CNN Cuts Entire Science, Tech Team

[Ichingcarpenter]

CNN, the Cable News Network, announced yesterday that it will cut its entire science, technology, and environment news staff, including Miles O’Brien, its chief technology and environment correspondent, as well as six executive producers. Mediabistro’s TVNewser broke the story.

“We want to integrate environmental, science and technology reporting into the general editorial structure rather than have a stand alone unit,” said CNN spokesperson Barbara Levin. “Now that the bulk of our environmental coverage is being offered through the Planet in Peril franchise, which is produced by the Anderson Cooper 360 program, there is no need for a separate unit.”

A source at the network, who asked not to be named, said the move is a strategic and structural business decision to cut staff, unrelated to the current economic downturn. Financially, “CNN is doing very, very well,” the source said, and none of the health and medical news staff has been cut. Yet the big question, of course, is whether or not the reorganization will decrease the overall amount of CNN’s science, technology, and environment coverage. CNN says no, but it’s hard to imagine that it won’t—Anderson Cooper or not, fewer people is fewer people.

What’s more, the decision to eliminate the positions seems particularly misguided at a time when world events would seem to warrant expanding science and environmental staff.

“It’s disheartening,” said Christy George, who is president of the Society of Environmental Journalists >>>>snip

http://www.cjr.org/the_observatory/cnn_cuts_entire_science_tech_t.php


We need more car chases and Brittany!

[Systematic Chaos]

1. Haven't you heard? It's all about their "Headline News" tabloid piece of crap station now!

My, how the mighty have fallen. :puke:

[Radical Activist]

2. Wolf will dumb everything down for us

just like he does with political coverage.

[Dennis Donovan]

3. John Holliman is rolling in his grave...

CNN gets suckier every day.:thumbsdown:

Of course they'll keep Sanjay Gupta, since he's bought & paid for by Big Pharm...:eyes:

[Connonym]

4. After 8 years of Shrub why are we surprised that nobody gives a shit about science

they certainly haven't been using it on the executive level. But by that criteria we shouldn't really care about any brainwave activity because they aren't using that at the executive level either.

Honestly,sometimes I feel terrified at the gross lack of intellectual curiosity in this country. What happened to us since the 60s when we rushed to get a man to the moon?

[Skittles]

5. very foolish

[eShirl]

6. "the big question... is whether or not the reorganization will decrease the overall amount of

...CNN’s science, technology, and environment coverage."

No, the big question is what will happen to the quality of the coverage.

[grantcart]

7. well its not like they were using them anyway

[tsuki]

8. Why not? They cut their entire news staff years ago. nt

[Orsino]

9. Wonder whether they are retaining "religios affairs correspondents"? n/t

[Orrex]

10. They had a Science/Tech Team?

Who knew?

[joshcryer]

11. ...I came here to post that.

What a joke.

[eppur_se_muova]

12. Oh noes! How will we ever do without science news posted by the BBC two days earlier? nt