I got a response from CNN

[SammyBlue]

Earlier in the day, I wrote this:

Instead of copying Faux News with the constant stream of RW talking heads (Bob Barr being the latest), why not just report the news?

Why is that Traitor Bob Novak still employed after outing the name of a CIA agent?

Why did you let Ed Gillespie and Ralph Reed critique Kerry's Speech? Will you like McAlliffe and Michael Moore critique Bush's speech at the RNC?

You guys used to be respected, but now you're just a mini-Faux News with yellow journalistic attitudes of style over substance, kowtowing to the Right Wing while thumbing your nose at other points of view!

You have lost over 150 viewers because my friends and family no longer watch you guys anymore. How many more will you lose by trying to copy Faux News?


I got this response:

Thanks for your note. CNN is CNN and makes no effort to be or to imitate any other network. CNN has always allowed a wide variety of voices to be heard and will certainly showcase prominent Democrats during the Republican convention.

By the way, it was sent by [email protected].

Anyone have anything to say about this? Should we hold them to this email? Do you agree that CNN is becoming a mini-Faux?

[swag]

1. Just gotta say that I loved your letter. n/t

[shoopnyc123]

2. Good work...

that's a personal, though untrue factually, response from CNN. They hate the fact that the movie "Outfoxed" exposes the race to beat Fox, (the movie is available at Tower Video for ten bucks).

[bluestateguy]

3. I wonder what prominent Democrats they will have

I can just see Joe Lieberman saying "Well I respectfully disagree with President Bush..." :eyes:

[Maddy McCall]

7. Or Zell: "I agree with President Bush." :puke:

[Dying Eagle]

4. prominent Democrats?

Like who, Zell Miller and Joe-mentum, I will believe it when I see it.

[LiberalTechie1337]

14. Don't forget Evan Bayh

For some reason, he is on the top of my shit list tonight. Not that he doesn't deserve it.

[physioex]

5. Yea CNN sucks...

It was a lot better off when it was owned by Ted Turner. Don't watch it anymore. I just got ABC News NOW and it's not perfect on any level, but it is an alternative.....

[fob]

6. E-mail him back and get his written commitment to specific

people to talk over bush*s hatespeech. Hell, tell him YOU would be glad to get a group together and critique it.

[SammyBlue]

11. This was my response to his response.

Thank you for your response. Considering, that my questions were answered rather vaguely, I will ask them again, and will add more. Also, I must state that I am not a normal American. I am highly educated and very intelligent that does not jump when my President or my political party tells me to. So answer me these questions:

1: When will Robert Novak be fired for outing the name of a CIA agent, which is treason and against the US Federal Code? By continued employment, CNN is silently agreeing that Treason is okay as long as it brings in ratings.

2: Explain what you mean by "prominent Democrats." Are you meaning Democrats like Zell Miller, Joe Lieberman who agree with 90%, if not all, of Bush's agenda? Or do you mean people who out-and-out disagree with our First President appointed by the Supreme Court?
- If you have a hard time coming up with this answer, I am sure I can give you a list of GREAT democrats who will critique the RNC.

3: Will you discount that, in an attempt to gain some of your competition's market (Faux News), you once tried to get pathological liar Rush Limbaugh on as a regular contributor?

4: Will you tell Judy Woodruff Bill Schneider and Jack Caferty to present a balanced, unbiased look at Democrats, instead of constantly hemming and hawing? I remember Mr. Caferty from WPIX-11 in New York City and he's balanced to the conservative side? Will CNN hire more left-leaning firebrands?

5: Will CNN present critique's of Bush that highlight his possible AWOL status, his possible drug use and other flaws that hunt him? CNN spent great length reporting on "Penis-Gate" under Clinton.

6: Will CNN become a legitimate news service and investigate the lies about the Iraq war, the things Michael Moore brings up in F 9/11 among other things Team Bush says or will you just parrot what the White House says without investigating for the truth?

7: Where are the reports of the "loyalty oaths" Bush requires to attend his speeches, or Cheney asking for the race of a photographer here in Tucson, Arizona?

8: Where is the objectivity when talking about Bush's record, or lack there of, on any issue he says he has improved on? Like security (yet he was against the 9/11 commission) or the economy (yet outsourcing and McJobs have taken over America's job market).

9: Will you allow Democrats to critique Bush's speech immediately after he gives it at the RNC?

10: Will you cover the RNC protests completely, or just give it passing interest? And in covering the protests, will you show how "Free Speech Zones" undermine the First amendment by limiting where you can assemble?

As stated, I am highly educated and very observant. Please answer my questions with a point by point response, not just a general response.

Thank you in advance.

[Furity]

16. #11

Could we have anyone but the disgusting Candy Crowley cover the Kerry campaign? Pretty please. BTW, great letter.

~Furity

[Bush was AWOL]

22. Great letter

and even better questions.

[Jerseygirltoo]

8. I got nada back from them

I wrote to Wolf Blitzer and Judy Woodruff about the lousy coverage during the DNC convention-no response yet.

