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Turner: CNN Focuses Too Much on Perverts
Associated Press ^ | June 1, 2005 | KRISTEN WYATT

Posted on 06/01/2005 5:32:46 PM PDT by NCjim

CNN should cover international news and the environment, not the "pervert of the day," network founder Ted Turner said Wednesday as the first 24-hour news network turned 25.

Turner, an outspoken media mogul who started CNN in 1980 but no longer controls the network, said he envisioned CNN as a place where rapes and murders that dominated local news wouldn't be emphasized, but he's seeing too much of that "trivial news" on the network he created, now second in ratings to Fox News Channel.

"I would like to see us to return to a little more international coverage on the domestic feed and a little more environmental coverage, and, maybe, maybe a little less of the pervert of the day," he said in a speech to CNN employees outside the old Atlanta mansion where the network first aired.

"You know, we have a lot of perverts on today, and I know that, but is that really news? I mean, come on. I guess you've got to cover Michael Jackson, but not three stories about perversion that we do every day as well."

His remarks won applause and laughter from CNN employees, but the moderator for Turner's remarks, CNN correspondent Christiane Amanpour, said: "But everyone else is doing that. Why do you think it's important not to?"

Turner replied: "Somebody's got to be a serious news person. Somebody's got to be the most respected name in television news, and I wanted that position for CNN.

"I wanted to be The New York Times of the airwaves. Not the New York Post, but The New York Times. And that's what we set out to do, and we did it."

The brash Turner acknowledged that CNN wasn't all highbrow when he was in charge, either. "We followed O.J. Simpson ... It was pretty trivial, but high-interest."

As usual, the 65-year-old Turner made his remarks with a roguish smile.

The media pioneer called CNN his greatest professional achievement.

And at one point he claimed partial credit for ending the Cold War.

Amanpour asked his if he honestly thought he had a hand in it.

"I'm absolutely certain I did," he said.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: cnn; perverts; tabloid; tedturner; trashtv
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1 posted on 06/01/2005 5:32:46 PM PDT by NCjim
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To: NCjim

But all the international news he wants is full of perverts too... Bill Clinton, UN peacekeepers, Islamic misogynists, etc.


2 posted on 06/01/2005 5:35:28 PM PDT by thoughtomator (The U.S. Constitution poses no serious threat to our form of government)
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To: NCjim

WTF !! ted turner claims partial responsibility for the downfall of the soviet union !!

ROFL !!


....


ROFL !!!


3 posted on 06/01/2005 5:37:08 PM PDT by Nyboe ( if rich democrats really want the rich to be taxed more ... then by all means TAX RICH DEMOCRATS)
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To: NCjim
"CNN Focuses Too Much on Perverts"

You mean it will cease to be the Clinton News Network?

4 posted on 06/01/2005 5:37:55 PM PDT by joshhiggins
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To: NCjim
Turner wants CNN to be the fishwrap of the airwaves.

I'll give him a hint: They already are!

5 posted on 06/01/2005 5:38:12 PM PDT by twntaipan ( I would sooner trust the North Koreans to keep their word than the Democrats --- Ann Coulter)
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To: NCjim

Oops...he's off his lithium again!


6 posted on 06/01/2005 5:38:13 PM PDT by Seeking the truth (0cents.com - Pajama Patrol Badges are here!)
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To: NCjim
was he talking about Fonda 'Hanoi' Jane ?
7 posted on 06/01/2005 5:39:07 PM PDT by Random Nonsense
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To: NCjim

So the liberals believe that Reagan played no part in ending the cold war, but Turner did?!?!?!?

Geez!!!


8 posted on 06/01/2005 5:45:47 PM PDT by mwyounce
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Comment #9 Removed by Moderator

To: NCjim

Personally, it's this focus on the "international" that sets us on the road to becoming the UN's lapdog. This country should look out for itself instead of being the police of the world. What business is it for ours if there's some genocide in an African country? We have problems of our own to deal with. We should only use military invasion if it's to protect our homeland security, like the Iraq war was.

Ted Turner is a left-wing radical and I honestly don't feel like wasting any time on him. I'm sure if he had gotten his way, CNN would just be 24-hour communist propaganda, although it's only a stone's throw from that anyway.


10 posted on 06/01/2005 5:56:57 PM PDT by Odear
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To: NCjim

If Turner had CNN ban sensationalism coverage of Hollywood/Athletes (Michael Jackson, Kobe Bryant, etc), I'd drop the Mission Persons Network (aka Fox News/Fox Snooze) in a heartbeat so that I can get some real news.


11 posted on 06/01/2005 5:59:17 PM PDT by xrp (Fox News Channel should rename itself the Missing Persons Network)
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To: NCjim
"I wanted to be The New York Times of the airwaves. Not the New York Post, but The New York Times. And that's what we set out to do, and we did it."

I can't argue with that!

I wonder if, by international news, he means that CNN will be overlooking the activities of more genocidal dictators, in order to get scoops.

12 posted on 06/01/2005 6:04:30 PM PDT by Paul Atreides (FACT: You can get more reliable information in a beauty shop, than from the media)
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To: xrp

You and Ted could watch together and be about the only two watching.


13 posted on 06/01/2005 6:08:57 PM PDT by kempo
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To: NCjim

He's not referring to Michael Jackson when he uses the term "pervert", is he?


14 posted on 06/01/2005 6:33:09 PM PDT by popdonnelly
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To: NCjim

Bwahahahahaha! Ted is so FUNNY!


15 posted on 06/01/2005 6:34:41 PM PDT by Tax-chick (Who needs pictures when you can have words?)
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To: NCjim

A loser is a man who loses his business (CNN) his wife, a lot of his money and most of all his self respect. That about sums up Ted Turner to me.


16 posted on 06/01/2005 6:40:33 PM PDT by fish hawk (I am only one, but I am not the only one.)
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To: kempo

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17 posted on 06/01/2005 7:09:54 PM PDT by xrp (Fox News Channel should rename itself the Missing Persons Network)
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To: NCjim
"You know, we have a lot of perverts on today, and I know that..."

So stop hiring them. ;)

18 posted on 06/01/2005 7:11:39 PM PDT by Mr. Jeeves ("Violence never settles anything." Genghis Khan, 1162-1227)
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To: NCjim

Ted is his own freak show.


19 posted on 06/01/2005 7:13:33 PM PDT by TADSLOS (Right Wing Infidel since 1954)
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To: NCjim

I'm sorry. I've tried to post a serious reply to this.
But all I can do is roll on the floor and laugh.


20 posted on 06/01/2005 7:14:58 PM PDT by righttackle44 (The most dangerous weapon in the world is a Marine with his rifle and the American people behind him)
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