CNN may have hit rock bottom tonight.

[Bleacher Creature]

I've been seeing a lot of posts about the way the networks have been covering this runaway bride story, so I turned on CNN at 11pm just to see for myself.

I seriously want to throw up.

They opened with the story, ran it for 13 straight minutes, and just went to commercial with teasers for more. They had five separate reports, they interviewed people ranging from the guy sitting next to her on the plane, to her priest, to a friend who said that she understood because 85% of the work in planning a wedding falls on the bride.

OK- They are back, and they are STILL on the story. Not a single word about anything else. Nothing on Iraq, the economy, social security, etc. Nothing about the soldiers who died today.

Atrios said it best: CNN is hurting the country.

On edit: I can't stand it anymore. I've never dones this before, but I'm calling them and giving them a piece of my mind.

[still_one]

1. CNN lost credibility years ago

[Radio_Lady]

97. These sorts of "seemingly personal" stories captivate the country --

The cable channels get big ratings with this sort of soft and "gossipy" stuff -- they're doomed to keep repeating this junk forever because it works. People can become transfixed on the slightest issue, big or small. They get their "overnight" ratings and claim that "this is what the public wants." The ironic fallacy is that the public doesn't have much say in what is broadcast in the first place.

The cable channels in particular are just money-making machinery for big companies. They look for younger, niche audiences. No longer do they have to maintain any demonstrable measure of objectivity, or balance in their coverage to comply with older, more stringent FCC regulations. Those regulations were watered down years ago. It's a step back, believe me.

Vote with your TV OFF button. One of the better news programs is hosted by Jim Lehrer on PBS. They cover a lot of issues -- in a more "dry" fashion, however.

For more information, go to: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/

[Cobalt Violet]

2. I fell a sleep with the tv on last night and I woke up with this at 6:00.

This is just so surreal. There is no American News Outlet.

[tavalon]

80. Yes there is

it's on the internet and we are it.

[katinmn]

3. 12 soldiers lost their lives today. Did they mention that?

never mind. rhetorical question.

[NYC Liberal]

7. 12 soldiers and how many other Iraqis?

It's just sickening.

[WilliamPitt]

TWELVE?

Is there a link I can check out.

God dammit.

[katinmn]

35. Excuse me. 6 killed, 6 wounded since Saturday

http://www.startribune.com/stories/484/5378679.html

I read it wrong.

[CanOfWhoopAss]

65. Gee that's a relief I feel so much better now. (sarcasm)

6 killed and 6 probably maimed. Injuries are rarely minor if they are reported. Or if they fly the 6 injured to Germany and die there they don't count as Iraqi death casualties.

[Tigress DEM]

41. Hi Will! Nice to see you around.

CNN also buried the military clearing their soldiers in the death of the Italian Secret Service agent.

See my post further down.

I'm going to throw it out on some INDY sites.

[wtmusic]

4. Sounds like a set-up anyway

Maybe like other "reality" shows with a complete lack of reality

[Kerrytravelers]

84. Great pic!

Can't believe it's not Hitler...:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

5. I bit. Just turned on CNN, to see if they were still on the story.

They were. CNN has totally jumped the shark. A whole school of sharks. They have transformed shark-jumping into an art form. It's industrial-strength shark-jumping. WTF is wrong with them??? It's become the cable TV version of National Enquirer. CNN = Contains No News.

[Cobalt Violet]

17. Good one.

Contains No News.

[SoCalDem]

20. Jumped the shark?? They have EATEN the shark..

:(

[KittyWampus]

78. CNN IS The Shark?

[Elle Woods]

6. MSNBC which is never LIVE on the weekend in prime had a 8pm special

with Dan Abrams for the hour. Whores--the whole lot of 'em.

[dsewell]

8. Best alternative to CNN.com? I need to wean myself finally.

I watch next to no TV and the only thing that has stopped me from cancelling my satellite subscription is C-SPAN. But since 9/11 I've had the habit of checking CNN.com a few times a day to see if the world has come to an end yet.