[KoKo]

9. What's interesting about your reply, is you are the only person I've heard

of who has gotten a reply to all the complaints hundreds of DU'ers have been sending to CNN complaining about their turn to FauxLite.

Says to me, they are getting so many complaints that they have formulated a form reply.

I can't tell you all the complaints for three years we've DU'ers have been sending to the cables. Only Aaron Brown that I know of has replied to anyone.

Glad you got an answer, such as it is. I'm still waiting...

[LibertyorDeath]

29. Yes I got a response from Aaron Brown

The arrogant smarmy pseudo liberal intellectual shit weasel.

In response to my email about CNN bias covering the invasion of Iraq

He said


I was Tilting at windmills ( seeing something that wasn't there)

Yeah like what Aaron? WMD...... You Fuck.

[redstateblues]

10. Excellent Letter- Was it a snail mail letter? I have e-mailed him several

times to inform him that CNN is to me no longer ""The Most Trusted Name in News"

[SammyBlue]

12. IT was email.

[Robbien]

19. You do write a great letter

Usually I send 2 or 3 emails to CNN almost every day taking CNN to task about that day's atrocities and have never received a reply.

Nice to see that they do read some of the emails they receive. I am very curious about the answers to the questions in your second email. Hope they respond to you again.

[Norquist Nemesis]

13. I haven't even got the canned response.

Great letters BTW! :thumbsup:

[My Pet Goat]

15. Wow, the chances of getting a reply back from CNN...

is like winning the lotto or something. Let me study what you have done. :think:

[Sparkly]

17. I received a reply, as well

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=2157679&mesg_id=2157679

[Must_B_Free]

18. Here's my Letter I just sent

Look at the Paula Zahn show that ran the Fri night pertaining to Thursday's DNC convention.

- Wolf and Judy: We like our new microphones
- Balloons didn't fall - does this mean Kerry wil lose?
- Hamster CPR - was Kerry's daughter lying?
- Was Kerry "using" his family for politics?
- Convention lowpoints - the only clip with any soundbytes.
- Distorted faces of politicians drawn by cartoonists
- "Red Meat" montage aka we can copy the Daily Show to slam Democrats

You did all you could to avoid touching on anything any prominent democrat said. You show was completely devoid of content. It was tantamount to hiding your head, plugging you ears and humming.

Just who do you think you are fooling? CNN is a disgrace to the professionalism of journalism. David Letterman exposed you with the Yawning Boy.

I have news for you, Bush is irrelevant. He is a lost cause. The buzz now is all about you and why you disservice America the way you do.

[Cybergata]

20. All I have to say...

Is the more people who write letters & email like you did, the more likely they will begin to take note. Their response may seem like they are thumbing their noise at you, but I don't doubt that they take notice of what the public has to say. People should consider listing their sponsors with a note that you will be boycotting these sponsors, and send a carbon copy of the message to the sponsors. :hippie:

BTW, I really like the email you sent! :-)

[POed_Ex_Repub]

21. Here's how I would do it.... feel free to use...

To whom it may concern,

When looking at the beating you are getting in ratings perhaps you might more closely consider your audience. As the programming on CNN gets more and more like FOX's format/conservative/info-tainment slant (I assume to compete with them), those on the left end of the political spectrum (ie. fifty percent of your potential viewing audience) is becoming disenfranchised and seeking their news elsewhere. The other fifty percent already have FOX; so why would they tune in to FOX-lite? Don't take my word for it, just watch as your ratings continue to slide.

Sincerely,

Yet another former CNN viewer.

[mountainvue]

23. You forgot to tell them about Candy Crowley!

She is the worst and she's on the campaign trail with Kerry.

[TheDonkey]

24. CNN and M$NBC aren't as bad as FOX. But both definetly

try to copy FAUX's sucess with cheap tabloidish reporting and corporate friendly bush lovin'.

Very sad. Get Air America, we need to take back television too.

[nickgutierrez]

25. My questions 1, 2, 3, and 4

1. How can you continue to employ Bob Novak after he outed CIA agent Valerie Plame, in an attempt to get revenge on her husband for disproving an important piece of the case for war in Iraq?

2. How can you continue to employ Bob Novak after he outed CIA agent Valerie Plame, in an attempt to get revenge on her husband for disproving an important piece of the case for war in Iraq?

3. How can you continue to employ Bob Novak after he outed CIA agent Valerie Plame, in an attempt to get revenge on her husband for disproving an important piece of the case for war in Iraq?

