Has CNN 'dumbed down' the news? - Democratic Underground

sixmile

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Fri May-01-09 03:04 PM
Original message

Has CNN 'dumbed down' the news?

Or is it just me?
Every time I turn to CNN lately I feel they are trying hard to be young and hip instead of just reporting the news.
Are they targeting to a younger demo?
Does it make you want to turn the channel every time an anchor or reporter mentions myface, or tweeter or yourbook, etc.?

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gkhouston

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Fri May-01-09 03:05 PM
Response to Original message

1. CNN reports news? I thought their job was keeping people dumb. n/t

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nancyr

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Fri May-01-09 03:06 PM
Response to Original message

2. it's nothing new...

and no, it isn't just you. I have not watched them for years, and my blood pressure is much improved now. They're nothing but a bunch of hacks.

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Dr Fate

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Fri May-01-09 03:06 PM
Response to Original message

3. Wouldn't they have to actually report news in the 1st place in order to dumb it down?

They are dumbing down something, that we agree on.

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handmade34

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Fri May-01-09 03:07 PM
Response to Original message

4. cafferty and sanchez are ok

don't watch much anymore

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drchoice22

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Fri May-01-09 07:38 PM
Response to Reply #4

28. Uhh no.. they're not.. at least not cafferty. He sure tries hard though! lol

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rcrush

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Fri May-01-09 03:07 PM
Response to Original message

5. Its not just CNN.

Have you watched MSNBC during the day? Sometimes they have the dumbest airhead anchors on. Its like they get all their anchors from Fox and Friends.

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KoKo

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Fri May-01-09 03:11 PM
Response to Reply #5

9. Contessa Brewer......eom

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rcrush

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Fri May-01-09 03:14 PM
Response to Reply #9

11. Oy

she makes me :banghead:

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stopbush

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Fri May-01-09 03:08 PM
Response to Original message

6. Who are they making dumb? BTW, what's CNN?

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sixmile

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Fri May-01-09 03:14 PM
Response to Reply #6

10. CNN once known as Cable News Network

Founded by Ted Turner (who kicks himself every day).

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stopbush

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Fri May-01-09 03:23 PM
Response to Reply #10

12. You missed my attempt at humor.

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sixmile

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Fri May-01-09 03:24 PM
Response to Reply #12

13. That makes two of us

Smiles.

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devilgrrl

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Fri May-01-09 03:10 PM
Response to Original message

7. CNN hasn't reported news since the early 90's

eom

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KoKo

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Fri May-01-09 03:10 PM
Response to Original message

8. It's not just you. Some of their new anchors talk in chatty slang

and Tweet/Twitter is promoted every few minutes.

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Supersedeas

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Fri May-01-09 04:47 PM
Response to Reply #8

18. when the company folds, will they even bother to wonder why--or just move to the next marketing job

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WorseBeforeBetter

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Fri May-01-09 03:28 PM
Response to Original message

14. It's not just CNN doing the dumbing down and "yes" to your last question.

Edited on Fri May-01-09 03:32 PM by WorseBeforeBetter

I never watched FUX because I knew immediately something was off, and stopped watching CNN years ago. I can't even stomach MSNBC, but for Keith and Rachel (haven't given Ed a try yet...). Local news is impossible. A newsbunny actually said the other night after a segment on NCSU research: "I don't see how dinosaurs and chickens can be related because chickens are just so cute!" <Head explode>

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jdp349

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Fri May-01-09 03:49 PM
Response to Original message

15. I actually just finished interning at CNN

A lot of people who work there are actually pretty young. Even some of the producers are in their mid 20's, so relatively recent college grads themselves. Everyone's just trying to figure out how to deal with new media. No one really has any idea where it's all going so everyones just scrambling to integrate it somehow and just ride the wave and see where it goes.

A lot of the anchors I met/worked with just seemed to find twitter and facebook personally entertaining.

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KoKo

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Fri May-01-09 04:05 PM
Response to Reply #15

16. Did you watch it growing up? Do you think it's different now...

since you interned you would have a great view of it. Is there a difference?

Also...aren't most of the daytime viewers of CNN folks who work from home, or retired and even maybe even in assisted living or nursing homes. Are they trying to capture the College Kids? Market to them over their older audience?

Thanks for sharing, btw.

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sixmile

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Fri May-01-09 07:51 PM
Response to Reply #15

33. That explains it!

Edited on Fri May-01-09 07:53 PM by sixmile

I don't want to sound like an old man, because I am not, but twenty-something producers explains a lot.
Murrow must be rolling in his grave.

Twat that to your facetube page...

