Is this CNN or the National Enquirer?

There are days when I'm embarrassed to admit I have a degree in journalism and am indirectly associated with the professionals that bring you so much drivel.

Case in point.  These are all the headlines on CNN.com International, U.S. site:

Lead story: Texas town worries about polygamists

News headlines:

• Employees fired for gossiping about boss
• Police: Wife loses lip after calls man short
• Crews bang pipes hoping to steer whales
• Town oppposes "body farm" plans
• Sexual harassment allegations rock Folsom

Watch Video headlines:

• Microwaved baby's mom speaks
• Labor shortage on U.S. farms
• Stripping for college credit

We're at war in two countries and this is what a supposedly reputable news source is focused on? Honestly, the line between tabloid journalism and mainstream media fades every day.

Comments

[Granola-grrrl]

That is so true-- I thought it was just me. I hardly ever even check the "news" sites anymore. I really expected more from CNN than I've gotten lately.

[furiousBall]

I talk to my 5 year old and 3 year old to learn new stuff. Their ideas are much better than anything on the news and a lot less violent.

[AP in UK]

I had the same thought today while checking the CNN headlines. The news organizations must put it there because that's the sort of thing people are clicking on. Frightening, isn't it?

[deezee]

It's appalling at how the news media has deteriorated.

[Amber]

No. Shit.

This issue has been depressing me and pissing off for a few days now. Making me grumpy.

:/

[TB]

Sigh. I know. Remember when the morning news shows actually had news? Now Today, Good Morning America et al are just glorified talk shows. Most other news outlets have such an agenda, it's hard to watch without getting angry and even CNN tends toward the sensational much of the time. The only good news left is on NPR.

[V-Grrrl]

Peter (www.antwerp.wordpress.com) was having trouble getting his comment to post and e-mailed it to me. Here it is:

"drivel" is indeed a polite word to describe what CNN US is currently
considering news worthy.

There are even more disconcerting issues:

we now witness an amazing difference between the CNN-TV feed we get from London in Belgium (a much
more middle of the road approach with a balanced
European feel) and CNN America, with its agressive "homeland threat level up from orange to red", while giving a platform to conservative hate merchants like Ann Coulter, Glenn Beck, and Melanie Morgan.

While CNN Europe is still a US station, it manages to provide a "balanced" view, while the CNN-US
feed is trying to cash in on the US neo-con viewers by
giving right wing hate merchants prime-time time slots:

Link petitioning for for "hate free US media":
http://mediamatters.org/hatefree

Quote:
---
"Recently, the major television networks have given a platform to conservative hate merchants like
Ann Coulter, Glenn Beck, and Melanie Morgan.
Coulter's column is distributed by Universal Press Syndicate, one of the country's largest syndicates. Beck was recently hired by CNN Headline News. Morgan broadcasts from a radio station owned by Disney. And all three -- and countless others like them -- are regularly given guest spots on cable-news networks.

The fact that these right-wing pundits -- who have called for the execution of public officials and
others -- are given a platform in the major media is
unprecedented.

We, the undersigned, urge the media to stop allowing these hate merchants to spread their venom and abuse. America deserves to hear honest, reasoned debate, not rants from professional hatemongers.
---end of online petition---



Take a look at this promo from CNN-USA (in flash):
http://www.glennbeck.com/11-13-06-vintro.swf
or
http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/beck.extremistagenda/


Looks like the trash FOX news is producing.

[Denguy]

You lost me at "reputable news source." In Canada, CNN not really considered to be one. And Fox certainly isn't. Both of those stations also seem to really hate Canada. To me, they seem more like government run outlets.

[Ortizzle]

I have noticed two great changes in all news networks over the last decade, including CNN:

1. It's very often a media circus of which reporter gets the scoop first. The news almost seems to revolve around who looks the best delivering the news, and not whose comentaries and selection of stories are the best.

2. The news entities themselves have also gone Hollywood, prostituting themselves to the biggest and hottest gossip items. Why else would Anna Nicole, Paris Hilton and the likes get major news saturation, day after day?

*Sigh* Has the Internet and reality TV done its damage? Or is there another underlying reason for this?