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...

[wagglebee]

The rest of the media is going crazy because Fox won't criticize Bush and America at any possible opportunity.

[johniegrad]

CNN=Democratic minority.

[jdm]

"The rest of the media is going crazy because Fox won't criticize Bush and America at any possible opportunity."

It sucks to be CNN. Sucks to be at the bottom, looking up.

[dighton]

“Make it stop, they are killing us.”

[BunnySlippers]

Well, as long as my retirement investments are in FoxNews News Corp stock, I want them to go for RATINGS. The ratings now are Natalee Holloway.

Yeah, they cover other subjects. I'll let CNN be "morally superior" ... and a stockmarket loser.

[ncountylee]

Translation - They are killing us.

[abb]

I'm told all this noise from Klein is similar to dinosaur sounds just prior to extinction

[flixxx]

Yes, but if you look at some other thread on FreeRepublic, we have also criticized Fox for overblowing the Aruba story and other missing girls/sensationalism drivel...I'm no fan of CNN but Fox (Hannity, Greta, etc.) are slipping a lot this summer.

[NewLand]

Envy alert.

[jdm]

"It's easy and it's brainless," Klein charges in a telephone interview set for publication at the NEW YORK TIMES...."

If it's "easy" and "brainless" why isn't CNN #1? Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...........

[Venerable Bede]

[OHelix]

Closet Communists pissed they've lost their propaganda monopoly, and can't win without it.

[Northern Yankee]

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

Like CNN?!

[roses of sharon]

Hilarious, this from a network who last nite had a graphic saying a "terrorist speaks", and which member of an Islamic cult were they speaking about? OBL?

Eric Rudolph. Can you imagine seeing that word under an OBL tape?

[BunnySlippers]

OK, I just turned on Larry King Live on CNN. He is covering Olivia Newton John's missing boyfriend. I am so NOT impressed. What is the difference?

They are hypocrites!

[Carling]

Excuse me, Mr. Klein, but the reason I watch FoxNews over CNN is I've heard your network cry wolf on the GOP/conservatives many times to often.

And let's not forget Eason Jordan's missteps. My favorites are agreeing not to report on Saddam's atrocities in order to keep a Baghdad bureau and also saying that the US Army targets journalists who don't agree with them.

[foofoopowder]

What's a CNN?

[Dog Gone]

If FNC is still doing Natalee stories by Thanksgiving with no new developments in the case, they deserve to go bankrupt.

At least Judge Crater and Amelia Earhart were somebodies.

[skimbell]

"...It sucks to be CNN. Sucks to be at the bottom, looking up..."

I agree with you on this, but I also agree with CNN that Fox is turning into NHN (Natalee Holloway Network).

[Palladin]

I will confess that lately I am tuning in MSNBC for news instead of FOX. The Holloway thing is getting way old.
Same with the groom overboard, etc. etc. etc.

FOX might as well call itself the True Crime Channel instead of a News Channel.