Their website is as bad as their on-air coverage tonight. I don't want to contribute to their ad revenue by continuing to ad to their total traffic.

So: what's the best alternative Web newsource to go to obsessively a few times a day to see whether the world has come to an end?

[stillcool]

10. I like.....

http://www.btcnews.com/btcnews/links.php

it has loads of links....one-stop-shopping...

[Richard Steele]

13. You are already here.

Sorry, but it really is JUST that simple.

LBN has a few thousand people posting the latest around the clock, from sources around the world.

Best news anywhere.

[dsewell]

16. OK, but if the world ends...

... and it's not posted on DU first, I'm going to be mighty pissed!

[KoKo]

18. Yahoo News front Page...they have the headlines and links to the Wire

Services like AP, Reuters, etc...the same that CNN/MSNBC and Networks get their "bottom scroll" from.

When I get up in the a.m....I turn on my computer which is set to Yahoo Homepage...and if we are still alive then I hit DU Latest Breaking and Editorials which has links to WaPo and NYT's etc. But, if I really want international news only...I hit the BBC International News website, which has great coverage and I have no problem with my "dial up," reading anything.

I can't handle CNN and the rest of that anymore. I peek occasionally but am always disappointed. I keep my cable for the C-Span coverage (can't get decent reception here without cable) but I only watch the Booknotes and special House/Senater coverage. Can't deal with the rabid RW Callers on their "Washington Journal" morning show...but they do read the newspapers on there if you can deal with the rest of it.

Then there's the radio...PBS here does a 9:00 est report from the BBC News and sometimes that's good to listen to.

[Griffy]

28. DU is my news source.. LBN has good collection of news ! nt

[hiley]

31. The best on the web

I have found is Information Clearing House
For the News you won't find on CNN .......
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/

Explosions rock Fallujah, Baghdad
Saturday, April 30, 2005

A series of explosions rocked Fallujah and the Iraqi capital Baghdad on Saturday as insurgents targeted US and Iraqi forces.
Mortar rounds landed in one of Fallujah's residential Baath neighbourhoods, killing a young child and injuring 10 other civilians, witnesses and hospital officials said.
The motive behind the mortars shells was not immediately known, and the scene at Fallujah General Hospital was chaotic.
Meanwhile in Baghdad, there were at least two explosions in the west of the city.
One of the blasts, caused by an improvised explosive device, happened near a US patrol in al-Qudat neighbourhood of western Baghdad, causing no casualties.
The other blast, caused by car bomb, was in the al-Hamra neighbourhood
http://www.ndtv.com/template/template.asp?template=Newiraq&slug=Explosions+rock+Fallujah&id=72308&callid=1

One other good site some may not know of yet..

:shrug:
http://legitgov.org/index.html#breaking_news

[Tigress DEM]

40. Try the IMC - INDY Media Centers

Here is the one for Philly. If you look down the left side - should be natural for a DUer - you will see their other sites, US and elsewhere. United States is way down on the list under Projects because it starts with a U.

http://www.phillyimc.org

[katinmn]

70. Indy Media is great

Lately I've been posting my own articles and announcements and reposting news items on the Indy Media Twin Cities site. Sometimes they get picked up on the national wire.

It's a great resource for progressives.

[Tigress DEM]

75. They had the most pictures of the M19 Protest against Iraq War

I was so blown away. Mainstream media just hushed it up and here was INDY with pictures of hundreds and thousands in places all over the country and internationally standing up to power.

I ran a post here making people aware of all the protests because it had also happened on *ush's Europe tour. 15,000 in Mainz, Germany and thousands in Brussels, Belgium and Madrid, Spain had protested, but they kept the German protesters away from the street *ush traveled and they took pics of the abandoned streets with no explanation. Another media white out... so I was expecting it for March 19.

CNN International is also better than it's USA counterpart.

