(Note: I used to think CNN was the better of the 3 news channels until recently. I daresay MSNBC is doing a better job of news reporting these days, even if their anchors tend to misinterpret even the simplest of things at times.)
1. Anyone else notice how the networks (CNN and FNC in particular) are running "somber" and "dirge-like" music at their commercial bumpers? Or, for that matter, how CNN is waffling between "normal" program music and it's now two-week-old thumpy-thumpy-thumpy "Hurricane Katrina's Coming!" music going into and returning from commercials for all its programs these days? Talk about causing a national psychosis by giving viewers a mixed message that goes between "all is well" and "we've got major problems, folks!" (Not to mention, CNN's "Katrina Theme" is getting real annoying....) 2. Last Saturday and Sunday, CNN was doing "Just In" programmatic interrupts almost every half-hour. I mean, was it of critical importance (real importance, not political importance) to know that SECDEF was heading to the Gulf on Labor Day? Whatever happened to 'breaking news' being used for really important things? (Oh, right....ratings and viewers...) 3. Anyone else notice that CNN anchors - particularly Tony Harris and Miles O'Brien - have, at times over the past week or so, been arrogant and downright rude to the officials and witnesses they were interviewing? Very uncharacteristic of them, particularly the generally-likeable O'Brien. 4. The Situation Room. More yukks from a show that would be great if it just provided raw feeds of video data and not tried to constantly remind us that "you heard it here first." I mean, who cares if CNN obtains "exclusive" aerial footage of a car crash in Smallville USA? That's likely not of national significance and doesn't need to be piped into the Situation Room as a "developing story" no matter how dramatic the footage might be! On that note, if they're going to keep Situation Room, CNN needs to get rid of Wolf Blitzer. For a show trying to be "high tech" and "cutting edge" it seems the ol' graybeard is having a hard time multitasking and being at-ease in such an environment. Dare we say it's time for Wolf to stick to his Sunday morning show and leave the "fast-paced" reporting to some younger folks with more comfort in that environment and who have a less-annoying voice? Thanks very much for that, Wolf. Over to you. 5. [sarcastic] Is there anything going on in the world besides Katrina? Inquiring minds trapped by American domestic news coverage want to know. -rick Infowarrior.org You are a subscribed member of the infowarrior list. Visit www.infowarrior.org for list information or to unsubscribe. This message may be redistributed freely in its entirety. Any and all copyrights appearing in list messages are maintained by their respective owners.
