Off the top of my head the problem with Kaitlin Collins being the expert on Trump/Republicans is she DOESN"T LIKE Trump and Republicans and makes it obvious. That makes her just like thousands of other "journalists" out there.
I go to CNN after a major event such as the assassination attempt on Trump because they usually are really good at that type of reporting.. I'm not sure that fits into a successful business model though.
She may not like him but she is an extremely fair, intelligent and respectful reporter. Trump was very misogynistic and disrespectful to her and she always handles it like the pro she is.
I listened to a lengthy interview with Stelter on Sirius/XM. He came across as a thoughtful, smart guy that is able to look at two sides of an issue. That guy didn't seem to come across at CNN though. Maybe with the time constraints on CNN there's pressure to be "edgy".
I know in my household CNN and MSNBC have not been watched much since the election. The post-mortem on why it happened are tiring. I think viewership will pick up again as more newsworthy things are covered.
Solid idea. Building up personal brands under an umbrella brand like CNN could work, as long as the bigger brand can truly share the limelight.
I prefer CNN to Fox and MSNBC myself. I felt like it's the only cable news outlet that at least tries to be less right/left aligned and more centrist. But sadly, that is not what draws viewers these days.
Your infatuation with Stelzer is odd to me. His show, Reliable Sources, was canceled because he failed to even remotely criticize CNN for the same partisan hack job that he would accuse Fox News of. He’s literally part
of the problem, reporting on the problem he is a part of, but completely missing the point. He talks of “building trust” but refuses to take any responsibility for his, or his companies, complicity in the situation. It’s like having Nancy Pelosi investigate herself for insider trading. Surprisingly she’ll never find herself guilty.
I have no suggestion, because I've largely stopped watching television as a source for news. Just about all the "news" channels appear to have become pundit-panel shows regurgitating stale talking points, when they're not running soft-focus feature stories or "documentaries" more suited to the upper channels of my cable system. The old-school networks lost me decades ago because they air when I am commuting or cooking dinner, to the point it wouldn't occur to me to tune into CBS or NBC. Maybe it IS doomed, at least as a television channel.
I watch much less CNN than in the past. I will pop it on at the top of the hour just see if there is anything breaking, then quickly move on. One thing CNN needs to STOP doing are the nightly "discussion" panels which more often than not just turn into food fights. I get they are trying to fair and balanced with the panels - but it just doesn't work.
Second, what about coverage of international and "breaking news". These are areas that can and often do work. What about dedicating an hour or a couple of half hours of "just the facts" reporting in prime time - provide short snap shots of all the news of the day from around the USA, and more importantly outside the USA.... no panels or discussion/analysis... just the facts Mame!
"(Sidebar: It’s concerning — to me at least — that anyone can call themselves a “journalist” but we aren’t all abiding by the same rules or even close. But that’s a topic for another day.)" And I hope Chris addresses this topic on another day. It is a fact that CNN, the major TV networks and the major newspapers are ALL vastly more reliable (and honest) than the crap that fills Twitter (yeah, I can call it that if I want to) and other social media platforms. Somehow, those of us who really, really care about professional journalism have allowed the reputation slip[ away. We weren't paying enough attention, I fear, and America is suffering from that loss.
Your personalization idea is really the key one. I understand why people don't love it but for anyone that's on LinkedIn, who follows company pages (as a biz owner, it's quite apparent)? You follow the CEO or key personnel.
With that said, you do need to be careful not to "put all your eggs in one basket" such that if a key person leaves you're screwed. You need better two-way contracts - you give them longer guaranteed deals and they get longer non-competes if they leave early.
Of the US Cable networks, CNN is the only one I'll watch but I primarily watch BBC or SkyNews as I find their coverage less biased and not feeling the need for a 6-person panel each hour.
Why would CNN create employee's into brands let alone why would people allow that to happen? Legally, they cannot own a person's identity and that is the problem with your idea. If Brian Stelter wants to leave CNN, he'd take his "brand" with him.
I have been watching or listening to CNN even more since the election because they have been able to really dig into so much of the Trump craziness. For instance, Trump just offered RFKJr as his sec of HHS pick. Seriously craziness.
They’d be better off emulating CNN International, which seems to do much better at trying to simply report the news rather than making every piece a fruit basket of editorial opinionizing.
Off the top of my head the problem with Kaitlin Collins being the expert on Trump/Republicans is she DOESN"T LIKE Trump and Republicans and makes it obvious. That makes her just like thousands of other "journalists" out there.
I go to CNN after a major event such as the assassination attempt on Trump because they usually are really good at that type of reporting.. I'm not sure that fits into a successful business model though.