[hiley]

86. Tigress DEM

thank you so much for the link !
:yourock:

[Tigress DEM]

93. You are welcome!!

:hi:

[CanOfWhoopAss]

66. News you won't see on Faux, BSRNC(msnbc), or RNN

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/
http://www.rawstory.com/

[CanOfWhoopAss]

67. Also at http://www.thememoryhole.org/

http://www.thememoryhole.org/

[stpalm]

68. how about news.google.com?

http://news.google.com

try it

[w4rma]

76. Free Speech TV or Something foreign: BBC, CBC (NWI) > IndTV, soon. (nt)

[rndmprsn]

79. links

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/default.stm
http://www.nytimes.com/
http://www.reuters.com/

[Radio_Lady]

99. Try these, dsewell -- they're excellent.

http://news.google.com -- A fabulous front page with photos and balanced coverage. Additionally, you can search on any topic you hear about to see what the news outlets around the world have to say.


http://www.pbs.org/newshour -- They even have a newsletter and of course the daily program "Newshour" with Jim Lehrer on TV.

[_testify_]

9. it serves a twofold purpose...

By and large, the public are suckers for trashy stuff like this. It keeps viewers tuned in and turned on. News station or not, they still want ratings above all.

Secondly, shit like this keeps Average Joes from rioting over the real news. When unemployment is high, interest in sports rises. So does alcohol sales. People want something to think about besides reality because reality SUCKS for so many of us.

[Bleacher Creature]

11. Twenty- five minutes and counting.

Nothing about any other story. They are interviewing Pat Love, a marriage counselor who wrote a book called "The Truth About Love"

The Chimp doesn't make me this angry.

[Maccagirl]

12. Cable news has become a parody of itself

I was home all day because of crappy weather and spring cleaning and had the teevee on as background noise. I can only describe today as a totally surreal, out-of-body experience.

[LizW]

14. The Daily Show is the only tv news I watch

The rest aren't worth the time.

I would cancel cable altogether if not for The Daily Show, and the occasional good movie on Bravo and AMC.

[Griffy]

29. AMEN.. in Orwellian world.. "Fake" news is real!! nt

[buff2]

15. No wonder there is so much crime going on

If anyone wants their 15 minutes of fame all they have to do is "disappear" or kill their spouse and they will get 24/7 coverage for weeks or even months.If this crap wasn't covered as "breaking news" and kept on the air and spun by a zillion talking head pundits and "news anchors" probably none of this stuff would even happen.Some people crave the attention and will do anything to get it. Thanks to all the whore media outlets for giving these nutcases what they want.

[Massacure]

19. CNN is more worried about money than journalism.

If they only reported important news in an unbiased way, no one would watch a 24/7 news channel.

[hiley]

38. I have to disagree about no one would watch

24/7 news with facts not opinion.
We search for news, facts and truth. My adult kids ask me what is up, you know feed me some info.. some of them can't afford the dish satellite or a computer with internet right now..
Many of their young friends ask questions too and know full well the MSM sucks.
If you have FreeSpeechTv and LinkTv and even Sundance you are going to help fill the void .

[MontageOfFreedom]

52. You'll just be misinformed if you keep any of these.

Any of these channels like CNN, Fox News or so on because they are pure hate speech that those who just woke up must block.

[hiley]

88. MontageOfFreedom you might want to re-read my posts on

this thread and others. I do not rely on CNN or FOXNEWS...
I make a habit out of not being misinformed !
:smoke: look at all the other posts I made yesterday on this thread
and you will see what I am talking about. Why would I listen to hate speech ?
BTW! check out two of my blogs especially the links on this one here and you understand my desire for accurate information.
http://www.seo-blog.org/5755_omfg_rageagainstthegop_machine

[BlackVelvetElvis]

21. They will milk this story for all it's worth then

they'll find another one to obsess on.
Late this afternoon they were hitting the bottom of the barrel. They did a story on all the people who were acquainted with the woman's fiancee or dated him in high school.
It must of been really bad at 11pm.

