TresSugar

Former CNN Anchor Bobbie Battista Now on The Onion

TresSugar — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:00:00 -0700

“You watch the news today, and you don’t know what is real. When I was doing newscasts at CNN, people would come up to me and say, ‘That story can’t be real.’ Now the lines are really getting blurred.”

- Former CNN news anchor Bobbie Battista, now an anchor on the satirical news site The Onion, doing her part to blur the lines between real and fake news even further. Although hesitant at first to accept the job at The Onion for fear that her former CNN colleagues would think less of her, Battista nevertheless doesn't see it as a step down. She thinks cable news itself has taken a dive. To watch an example of her hilarious deadpan reading of ridiculous news, read more

This Just In: CNN Anchor Reports Crucial Fart News

GiggleSugar — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 08:00:00 -0700

This isn't exactly breaking news - it's a few days old - but it is breaking wind news now with video! Not only do you get to hear the charming tale of a kid suspended from riding the bus for three days for ~~farting~~ causing a disturbance, you actually get to hear a CNN news anchor start a segment with the phrase "letting it rip." Bet you didn't think you'd live to see the day!

CNN Ratings Falling - What's Your Favorite Cable Network?

CitizenSugar — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 10:00:11 -0700

So far in March, CNN has trailed Fox News, MSNBC, and CNN Headline News, showing that its no-bias, no-bull angle might not be paying off.

While CNN does get accused of having a more liberal tone than, say Fox News, the network's personalities usually show more restraint than those on MSNBC.

Perhaps cable news viewers are looking for a little more in-your-face coverage. Then again, maybe if the network really built out its news coverage, and relied less on pundits, it could differentiate itself from other cable news stations.

Source

How to Pick Which Election Coverage to Tune Into on Tuesday

CitizenSugar — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 10:00:49 -0700

With less than a week left until election night it's time to start making plans - not what election parties or events you're attending, this is a much, much more important decision- who you're spending the evening with, teevees-wise. The media has been as important this campaign as the candidates - and since McCain is saying they've all been fooled as to the real state of the race, I can't wait to see the results. I know who I'm watching, I've been so CNN-loyal the whole campaign, the thought of abandoning my Wolf wouldn't happen by a hair of his chinny-chin-chin. I might peek to see what the other kids have going on though, so luckily there's a whole passel of lists to help us decide who to watch.

To see them, read more.

Men's Vogue has ranked the news teams broken down into crucial details like what their set looks like, their biggest scoop during the campaign, and who their MVP talking head is. They said my poor Wolf's set is "Monitor-cluttered set design ripped off from Shatner-era Star Trek Enterprise." But John King's map! Rules!

New York Magazine has rounded up the Top Ten Cable News Election Coverage Gimmicks, including yes, CNN's "Perception Analyzer" that line graph thing they used during the debates - but a few I even missed. Fox had a text-in flash poll? The sample and results didn't turn out as randomly as some would hope. If you're into gizmos this list can help.

Finally, my list of Top Ten Newscasters That Push My (Remote) Buttons. While there are quite a few CNN-ers on the list, my precious Wolf is nowhere to be found.

Who are you tuning into for your election night coverage?

Source

Briefing Book! CNN Anchor Covers Economic Crisis Via Twitter

LibertySugar — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:30:37 -0700

Wall Street: Talk to Rick on Facebook? In 20 years, we'll be saying "When the economy collapsed, CNN's Rick Sanchez was there." - 23/6
Palin: Sarah knocked 'em dead before she arrived? Paper hires fake Sarah Palin to tour New York City. - NY Daily News
Bailout: What's happening by the minute? Liveblogging of Congressional bailout meeting. - The Lede
Religion: Does it matter? A look at Palin's religion. - Pop + Politics
China: Update? Toxic Chinese milk poisons 53,000 children. - Huffington Post

Source

Lighten Up: When the News Goes Bad

CitizenSugar — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 12:15:43 -0700

Nope, not bad news, just terribly, terribly wrong. Hey, it's live - anything could happen. Check out this round up of crazy news outtakes, that um, made it right on the air. Oh, watch when the guy loses his satellite interview and it gets replaced with some guy he's never seen before.

CNN doesn't have nearly enough of these moments. Give me Tony Harris with some guy behind him making bunny ears and TJ Holmes for, um, entertainment value and I'd be a happy camper.

87% of Fox Viewers for McCain: News Watchers Discriminate?

