How to fix CNN

Politico.com ^ | 3/31/10 | Michael Calderone

[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.’

[NormsRevenge]

Awww, come on, Give it a shot! just be nice.

[NormsRevenge]

he wanted straight news..

uhh, so they hired
Anderson Cooper.

got it.

[Patrick1]

Here is a novel idea. Tell the truth.

[cripplecreek]

I already fixed it by programming it out of my channel lineup.

[Carling]

Jon Klein, the network president, has consistently defended the network’s down-the-middle news strategyM

These people must live in a bubble. Down-the-middle? Wow. Rick Sanchez, anyone? Anderson Floofer?

[hstacey]

MSNBC???? Really....Where have I been....

[timestax]

[ak267]

psssssst.....be more like FOX

[highlander_UW]

Jon Klein said he wanted straight news and not commentary or opinion

If that was the goal then the result was an epic failure.

[Hostage]

Large ratings MSLSD? Huh? Come again?

[kaehurowing]

I didn’t know CNN still existed. All I can get is Larry King or that lady going on and on about whether they are going to find Natalie Holloway. Gets kind of tired after 10 years.

I’d rather watch the paranoid delusional people on MSNBC. Much more enteratining.

[Lakeshark]

How to fix CNN?

Don't ever watch it.

[max americana]

How about more Anderson Cooper swimming with sharks, but this time, he gets eaten by one.

[onyx]

Like Obamacare, it can’t be fixed.

It has to be scrapped and replaced.

[Oceander]

The same way I “fixed” my last dog - snip.

[NormsRevenge]

Maybe he can get Matt Lauer to join him next time with the sharks.

[eeriegeno]

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.

Kinsley and Press? Aren't they both in the looney-bin now?

[ConservativeMind]

“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...”

WHAT is this guy SMOKING??

[max americana]

Add Obama ass-kisser Brian Williams to that session..

[wmileo]

Dump Joe Klein, Larry King, Anderson Cooper, Campbell Brown, Rick Sanchez and Wolf Blitzer?

A good start.