[mwb970]

92. This is the stupidest story yet.

At least with Schiavo and the Pope there was something to care about. Why are we supposed to care about this woman, so much so that we will sit through hours of commentary about her? Nobody I know is interested in this. It's time for them to move on already. Maybe some guy has a flat tire in Wichita. Let's get the story on HIM.

[hiley]

22. Know just how you feel

it is like watching a fucking circus.
No truth and No real News !
Links for News on tv and web http://linktv.org/mosaic/streamsArchive/streamPop.php4?caller=http://www.archive.org/download&prefix=Mosaic20050429&name=Mosaic20050429&filetype=mov

http://linktv.org/
http://www.freespeech.org/fsitv/fscm2/genx.php?name=home
http://www.innworldreport.net/index.htm
April 29, 2005
More Iraq Attacks
At least 10 car bombs have exploded in Iraq a day after the country formed a new government. The string of deadly blasts on Friday killed at least 41 people, including 3 US soldiers in and around Baghdad and al-Madain. The attacks targeted the Iraqi police and army, but also claimed the lives of civilians. The attacks came a day after
snip---from http://www.innworldreport.net/index.htm tv and web
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP)
snip--
On Saturday morning, about 700 people marched from the home of former Herat Governor Ismail Khan to the office of his successor, Sayed Mohammed Khairkhwa.
The demonstrators carried portraits of Khan and shouted slogans including "Death to Khairkhwa" and "Death to Americans" and called for Khan's return.
snip---
U.N. spokeswoman Ariane Quentier said gunfire was heard in the city on Saturday morning but had no details. Staff were ordered to stay at home or take refuge in bunkers on U.N. compounds, she said.
The violence was the worst in Herat since September last year, when Khan's ouster prompted street riots in which three people died and mobs ransacked the U.N. offices.
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/i_latestdetail.asp?id=27924

[onehandle]

23. What about the runaway bride?

Tell me more!!!

[MontageOfFreedom]

24. Its truly a pathetic display now isn't it?

CNN has one of the most amazing track records to keep showing the same garbage over and over.

Could it be they are trying to distract from the C-SPAN 9/11 events? Hmm...

[Infomaniac]

25. I believe this story has gone way past its 15 minutes of fame.

My eyes glazed over at the umpteenth mention of the 28 attendants and 600 invited guests. I didn't even get to the part about the wedding planning burden on the bride. Yeesh. The garbage that passes for news. No wonder my husband and I watch BBC News.

[Scairp]

56. I so completely agree

Once it was determined that she ran off, the story should have gone bye-bye, not gotten more intense. Nine times out of ten, something like this would not have gotten any publicity. I guess the next time some girl gets cold feet days away from her wedding, she will at least leave a note so that this won't happen to her and her family. I know she did a shitty thing, but in this country, adult women are allowed to run off without a word to anyone. It's incredibly stupid they are still flogging it.

[tavalon]

82. You know what really thrills me?

I've been offline for two days and I haven't watched TV for years so I actually have no idea what you guys are talking about.

You know what thrills me even more? You guys are discussing the meta subject of the horrible CNN et al coverage but no one has recapped the non-news that CNN is obsessively covering. I'm not being sarcastic. You guys rock.

I am going to happily continue my vacation without an inkling of what this story is about. And I feel fine!

[CoffeeCat]

26. I share your outrage...

I was in bed with a sore throat earlier. I turned to CNN and couldn't find the remote, so I watched.

This was probably around 7:00 pm CST. CNN stayed on this story for AT LEAST 45 minutes. Nothing but this "Runaway Bride" story was on. I was so fricking livid!!!

CNN had a "Last Call" question, where viewers could call and give their opinions on this question, "Should this woman's fiance' give this runaway bride a second chance?"

I wanted to call up and say, "First off, this is a personal, private relationship matter that belongs on the pages of Glamor magazine in a two-paragraph story---NOT ON CNN FOR NEARLY AN HOUR!!. Secondly, she's not asking for a second chance! Where are you people getting this? You're making shit up! Thirdly, there's a war going on, this country is going bankrupt, people are suffering due to high energy costs and the pResident's approvals are in the toilet as is his SocSec plan. REPORT ON THE NEWS YOU INEFFECTUAL, UNPROFESSIONAL JERKS!!!

