown in.

[dmw]

(Such a shame that so many conservatives fail to recognize this and take their business elsewhere.)

I agree with you, however, there is one small problem, where do we take our business? Not too many options out there that I am aware of--is there?

[Ticonderoga34]

Say what you will but Greta's show has been getting monster ratings since she went to all Natalee all the time. I don't know why, no one I know seems interested in the story.

Since Natalee Holloway seems to be a rating bonanza look for more missing persons stories on the news channels. It's already happening with the honeymoon guy on the cruise ship and the model in Columbus, Ohio who have disappeared.

[Soul Seeker]

Well, let's see.

I can watch Aruba...or I can watch CNN relating with glee every death of an American soldier in an attempt to undermine the war, the mission and the President. Gee, such a tough choice!

In Truth I watch neither. I may tune in to watch a couple minutes of Brit or Gibson depending on events of the day or the timing of the election cycle, maybe H&C if I'm interested in the guest they have on. Other than that I don't watch FOX because a) They are a center Left channel and b) If I didn't watch O.J. I certainly don't want to watch the offsprings of the original modern day 'reality tv'.

I stick mainly to talk radio and net.

But CNN is not complaining because they have high integrity as journalists. they are complaining because their stock (credibility) is plummeting in America and FOX is on the Top now.

Now if CNN wanted to move back to the Top, they'd make a run for a center right channel. No one is filling that void and I could live with the CNN logo if there was finally a conservative network out there. Just don't see that happening.

[dixiechick2000]

As Rush said today (paraphrasing), "You need a magnifying glass
to find CNN's ratings, and two telescopes to find MSNBC's."

[Victoria Delsoul]

Unfortunately, he should have added, we haven't figured it out!

LOL!! No wonder their ratings are down.

[SevenofNine]

BOO HOO CNN

I watching Brit Hume tonight he talking about top of the hour on every hour at CNN they talking about Pat Robertson over and over again

Hey guys have you seen Situtaion ROOM OMG that news program put me to sleep

[fish hawk]

Greta is a lawyer. You might say she is a "one ambulance chaser". LOL

[mercy]

3/4 of what FOX serves up IS meaningless nonsense.

But then CNN spent 3 hours today on the hasbeen Pat Robertson.

(hey I read about it ... I don't watch the clintoon network)

[Doctor Raoul]

Easy, brainless and three times the viewers of CNN.

Sneering liberal Jonathan needs to some pajamas and permission to work from home if he expects to compete with FOX. After all, the bloggers get it right more often than CNN.

[xrp]

Other options?

For news, that's here on FreeRepublic. I get more valued news browsing FR for an hour than I would by watching the Missing Persons Network (Fox News Channel) continuously for a full year.

[xrp]

And for politics, the Libertarian Party or the Constitution Party.

As long as the Republican Party knows that they can take conservatives for granted and "keep them on the plantation" then they won't change their ways.

It is amazing how so many conservatives are as blind to the thinking of the Republican Party as black Americans are to the thinking of the Democratic Party.

[Diddle E. Squat]

CNN President Jonathan Klein implies ratings news leader FOXNEWS is mired in coverage of "meaningless nonsense," claiming: "Fourteen Americans dead, and they have Natalee Holloway on,"

It may come from petty jealousy, but he is exactly correct. Other than Brit Hume's show, most of the rest of the day is total tabloid hype and garbage. FNC really sucks these days. Totally sucks. TV news doesn't have to suck.

[Wormwood]

Other than Brit Hume's show, most of the rest of the day is total tabloid hype and garbage.

Brit Hume is a glittering jewel in a bucketful of vomit.

[TheForceOfOne]