in the news vol. II: CNN
I am amazed at how often CNN is in the news. Actually, I am amazed any time the media presents a story about themselves, but let's stick to CNN for now. I don't like CNN. I can't watch CNN for more than about 10 seconds, and I haven't watched it for any longer than that in years. Yet I read about it all the time: newspapers, magazines, on the web; really, its hard not to know what's going with the world's largest news network.
In the winter of 1991, while George Sr. was taking care of business in the Gulf war (which has yet to end), my sister was living in Israel. We received almost daily faxes from her (can't remember why she couldn't call) in which she would update us on such things as how well her gas mask fit, and the decor of the bomb shelter. Two things remain quite clear in my mind from those times: first, the image of her hand writing on the fax transcripts, and two, the reporting of Peter Arnott and Bernard Shaw from a hotel in downtown Baghdad. I am certain that any of us old enough to remember will never forget the image of the anti-aircraft fire turning the dark Iraqi sky into what looked like a game of asteroids played with green lasers. That I can still remember the names of CNN's correspondents speaks not only to my own personal attachment to the situation, but perhaps more pointedly to the sheer intensity of CNN's coverage of the invasion.
I am certain that the Gulf War changed CNN’s perception of itself. An already successful global news organization became bigger than the news; in many ways, it started to become part of the news. The focus seemed to shift from what was being reported, to who was reporting and what the ‘journalist’ was wearing. Words that come to mind are petty, and vain; instances that might be acceptable on the local nightly newscast were now on display for the entire world. Journalism was taking a backseat to image. As on-screen banners got bigger, a snowstorm in the northeast became BREAKING NEWS; an O.J. sighting was A LIVE EVENT; and a mother driving her two infant boys into a lake and blaming it on a black thug became A TRAGEDY UNFOLDING. And finally, the intelligence level of those running the network was made most clear by the addition of a scrolling newsticker across the bottom of the screen. A newsticker during a live broadcast indicates the following: what the host, guest or journalist you are watching right now is saying is not important, so here is some useless fodder to keep you entertained.
All this wouldn’t really bother me so much if it wasn’t for the constant reference to CNN in the media. I read an op-ed recently that was written by a university professor who suggested that CNN was a valuable news resource. Appearances by politicians and other ‘important’ people are often cited in editorials of national newspapers. Larry King has attained cult-like status. At least he’s a baseball fan.
In the winter of 1991, while George Sr. was taking care of business in the Gulf war (which has yet to end), my sister was living in Israel. We received almost daily faxes from her (can't remember why she couldn't call) in which she would update us on such things as how well her gas mask fit, and the decor of the bomb shelter. Two things remain quite clear in my mind from those times: first, the image of her hand writing on the fax transcripts, and two, the reporting of Peter Arnott and Bernard Shaw from a hotel in downtown Baghdad. I am certain that any of us old enough to remember will never forget the image of the anti-aircraft fire turning the dark Iraqi sky into what looked like a game of asteroids played with green lasers. That I can still remember the names of CNN's correspondents speaks not only to my own personal attachment to the situation, but perhaps more pointedly to the sheer intensity of CNN's coverage of the invasion.
I am certain that the Gulf War changed CNN’s perception of itself. An already successful global news organization became bigger than the news; in many ways, it started to become part of the news. The focus seemed to shift from what was being reported, to who was reporting and what the ‘journalist’ was wearing. Words that come to mind are petty, and vain; instances that might be acceptable on the local nightly newscast were now on display for the entire world. Journalism was taking a backseat to image. As on-screen banners got bigger, a snowstorm in the northeast became BREAKING NEWS; an O.J. sighting was A LIVE EVENT; and a mother driving her two infant boys into a lake and blaming it on a black thug became A TRAGEDY UNFOLDING. And finally, the intelligence level of those running the network was made most clear by the addition of a scrolling newsticker across the bottom of the screen. A newsticker during a live broadcast indicates the following: what the host, guest or journalist you are watching right now is saying is not important, so here is some useless fodder to keep you entertained.
All this wouldn’t really bother me so much if it wasn’t for the constant reference to CNN in the media. I read an op-ed recently that was written by a university professor who suggested that CNN was a valuable news resource. Appearances by politicians and other ‘important’ people are often cited in editorials of national newspapers. Larry King has attained cult-like status. At least he’s a baseball fan.
posted by Tennessee Jed at 9:32 PM
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