They will give this fluffy, "Dear Abby" story nearly an hour---but they don't give dead soldiers three minutes????????

This entire story is about a relationship squabble. It is NONE of our business. It's not news. It's not even remotely interesting.

Damn! CNN has sunk to new, sickening lows.

Sorry for the rant, but I wholeheartedly agree!!!

[mediaman007]

27. Haven't watched CNN since July!!!

Poor excuse for news television.

[yellozebra]

46. Ditto. Their infuriating coverage of the DNC'04

did it for me. I can never forgive them for what they did then. Never.
And then I discovered the rest of "Cable Ruse" ain't much better. Now, don't watch "cable ruse" at all.

[Robert Oak]

30. I don't think it helps that people post the same crap on DU

breaking news...

constantly these sorts of "outrage every 5 minutes" stories
that aren't focused on politics or the buried news like
the economy or the latest screw job on the middle class.

[mermaid]

33. We Should Have Two Separate LBN Forums...

DU - LBN

and

DU LBN That Actually Fucking Matters!!

Ok, ok...I know skinner won't actually CALL it that, but I'm sure y'all get my point. Skinner? You listening out there??

We need another LBN Forum just for LBN that really MATTERS!!!

[LisaL]

32. I just watched a story about

a journalist killed in Russia because he knew too much. Well, apparently, in other parts of the world, there are actually investigative journalist that actually investigate. Nothing like this is going to happen here, of course, unless the runway bride decides to blow them way because they got on her nerves. :eyes:

[Tigress DEM]

34. "C"ee "N"o "N"ews led with that and buried the Italian disgrace.

Remember the secret service man who took the bullet for the Italian reporter being rescued in Iraq?
http://www.atsnn.com/story/124319.html

Surprise. The US military cleared it's own of wrong doing. At least the soldier who fired the shot.
http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/04/30/italian.shooting/index.html

Having read Truth Out's investigation into the first murder of reporters by the military I knew it wouldn't be the fault of the man with the gun, but higher up.

Still CNN could pretend they give a damm and at least lead with that story. Even just from a profit standpoint more people would be interested in what happened there than to some poor girl who ran away from her wedding.

Part I-IV
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/022505A.shtml

[LibertyorDeath]

36. CNN hits rock bottom every time they go to Air.

[mogster]

63. Now that's a pretty pic of Leslie

:rofl:

[NNN0LHI]

37. I have pretty much stuck to listening to music since the pope-athon began

Between the pope-athon and Lou Dobbs I have had just about all I can take. I don't know if I am ever going back to that crap any more. About the only thing I turn the TV on anymore for is the weather channel. I feel a lot better lately too.

Don

[Ilsa]

39. I sent them an email this morning telling them it was enough already.

I wasn't going to watch them any more. They had runaway bride on for two hours this morning, This evening, I turned the tv on at 7pm and they were announcing they had a special report :wtf: on this. My husband even screamed and I turned it off.

They really have hit an all-time low in not covering the news.

[rocktivity]

42. This story should have died twelve hours ago

That's when I posted, "A real-life runaway bride, eh? Well, send her the bill for the search!"

I figured the MSM would rip her a new one about her selfishness and irresponsibility in this day and age, which would have put an end to it. But I, too, am appalled, and I've seen only a fraction of what the rest of you have.

How did this turn into some kind of feel-good "human interest" story? She lied to the police, planted phony clues, implicated innocent parties and minority groups, put her family through unnecessary grief, and wasted taxpayer money on police overtime! She felt she couldn't back out because of all the preparations that had been made? Well, compared to what--how she must be feeling NOW???

:mad:
rocknation

[Daphne08]

43. Yes, I went on a rant a couple of hours ago about it.

I checked almost all the online news sites and that runaway woman was the lead story on ALL of them... God, I became so angry!!

