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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009
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16

Middle-of-the-Road CNN Slips Into Last Place

Network is prime-time ratings loser

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(Newser) – Based on cable news ratings, CNN's "no bias" strategy seems to be backfiring. The network, which sticks to the middle in its news coverage, has had an average of 271,000 primetime viewers in April, behind both conservative Fox News (668,000) and lefty MSNBC (300,000), the New York Times reports. "All of a sudden it seems a little unfashionable to be in the middle," says one CNN correspondent.

That's because viewers tune in for commentary, MSNBC's president says: "In primetime you’ve got to stand out and make a splash." Jon Klein, CNN's president, dismisses comparisons. "They don’t have journalists on in primetime," he says. But that's not to say the evening time slots don't matter. "We’re not blasé about it," Klein says. "We just want to win the right way."

In a photo provided by CNN, Larry King, left, interviews former Gov. Rod Blagojevich during a broadcast of
In a photo provided by CNN, Larry King, left, interviews former Gov. Rod Blagojevich during a broadcast of "Larry King Live" on Jan. 26, 2009.   (AP Photo/Lorenzo Bevilaqua/CNN)
Visitors walk past the entrance to the CNN Center in Atlanta.
Visitors walk past the entrance to the CNN Center in Atlanta.   (AP Photo/Ric Feld)
Campbell Brown has improved CNN's 8pm ratings.
Campbell Brown has improved CNN's 8pm ratings.   (AP Photo/CNN)
CNN's Anderson Cooper has been successful at 10pm.
CNN's Anderson Cooper has been successful at 10pm.   (AP Photo/Andy Kropa, file)
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16 comments
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NutsInNY
Apr 27, 09 11:10 AM CDT
Too bad for the Children's News Network... It doesn't pay to be agnostic about right and wrong (in the name of "neutrality"). Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
Rob
Apr 27, 09 12:46 PM CDT
It's about facts not commentary and opinion. Or are you looking to twist reality too?
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IN RESPONSE:
woody66
Apr 27, 09 1:07 PM CDT
CNN makes more of an effort to investigate thoroughly and report objectively than Fox and MSNBC IMO. The latter two push the hot buttons which generates more viewership but gives an irritating National Enquirer infotainment flavor. I feel like I'm being manipulated. CNN"s packaging on the in-studio side (hosts and round table folks) is the problem. For example Wolf Blitzer is b-o-o-o-r-r-r-r-ing, Cafferty is a little too much of a lefty and Ali Velschi is a little too condescending. It all needs a little more "edge" in delivery. Their correspondents are excellent though. People like Suzanne Malveaux, Christiane Amanpour, Ed Henry, Michael Ware do a great job. As always it's best to get your news feed from a fairly broad spectrum and hopefully a lot from newspapers where the detail is more thorough.
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ClingingToHope
Apr 27, 09 11:27 AM CDT
CNN is NOT middle of the road. It is just to the right of MSNBC. Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
Doctor_Zaius
Apr 27, 09 12:09 PM CDT
We all know the facts have a liberal bias.
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