4. Which prominent Democrats do you plan to have on during the Republican convention?

[JohnyCanuck]

26. Important, when emailing Media Whores to complain

of their craven cowardice and brown nosing of Shrubenfuhrer and his gaultiers, and you need some examples to throw in their faces, don't forget to ask them why they are totally ignoring the evidence for gross incompetence, malfeasance and/or treason within the FBI brought forth by Sibel Edmonds and confirmed by the Senate Judiciary Committee. As discussed in this DU thread (among many others)

www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=2138173

[kabalevski]

27. Someone help me please?.. this is really long.. by the by...

.. ok.. um... i'm NEW HERE>. so i couldn't start my own thread... AND... i will just introduce myself.. this has nothing to do with your current topic.. unfortunately.. please don't hate on me for it:)... i did read through it.. and really.. i hate the media.. i get most of my news from Comedy Central.. as bad as that sounds.. heh.. i don't really trust anyone else.. and it all seems laughable.. i am involved in Metal music.. and recently.. i stumbled upon a WEB site.. that supports local music.. ( which is really good.. i think) .. but.. they seem to love BUSH..( though they admit they share my view that Both sides' candidates seem to suck ... They're preaching about how great bush is and how Horrible Kerry is)... i.. am just really learning about politics.. i don't have time in life at the moment to sit around researching and proving and disproving facts about either of these guys.. but.. anyhow.. i got onto this forum.. one nite in a drunken haze.. and tried to get everyone talking about the Election.. and i got mostly... people preaching how great BUSH is.. and.. granted.. I don't really know the facts.. and only know whatever I catch from whatever Media source i Happen upon whenever i Happen to catch any at all.. and.. aside from what i've heard.. i really Just don't like BUSH.. cause.. i'm usually pretty decent about ... character.. and well.. i just don't like the little guy.. he reminds me of my racist redneck cousin.. and.. anyhow.. What i was hoping was that.. ONE of you guys.. Who i'm sure Knows a Hell of alot more than me about either of these guys.. can go to this SITE>. read the posts... and just either.. Tell me if this guy is right.. or.. return some real Facts... to this site.. because.. i hate to say it.. THIS guy that is saying what he is saying( not a bad guy.. as far as i know) WILL influence alot of kids.. and i don't think he's right.. but.. i just really don't know enough to argue facts with him.. IF anyone is interested in helping.. please just go to the site... if this sounds idiotic.. that i'm just really ignorant... you can ridicule me and i won't really cry all nite or anything.. just.. i'd like for someone with a little more knowledge than me to get some of those kids to NOT vote for the guy i like less than the other guy.. sorry this was so long.. by the way..

[kabalevski]

28. ... I forgot to put the Address... lol...

ok.. here is where the forum is.. MY post is the first.. and my next is somewhere in the middle.. and.. i just get sick of talking to people that are fixed in there ways.. like i am.. hehe.. so.. Please check it out.. and NO.. i'm not just trying to get people to go to My website or something.. i just Know there are alot of kids going to this site reading all this and sure enough some of them are going.. Hey.. . this guy sounds really smart.. he must know what he's talking about... lets vote for BUSH.. and hopefully .. some of you can understand.. and not just think i'm a dumb-ass for not doing my own research.. lol...

[DeepModem Mom]

30. I received a personal response, to a polite message...

which made strong points, from someone in a very high position at CNN. I would skip any profanity, and personal insults to those addressed. I think you, SammyBlue, did particuarly well in complimenting CNN as a news organization that "used to be respected," and in pointing out that they are losing viewers. I don't know if we will make a difference at CNN, but it sounds like we are beginning to be heard.

[lebkuchen]

31. very factual letter--they had to respond, it was so damning

of CNN's ability to do its job.

Thanks for writing it.

[vetwife]

32. My letter to them

I am encouraging many people to just quit watching CNN. I would think that with all of the years of journalism and broadcasting experience that many of you have, that a class of ethics was mentioned somewhere in your studies.

I am a public speaker. I have a Take it Back CD motivational Tape and it has more news associated with it than your so called reporting of the daily events. I am an educated, well informed person and please don't talk to the audience as if we cannot think for ourselves, that is Fox's job.

What happened to the days of reporting the real news and not the opinion of one person who has more than likely been educated beyond their intelligence. This is sickening that we have no alternative but the internet or catch one or two shows on MSNBC to give us the news without opinion. I was a C-Span 25 year winner and I do believe they too lean right but they do give us the benefit of just rolling cameras without comment.

You have had a few fumbles this year that even Letterman called you on. Yes I am a liberal. I am a Christian and yes they can be one and the same. You are right winged and there is a conservative biased and you will be very sorry when Kerry wins this election, as many of you will, I am sure not have the seating arrangements so convenient to the Republican Spin machine that you now hold.

I hope there will be a movie about CNN as telling as Outfoxed and soon. We need the media to at least to pretend to be fair. Tell me, why is Novak still in your employ? Why did you choose the name Born to Run? Instead of Born to Compete?
Or Born to Run for Office? Where are the Walter Cronkites? The Huntley and Brinkleys? How many corporations does it take to turn you professionals, into sold out media propaganda spin doctors? Shame on you. Ratings? How unamerican, to sell off your patriotism for a few ratings. There is at least 1/2 of this country that does not buy into the Bush worship.

Sincerely,
Amanda Kato

[calimary]

33. Intoxicatingly good work! KUDOS! KUDOS!

Excellent job! Just EXCELLENT!

EVERYBODY who's writing and complaining to CNN - I am in awe. You are making yourselves heard, and you are obviously having an impact! You are clearly starting to get under their skin.