CitizenSugar — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 08:00:03 -0700

Though media may or may not be biased (depending on your perception of it) viewers it seems might be. In a recent Rasmussen poll, the cable network of choice was a big indicator of how a viewer plans to vote in November.

The network that was most closely tied to a candidate? Fox News, with 87 percent of viewers saying they're likely to vote for John McCain. (The results are similar to 2004 when 88 percent favored Bush.) Though Fox has an anecdotally popular niche among conservatives, they're not the only ones with pals; other networks lined up as well. Over at CNN, 65 percent said they'll vote for Obama compared to 26 percent for McCain, and at MSNBC it's 63 percent to 30 percent for McCain, with the major networks showing similar results.

The results do bring up an interesting question about coverage - to see what it is, read more.

Do networks cover stories in a way to cater to one population or another - or do people seek out coverage they feel closely allies with their own beliefs? Or as one blogger at NewsBusters asks, "Chicken and egg question: which came first, Obama supporters or pro-Obama media coverage? Did all the glowing, sycophantic, journalistically unprofessional coverage of Obama by CNN, MSNBC, and the nets create this support?" What do you think? Any merit to this musing? When you pick your news source, what do you look for?

Source

CNN Uses Fake Republican to Hit McCain? Real Ones on Road!

CitizenSugar — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:45:17 -0700

In a doom-and-gloom message from CNN today, it seemed like all was lost for the Republican candidate - no young voter was ever going to be inspired by time-tested McCain. Except, it's all a fake! According to a press release, CNN used a phony College Republican to dummy up the story.

The CNN piece quoted Eric Pearlmutter, a supposed College Republican at USC. Pearlmutter said, "We try to get people out to our College Republican meetings, but we can't seem to get the same amount of support." Seems damning - except that the real USC College Republican President Ben Myers says, "I have never met Eric Pearlmutter. I have never seen him at a College Republican meeting. He is not on our membership roster. I don't know why someone would think he speaks for us. As far as I know, he could be a Democrat." Whoa!

Update: According to TruthCaucus, the disputed CNN story was taken down for a period this evening. The name of the source, Eric Pearlmutter, may have been misspelled (the real spelling is possibly Eric Perlmutter-Gumbiner) though even so, Perlmutter isn't listed as an officer of the USC College Republicans. Plus his quote sounds very familiar. . . .

Update II: Interestingly, there seems to be a producer at CNN named Bruce Perlmutter. I wonder if he's related to the source of the quote?

Update III: CNN has admitted the error, via the LA Times saying, “Eric Perlmutter appeared on today’s American Morning segment about young Republicans on college campuses. While he attends USC and says that he is a registered Republican, he was inadvertently identified on-screen as a member of the USC College Republicans organization. We regret that error. We have invited Ben Myers, the president of the USC College Republicans organization, to appear on American Morning at a future time.”

In the meantime, there are real young Republicans on the road, crossing country for McCain. To see their story, read more.

Want proof that young people are excited about McCain? A group of four intrepid college Repubs are on the ultimate road trip - swinging across the country, heading coast to coast through 21 states without ever leaving red districts. Their mission is called Where Is the Red?, and it's pulling out all the stops to answer that question - honestly.

Knowing that the youth vote will play a pivotal vote in this election, the GOP road-trippers are volunteering for campaigns, inspiring College Republicans, and signing up voters. You can follow their every move through photos, videos, and their blog - not to mention the Google Map/GPS feature that shows exactly where the real young Republicans are - even if it's not on CNN.

Source

CNN Host Gives the Wrong Kind of Compliment

GiggleSugar — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 03:00:00 -0700

This CNN host was all grins, giggles, and flattery when she pitched the show over to the news correspondent on location. But instead of directing our attention to the reporter, she sent us flying headlong into the wonderful world of produce aisle boob slang. It was an honest accident, I'm sure.

Anderson Cooper: Donna Brazile's Wannabe "Boo"

GiggleSugar — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 01:00:00 -0700

I'm in love with Anderson Cooper. (Is that so wrong? I'm in good company with Kathy Griffin.) Coop pressed political strategist Donna Brazile to reveal details about Barack Obama's private phone conversation with her. "Anderson," she teased, wagging a finger, "you're not my boo." He giggled and then whined, "But I wanna be your boo," unaware (?!) that it's slang for boyfriend/girlfriend. Everyone in the studio cracked up, and it was ridiculously cute. Swoon.