It's the 30th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon and we're in another damn preemptive war! Lives lost, lives destroyed!!

But does anyone care? Or is it all about one unbalanced woman who got cold feet?

My husband had to literally make me calm down--he told me I was going to have a heart attack, so I left the computer and listened to some soothing music so I could calm my nerves.

The news today is all a distraction. That's all. Distraction.

[LisaL]

47. And if they weren't talking about her, they would

be talking about Michael Jackson's trial. It's like we live in a vacuum, with nothing at all going on in the world. It's like there is no investigative journalists left in this country. They do not show real news, only stories like this one.

[Occulus]

49. And if it wasn't him, it would be

the Schaivo fiasco. The Petersen story.

That cute little Ramsey beauty queen.

Anything- anything at all- to distract us from what's truly of national importance.

Taken as that, it's quite effective, really.

[Auntie Bush]

44. Why is CNN getting picked on

when they aren't the only ones. We were having dinner and turned on CNN and it was all about the Runaway...so we changed to MSNBC and guess what? More Runaway Bride coverage! So....as a last resort we put on Fox. Well that's what they were covering too! I' damn sick of them ALL. They ALL should be ashamed of themselves for their LACK of news and only interested in money and gossip and helping george bush*.

I'm going to bed...It's 1:00 and MSNBC it on and covering the Bride story. I cant stand it anymore! Good Night.
Everyone should write ALL these programs tomorrow and tell them we want NEWS and conversation about what's going on in our country.

[liberalhistorian]

45. CNN hit rock bottom several weeks

ago, with their non-stop Schiavo coverage and the 24/7 pope-a-thon for two weeks. I don't know what the fuck has happened to CNN, but I'm never watching it again. There's no reason to, since they never have any real fucking news anymore. Their anchors this morning were unbelievable, acting as if this was the most important story since WWII, talking about her possible motives and consequences, as if it's of any importance at all to anyone in the country except the actual people involved.

What was really infuriating was the reaction contained in many of the emails and calls CNN received about it, people saying shit like "this is the most outrageous story I've heard in a long time, she should pay for all the search expenses", and "this really infuriates me, what an important story and important lesson for all of us", yaddayaddayadda. I just could not believe what I was hearing. It was bad enough that Contains No News was wasting so much time with this bullshit non-story, but to have people thinking that it was the "most outrageous story, important story", etc., etc., with all that's happening in Iraq and the country, was just too fucking much.

No wonder people don't understand or give a shit about what's happening in Iraq or social security or the bankruptcy bill or the economy or any one of a hundred far more important issues that directly affect their lives. How can they, when the MSM covers useless, unimportant shit like this for hours on end and gives no real news? What a pathetic disgrace CNN and other news channels have become. And why the fuck is this woman running away from her wedding more important than the deaths of our soldiers and the bombings and the mess in Iraq?

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

48. America Is Turning Into The Seinfeld Show

all about nothing, 24 hours a day. I haven't watched CNN in months, nor MSNBC. It's FSTV or the radio for me and the Internet.

[ngGale]

50. CNN should have aired "Runaway Bride" with...

Julia Roberts and saved our time. It's such an important issue, this is the reason our public is ignorant of what's going on in Iraq.
I'm soooo sick of this butt covering, brown nose media rags.

[wellst0nev0ter]

51. Pretty Much Stopped Watching Lamestream Nooze Since 9/11

I don't need to recount the disgusting and pandering jingoism from that time.

But still, we can't say this is a MAJOR news story.

How often do we hear of a racist white woman? Certainly not me! :sarcasm: :eyes:

[farmboxer]

53. I Can't Watch CNN Anymore, period!

They make me sick! I called them years ago and complained!

[illuminaughty]

54. Manufacturing consent

We will never see "news" again. Last summer it was one of these kind of stories that forced me into DishNet. I purchased as many international channels as I could afford...all Middle Eastern, Italian, German etc.

I was pretty certain the rest of the world still watched THE NEWS... and they do. Now, our Corp. Media seems like Bizarro World in comparison.

