Posted on 05/18/2010 8:57:57 PM PDT by My Favorite Headache
CNN's Campbell Brown has resigned. The following are statements from both CNN President Jon Klein and a heartfelt letter from Brown explaining her reasons for leaving.
STATEMENT FROM JON KLEIN, PRESIDENT OF CNN/U.S. "Today is about Campbell. We want to wish her well as she begins the next phase of her life. We respect her decision to leave. We will announce our programming plans in the coming weeks."
An Excerpt From Brown's Statement "Simply put, the ratings for my program are not where I would like them to be. It is largely for this reason that I am stepping down as anchor of CNN's "Campbell Brown". ...The simple fact is that not enough people want to watch my program, and I owe it to myself and to CNN to get out of the way so that CNN can try something else."
(Read Brown's letter after the jump...it's well worth the read.)
Mediaite first reported the news of Brown being let out of her contract. Read the story here.
Meanwhile, the Washington Examiner is reporting that former N.Y. Gov. Eliot Spitzer may be getting his own show -- it's Brown's slot on CNN.
Read TVNewser's analysis of Brown's time at CNN and subsequent departure here.
MSNBC, the network on which Spitzer occasionally substitutes as host, had no comment.
Read the scoop on Spitzer here.
> Update: The Washington Examiner, while declaring a posssible Spitzer replacement, has Spitzer himself denying the move to CNN to replace Brown. Other journos around town join bandwagon to point out the discrepancy in the story.
Campbell Brown Statement:
I knew on the day that I accepted my job at CNN that a ratings victory at 8pm was going to be a formidable challenge. As I have been told over and over, this is the toughest time slot in cable news. That is obviously due to the incredible talents of my 8pm competitors. I have also always marveled whenever a television anchor says that he or she pays no attention to ratings. I'm pretty sure the last time any anchor could honestly ignore ratings was well before I was born. Of course I pay attention to ratings. And simply put, the ratings for my program are not where I would like them to be. It is largely for this reason that I am stepping down as anchor of CNN's "Campbell Brown".
To be clear: this is my decision, and one that I have been thinking about for some time. As for why, I could have said, that I am stepping down to spend more time with my children (which I truly want to do). Or that I am leaving to pursue other opportunities (which I also truly want to do). But I have never had much tolerance for others' spin, so I can't imagine trying to stomach my own. The simple fact is that not enough people want to watch my program, and I owe it to myself and to CNN to get out of the way so that CNN can try something else.
CNN will have to figure out what that is. The 8pm hour in cable news world is currently driven by the indomitable Bill O'Reilly, Nancy Grace and Keith Olbermann. Shedding my own journalistic skin to try to inhabit the kind of persona that might co-exist in that line up is simply impossible for me. It is not who I am or who I want to be; nor is it who CNN asked me to be at any point. This is the right decision for me and I hope it will be a great opportunity for CNN.
Since its launch three decades ago CNN has strived to be an independent, credible and enduring source of news. While the rest of the cable news world moved to opinion, CNN allowed me to stay true to my hard-news roots and supported me with a true commitment to old-school journalism. There is plenty of debate now about whether real journalism even has a place in prime time. I may be taking myself out of that debate on a nightly basis, but I am truly proud of the work we have done on this program and I do still believe that journalism has an essential place in prime time and at all times. I am also especially proud of the people who put this show on the air every night. They are an amazing, dedicated, loyal and caring team. To them, I will be forever grateful.
My plan right now is to help CNN through any transition, and then to enjoy, for the very first time, the nightly ritual of "Good Night Moon" and good night kisses with my two little boys. I wish my CNN colleagues all the best. And as long as bedtime doesn't conflict with prime time, I will be watching and pulling for them.
Campbell Brown
I imagine she’ll head over to PMSNBC. That’s where all the loons go to die once their career has ended.
Does anyone watch CNN?
Will anyone notice?
MAybe NPR will pick her up. They don’t care about ratings.
I honestly wouldn’t even know what she looks like, I don’t have cable and I don’t fly anymore.
Maybe “Ms” Campbell Brown can go to the Oxygen Network for a show on how she/he/it deals with menstruation.
Red Eye on Fox at 3AM beats the entire CNN Prime Time evening line up. I swear this is true.
I thought Gov Spitzer only “slipped into” professionals or am I
missing something here?
I wish perverts would hide their faces in shame and quit embarrassing their family any more
Just savoring that line like a fine vintage wine, it's almost pornographic.
"M'm! M'm! Good!
WOW!
That is refreshingly honest.
A mainstream media personality that is prepared to resign because of bad ratings, instead of making them push her out?
For a mainstream media type, Campbell Brown is not too bad actually. Plus she's hot like hell.
Her show was typical Leftist drivel....
Any other explanation for its failure is spin.
Spitzer’s New Show:
1. Sittin’ With Spitz
2. Whore Watch
3. Yes Honey I’m Coming Right Home After the Show
4. The Love Line with Elliot Spitzer
5. How Can I Help Obama Today?
6. Republicans Caused Me To Cheat With Many Whores
7. Lubin’ Up with Elliot Spitzer
8. Washington Whore Review with Elliot Spitzer
9. Crotch Talk
10. Sleazeballs
11. STD Week in Review with Elliot Spitzer
12. Why I Resigned: Very Liberal, but my looks, charisma and lying ability weren’t as good as Clinton’s
LOL! This POS is going to do this gig to resurrect his political career. (True). He is unpleasant to look at and a nasty person. CNN is bonkers.
I cancelled TV and will never go back unless I can get a conservative network over the web like Kelsey Grammer’s idea for a network. If you pay for cable or sat TV the 5 networks control 95% of the channels and they get $5 a month each from your bill. They can all go to h*ll cause they all support Obam aincluding Fox/Saudia.
Campbell Brown was the first person to attack Sarah when she was announced as McCain’s running mate. It only took 2 hours for her to go on the attack. I will never forget that.
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