She may not like him but she is an extremely fair, intelligent and respectful reporter. Trump was very misogynistic and disrespectful to her and she always handles it like the pro she is.
ehhh not your best stuff, Chris. I read Brian Stelter too, but he's a partisan hack. He is part of the problem.
I listened to a lengthy interview with Stelter on Sirius/XM. He came across as a thoughtful, smart guy that is able to look at two sides of an issue. That guy didn't seem to come across at CNN though. Maybe with the time constraints on CNN there's pressure to be "edgy".
I know in my household CNN and MSNBC have not been watched much since the election. The post-mortem on why it happened are tiring. I think viewership will pick up again as more newsworthy things are covered.
Solid idea. Building up personal brands under an umbrella brand like CNN could work, as long as the bigger brand can truly share the limelight.
I prefer CNN to Fox and MSNBC myself. I felt like it's the only cable news outlet that at least tries to be less right/left aligned and more centrist. But sadly, that is not what draws viewers these days.
Your infatuation with Stelzer is odd to me. His show, Reliable Sources, was canceled because he failed to even remotely criticize CNN for the same partisan hack job that he would accuse Fox News of. He’s literally part
of the problem, reporting on the problem he is a part of, but completely missing the point. He talks of “building trust” but refuses to take any responsibility for his, or his companies, complicity in the situation. It’s like having Nancy Pelosi investigate herself for insider trading. Surprisingly she’ll never find herself guilty.
Wow, the MAGAts really have it in for Stelter. I guess the truth hurts.
What’s the truth that hurts? Stelzer completely turning a blind eye to his own complacency in his own networks decline?
Maybe try to figure out why people don’t trust CNN first? Hints: bias, gaslighting, lying…
Yup yup & yup
I have no suggestion, because I've largely stopped watching television as a source for news. Just about all the "news" channels appear to have become pundit-panel shows regurgitating stale talking points, when they're not running soft-focus feature stories or "documentaries" more suited to the upper channels of my cable system. The old-school networks lost me decades ago because they air when I am commuting or cooking dinner, to the point it wouldn't occur to me to tune into CBS or NBC. Maybe it IS doomed, at least as a television channel.
I watch much less CNN than in the past. I will pop it on at the top of the hour just see if there is anything breaking, then quickly move on. One thing CNN needs to STOP doing are the nightly "discussion" panels which more often than not just turn into food fights. I get they are trying to fair and balanced with the panels - but it just doesn't work.
Second, what about coverage of international and "breaking news". These are areas that can and often do work. What about dedicating an hour or a couple of half hours of "just the facts" reporting in prime time - provide short snap shots of all the news of the day from around the USA, and more importantly outside the USA.... no panels or discussion/analysis... just the facts Mame!
"(Sidebar: It’s concerning — to me at least — that anyone can call themselves a “journalist” but we aren’t all abiding by the same rules or even close. But that’s a topic for another day.)" And I hope Chris addresses this topic on another day. It is a fact that CNN, the major TV networks and the major newspapers are ALL vastly more reliable (and honest) than the crap that fills Twitter (yeah, I can call it that if I want to) and other social media platforms. Somehow, those of us who really, really care about professional journalism have allowed the reputation slip[ away. We weren't paying enough attention, I fear, and America is suffering from that loss.
Your personalization idea is really the key one. I understand why people don't love it but for anyone that's on LinkedIn, who follows company pages (as a biz owner, it's quite apparent)? You follow the CEO or key personnel.
With that said, you do need to be careful not to "put all your eggs in one basket" such that if a key person leaves you're screwed. You need better two-way contracts - you give them longer guaranteed deals and they get longer non-competes if they leave early.
Of the US Cable networks, CNN is the only one I'll watch but I primarily watch BBC or SkyNews as I find their coverage less biased and not feeling the need for a 6-person panel each hour.
Why would CNN create employee's into brands let alone why would people allow that to happen? Legally, they cannot own a person's identity and that is the problem with your idea. If Brian Stelter wants to leave CNN, he'd take his "brand" with him.
Great idea! They do have such talent, I really like Abby Phillip as well
thats why i subscribed to this substack- i trust his youtube videos and articles. I know I can go one place and get the straightforward info i need.
I have been watching or listening to CNN even more since the election because they have been able to really dig into so much of the Trump craziness. For instance, Trump just offered RFKJr as his sec of HHS pick. Seriously craziness.
They’d be better off emulating CNN International, which seems to do much better at trying to simply report the news rather than making every piece a fruit basket of editorial opinionizing.
Send Dana Bash to Paducah.
I used to watch World News Tonight on ABC because of Peter Jennings.
Creating a brand name out of an individual is a good idea.
But sometimes you need a big moment to create the brand name, like Dan Rather at the democratic convention in 1968.