Had CNN on around 2am last night and it was stunning. That story was not only "breaking news" from 2am to 6am, but they had several hours with NO commercials.

[EFerrari]

55. cr@p not news is more elegantly called "chicken noodle news"

by one of our DUers.

It's toxic as h#ll.

[Disturbed]

57. Lame Stream News..

is a waste of airspace. I get my new fron DU LBN and Commondreams.org, Truthout.org. and the in depth from DU and Dailykos.

[EFerrari]

59. Exactly. Who actually watches CNN for ":news" ?

Hey, if I yell at this hour, you may hear me! :)

[Skittles]

58. I absolutely refuse to watch anymore

it's past the point of redemption now

[EFerrari]

60. I'm with you.

After Paula Zahn grilled numb mourners on 9/13, that was nearly it for me. The kiss of death was their election coverage.

They couldn't PAY me to watch them. :nuke:

[Skittles]

62. their lack of real journalism leaving Americans misinformed about IWR

and what the true intentions were of bush inc - it's unforgivable really; now, it's just tabloid journalism - disgusting beyond belief. They say they give us the news that people want - I can honestly say I know NO ONE who gives a shit about Michael Jackson, who thought Ms. Schiavo was ANY of our business; Laci Peterson, that wretched woman who could not handle her wedding - it's all just sick, sick SICK

[moobu2]

61. Look at CNN's quick vote poll

Should John Mason wed his runaway bride Jennifer Wilbanks?

Yes
No
Maybe in the future

Yes, as low as CNN has become, they have somehow managed to scrap the damn bottom. Unbelievable.

[0007]

64. Now you know why its harmful to watch CNN

It is nothing more than entertainment for the mindless and a White House hot line.

[stpalm]

69. WUT R U TALKING A BOUT?!!

CNN IS TEH CLINTAN NEWS NETWERK- I READ SO ON FRE REPUBBLIC.CUMM

[0007]

90. ......I'm off my meds and talking out of my head, I'm sorry!

[Blue Gardener]

71. First thing on this morning too

How can a runaway bride be the most important story in the WHOLE DAMN WORLD???
I'd rather watch infomercials, and I really hate infomercials.

[Buns_of_Fire]

72. Attention CNN, MSNBC, and Faux: Bids are being accepted!

I once lived a little down the road from Duluth, and I once worked with a woman who sorta kinda almost-resembled the Southern-Fried Flake you've taken such a shine to. I'll sell my EXCLUSIVE interview DIRECTLY to the highest-bidding network. No checks, please. Major credit cards accepted. Bidding starts at $500. Get it now before it goes on eBay (along with my collection of grilled-cheese sandwiches that contain the image of EVERY member of the Rolling Stones)!

(On edit: I almost forgot -- I once owned the "Thriller" album, so I can tell you everything you want to know about Michael Jackson. And I was in California once, so I can fill you in on some of the Peterson family's dirt. And did I mention that I once lived in Florida, so it goes without saying that I'm an expert on the Schiavo case? Have your people get with my people. We'll work something out.)

[DemBeans]

73. I feel for you

Once this "story" broke, I turned off cable news - period. I would have had the same reaction as you watching them pimp a "story" that they themselves turned into some kind of cheap sensation. Meanwhile, Iraq burns, our economy is sinking deeper into financial crisis, our Congress passes laws that actually do harm to the public. But you'd never know any of it from watching CNN.

CNN has become little more than Inside Edition - a sleazy tabloid. It isn't worth a second of your time.

[nashville_brook]

74. KILL YOUR TELEVISION!

it's the only sane thing to do :)

[spanone]

77. CNN can't believe they 'invested' in this story and it didn't happen.

Not just CNN. Front page of my hometown paper. Utter, ridiculous bullshit from our once revered media. We now make the tabloids look like major news outlets. It is a sorry path this nation has taken.