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jdp349

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Sat May-02-09 12:38 AM
Response to Reply #33

35. Yea, I learnt a lot about the MSM while at CNN

Mostly it seems like the big networks are caught between two mutually exclusive goals, journalistic integrity and ratings. You can whore yourself out like Fox and dominate the industry, or you can actually put the effort in and try and broadcast something worthwhile but it's risky. I know CNN's been taking some big hits for ratings so they'll likely trying some new policies and adapting their model to see if they can pick things back up. I'm interning at NBC this summer so I guess I'll get the inside scoop on another network. Maybe CBS in the fall, they have a pretty solid investigative unit I'd love to see in action.

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Trajan

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Sat May-02-09 12:45 AM
Response to Reply #35

36. I once respected CNN ....

When Arnett and Shaw were the greater part ...

When the Bush nutcases took over the White House, it seemed that ALL the MSM's wanted to be just like FAUX, and join the nutcase parade ....

I appreciate your opportunity at CNN, but some of their anchors and commentators are blatant knuckledragging neocons who want nothing more
than to tear down Democrats and Liberals, JUST like those 'popular' idiots are Fox ...

Fuck'm, and welcome to DU ...

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Stinky The Clown

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Fri May-01-09 04:09 PM
Response to Original message

17. Weere I drinking milk, this would have caused it to run out of my nose.

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OHDEM

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Fri May-01-09 04:48 PM
Response to Original message

19. Well, Mary Matalin was just on so - YES! nt

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Jack Rabbit

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Fri May-01-09 04:50 PM
Response to Original message

20. You mean you just noticed?

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LSdemocrat

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Fri May-01-09 05:03 PM
Response to Original message

21. CNN's been lousy since just about the time Ted Turner sold the company to AOL

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Mari333

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Fri May-01-09 05:17 PM
Response to Original message

22. Its like watching Call Girls and Male Models do the news

CNN 's coverage is one of the factors that finally made me dump my TV. I have never seen so many bimbos and airheads on one station.
Its like watching Moofy and Poopsie and Chad and Brad all pretending to read the news . A bunch of little fraternity/sorority brats whose mums and dadums sent them to journalism school, but who are as dumb as a box of hammers.
Losing the TV was the best thing I ever did.

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Vidar

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Fri May-01-09 06:14 PM
Response to Original message

23. Yes, but not to FOX extent. Wish Ted had kept it.

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azmouse

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Fri May-01-09 06:15 PM
Response to Original message

24. I stopped watching CNN a long time ago.

I recommend it.

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The Straight Story

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Fri May-01-09 06:17 PM
Response to Original message

25. CNN is the MTV of news.

They got rid of the content that made them who they were and replaced it with reality shows :)

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dorkulon

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Fri May-01-09 06:18 PM
Response to Original message

26. The dumb audience has dumbed down the news.

Smart news gets bad ratings.

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Toucano

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Sat May-02-09 12:58 AM
Response to Reply #26

37. Chicken or egg?

Or is it just the candy everybody wants?

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drchoice22

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Fri May-01-09 07:38 PM
Response to Original message

27. Yes.. CNN dumbs down the news

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Joe Fields

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Fri May-01-09 07:40 PM
Response to Original message

29. Don't you know? CNN is the most enlightened tv. since Stonehenge.

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nadinbrzezinski

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Fri May-01-09 07:44 PM
Response to Original message

30. Here you go

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/5/1/726940/-The-US-Media-the-Flu-and-how-unsophisticated-news-consumers-are...

Yes my post at DKOS, but part of your answer is there and its the US media

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CakeGrrl

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Fri May-01-09 07:48 PM
Response to Original message

31. Yes. They've devolved into infotainment

When they went to commercial break a few days ago before returning to a story on mortgages, they faded out to the song "Ain't Nothing Going On But the Rent".

Their anchors are more like veejays.

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burning rain

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Fri May-01-09 07:49 PM
Response to Original message

32. They do that a lot with the social networking stuff.

And, they have the execrable Lou Dobbs and Campbell Brown.

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Kansas Wyatt

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Fri May-01-09 08:50 PM
Response to Original message

34. It's not just you, CNN is trying hard to be that 'cool' parent.

Yet they only end up looking like a bunch of dip shits.

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Hekate

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Sat May-02-09 01:00 AM
Response to Original message

38. Yes. What's really galling is that CNN overseas is smart news by smart newscasters...

... or so I have repeatedly heard. :wtf:

Hekate

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cooolandrew

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Sat May-02-09 04:20 AM
Response to Original message

39. The youth vote is the future keep them egaged for a wave of change.

Edited on Sat May-02-09 04:21 AM by cooolandrew

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oxygen destroyer

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Sat May-02-09 04:25 AM
Response to Original message

40. I think it's just you

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omega minimo

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Sat May-02-09 04:26 AM
Response to Original message

41. Just your set up

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Quantess

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Sat May-02-09 04:27 AM
Response to Original message

42. Duh, yes!

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