[Fleshdancer]

81. The only difference between CNN and Entertainment Tonight....

As far as I can tell, Entertainment Tonight has more reliable reporting and they wear better clothes. Other than that, I don't see much of a difference between the two anymore.

[lala_rawraw]

83. Novak, Blitzer, and Zhan...

Need I say more? What credibility?

[devinsgram]

85. No my friend, they hit

rock bottom long long long before this.

[Bouncy Ball]

87. Glad I never watch the news on TV.

EVER.

[Jack Rabbit]

89. !!

Image from Kill Your Television

[depakid]

91. Just turn them off

Or better yet, program them off of your TV. They're not worth the aggravation.

[anarchy1999]

94. Why bother, they don't give a shit!

Call CNN, ha, ha, ha.

You think they are going to listen to you?

It's all Laura, all the time. Michael J., The bride that ran away, and what else?

Get over it and move on. Don't you know?

Who here in "America" gives a shit? What is the score? Oh wait everyone, the "Derby" is coming up this weekend, please get over all yourselves. What possibly could be more important? Bread and circus, see Rome.

[anarchy1999]

95. Here is a thought. Just call CNN and say you suck. You, CNN, are not

NEWS!

Be Damned.

n/t

Crap Not News, Chicken Noodle News (it's too healthy and not deserved), I like Crap Not News best. Anyone else?

[flordehinojos]

96. they won't care. i've done it before. they end up just hanging up on me.

that is how outraged i am when i talk to them on the phone all none too calm.

although, it's been a while since i've called them and now they have diversified their phone number into about eight or ten different adddressess so when i call information for the CNN phone number, they want to know at which location?

they are insulating themselves from the likes of me ... they don't want to hear my complaints... so instead, i e-mail their stupid little talkie-talkie-heads ... although, i've not even done that lately because i've stopped watching them.

in fact, whenever novak's face is plastered on the t.v. i continue to move gingerly up or down the channels till i end up with some old program of "I LOVE RAYMOND" ... or a DELLA REESE MOVIE or anything but the talkie-talkie-heads.

[Beacho]

98. This should get me on the 'List'

My response to the 'Runaway Bride Sweepstakes:

"Jeeezus Jumping keerist on a pogo stick!

Give up on the runaway bride story already

You are a NATIONAL news service

You've hit rock bottom man!

Do you have any shame at all?

Those Psyops Geeks you have running loose in your newsroom are really out of it.

At least PRETEND to report on something important"

[Djinn]

100. Can someone clue in a clueless Aussie

this "story" hasn't (amazingly) made the rounds down here so all I know is the little I've gleaned skimming DU, is this the gist:

Bride to be freaks, runs out on wedding, calls hubbie to be says she's been kidnapped, lots of police/search resources later it's found out she's just done a runner?

Just making sure I'm not bagging unnecessarily - if that's the case how did this even make into the news at all, let alone ad naseum??? Do you think anyone working for the major media companies have the nerve to call themselves journalists anymore? it was once a respectable career, it's now a fucking laughing stock at best.

Have to say though you shouldn't be beating yourselves up too much, it's not just an American disease, we also get our fair share of crap pointless news, it's even worse when you look at our "current affairs" programming. The two headline stories from today's highest selling metro (Melbourne)?

"Eagles quizzed over nightclub shooting "

which details the vital information that 2 football players have clammed up when questioned by police over a brawl at a Perth nightclub

&

Schapelle close to book deal"

which details a publisher's deal with an Australian citizen facing a long stretch in a Bali jail

Don't feel too bad - you're definitely not alone

Unfortunately the media conglomerates aren't technically on the left or right, they'll run whatever rates, people apparently do want to watch this.

On the bright side there are plenty of alternative sources of information (particularly for the minuscule % of the world's population that has internet access) like http://www.projectcensored.org/

[TWiley]

101. Time to Wag the Dog, Bush is slippin in the polls.

After all, what else would any self-respecting propaganda-duct for the bushtapo do?

Put blitzer in charge of programming. Then their choir will force us to sing praises their earthly lord 24-7.