F9/11: CNN, NBC Provide Film For "Sly Critique Of The Media"
Highlights of Elizabeth Jensen's L.A. Times piece, titled "Fahrenheit 9/11 burns journalists along with Bush:"
> "In Moore's hands, the news footage turns into not only a scathing portrait of Bush, but also a sly critique of the media."
> Moore "also claims to have gotten some clips on the sly, from unnamed low-level employees of news agencies who slipped him outtakes."
> CNN provided the filmmaker with two clips, but a third clip -- of Prince Bandar -- was not licensed. Moore never asked FOX News Channel for video.
> NBC provided Moore with many video clips. "Some of NBC's biggest news personalities, Tom Brokaw, Katie Couric and Tim Russert, also appear...even though NBC said it did not license any footage of its anchors and correspondents." 10:58:13 AM

Media Notes: Copying The Competition; Hannity Won't Bare All
> This TVSpyer is surprised that MSNBC is using CNN's poll data in their shows. (Meanwhile, CNN aired a clip from Neil Cavuto's Cheney interview tonight, and prominently offered credit to their competitor.)
> The results of 360's poll Friday night: "Who treated Monica Lewinsky worse?" 12% said Bill Clinton, while 88% said the media.
> Quoting Wired: "Florida Department of State officials, in response to a lawsuit by CNN, said nobody is guaranteed the right to a copy of a list of felons who may be purged from voter rolls before the presidential election."
> Sounds like Sean Hannity won't be posing for Playgirl: "I'll tell you one thing: there's not going to be any naked pictures of me anywhere. Period." (Via the Hotline)
> CNBC host Dennis Miller says Jesus prefers Bush to Kerry... 10:56:23 AM

On-Air Promotion For FOXNews.com Coming Soon
Another story about the FOXNews.com redesign, this time in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Quoting Bert Solivan: "Some people might say, 'You are out of your mind.' But that is what they said when we launched Fox News Channel in 1996." The story says that "an on-air promotion campaign for the Web site will crank up soon, and executives are negotiating more alliances for FoxNews.com links across the Web." Caroline Wilbert finds the head of an 'online media consulting firm' to offer up a pessimistic quote: "Those who were early to the game captured a lot of competitors' traffic," Gordon Borrell says. "Consumers are trained to go to CNN.com and MSNBC.com." 10:50:50 AM

CNN First With Cheney's Curse
The F-Bomb: "CNN was the first news outlet to ferret out the rumor and confirm it with Leahy," Harry Jaffe reports. Ed Henry reported it on Inside Politics Thursday afternoon, when CNN congressional producer Steve Turnham confirmed the news. Quoting the Washingtonian: "As soon as CNN’s story hit the press galleries, every reporter tried to chase it. Some fielded calls from angry editors who wanted to know why they had to hear about it on CNN." 10:50:21 AM

Sex Shouldn't Sell? FOX Investigates "Sexual Broadcasting"
...The 'Breaking Point' special premieres Sunday at 9pm. "This one-hour program will examine television and radio at the height of the government's proposals for stricter legislation," a press release says. "Hosted by Greta Van Susteren, the program will explore Janet Jackson's controversial Super Bowl performance and its impact on the media." Of course, there will be "examples," so the show isn't suitable for younger viewers. Earlier:
> FOX Plans Indecency Examination
> Will FOX Mention 'Temptation,' 'Paradise,' 'O.C' in Indecency Special? 10:49:06 AM

Harrigan: "They Say The Safest Room...Is The Bathroom"
Steve Harrigan, from Baghdad: "They say the safest room to hide in the hotel is the bathroom. The instruction the security guys gave was: 'If they start firing rocket-propelled grenades at the hotel, get to the bathroom and wait for us to get you out.' I don't like the idea of waiting for anyone to get me out of anything. There was a cameraman Ron who got so worried that he moved his mattress into the bathroom and slept in the tub." More... 10:47:59 AM

Three Questions For Neil Cavuto
    High-Stakes Interviews

FOX business anchor Neil Cavuto has interviewed a number of prominent world leaders and CEOs in recent months. This afternoon, his interview with Vice President Dick Cheney will air on 'Your World.' I wondered how he preps for such special sit-downs:

-- What do you do to prepare for a "high-stakes" interview? Does it ever seem intimidating?
You get used to it, one interview at a time. My pulse races a little more with the president or vice president, but I try to handle it like any other one-on-one...clearly, fairly, professionally. I'm never out to "get" anyone ... sometimes just letting them talk can produce the most revealing chats.

-- Do you have a "goal" in mind when you approach interviews like these?
The only goal I have is to not drudge up the same old thing or to let anyone, be him a politician or corporate executive, repeat the same, tired lines. I think the best interviews are the ones that go outside the expected or traditional. The most revealing are those that attempt to get inside the person's head, whether they're offended by media attacks or second-guessers. Sometimes just asking something as vague as "HOW ARE YOU FEELING?," can turn the expected into the unexpected. I simply try to listen, and form my questions from what I'm being told then and there, not some mindless talking points I drew up earlier.

-- You interviewed President Bush last month, and are interviewing Vice President Cheney this week. How did you get these "gets?"
Actually I was invited to the White House with a half-dozen other economic journalists to hear the President out on the economy. We [FNC] cited the improving economy long before many others. But perhaps most importantly, they know "our" numbers ... you go where the eyeballs are. Fox has the top five business shows on cable. They're not stupid. 1:26:48 PM

Cavuto Interviews Cheney On 'Your World' Today
FOX's Neil Cavuto has an exclusive interview with Vice President Cheney on Your World today. It was taped in Michigan yesterday. We'll see if Neil asks about the F-word incident! He interviewed Bush last month... 11:54:49 AM

Media Notes: Nachman, SpaceShipOne, Michael Moore's Cable Crack
> Rantingprofs says MSNBC's daytime anchors are stupid: "When Jerry Nachman was still alive he always said you can't put people on the air based on that alone. The medium, he said once, had a way of turning around and 'biting you' if you did that, since you never knew when a big story would break. Too bad they don't still hew to that policy over there."
> This USA Today tech columnist is disappointed with cable coverage of SpaceShipOne: “only MSNBC seemed to stick with it — although reporting that the vehicle 'touched down several minutes ago' doesn't strike me as breaking news. A few channels away, CNN was busy beating to death the Kobe Bryant trial story ("But wait, we have another expert!")”...
> Michael Moore on the Daily Show Thursday night: “Republicans control the [Senate, House], two cable news networks...” (Audience laughter)
> MSNBC.com wins an Edward R. Murrow award. 10:35:17 AM

FOX Anchors "Laugh" At L.A. Beating, NBC Says
NBC Nightly News aired a package by George Lewis describing this week’s L.A. police beating, and aired video from FOX & Friends as the beating happened live:

Lewis: The people on one cable network laugh about it [Cut to video of FOX News Channel]       E.D. Hill: Well I guest that guy’s done for the day       Brian Kilmeade: It’s gonna be hard to -- Whoa       Hill: Whoa!       Kilmeade: Takin’ a few swings Lewis: But the activists are not amused...

Watch the video Here. DailyKos commenters use it as an excuse to bash FOX...
> Update: Chuck writes in: "It was just a not-to-subtle attempt on NBC's part to try to tarnish FNC's image. After all, MSNBC has nothing to lose! But I hope EVERYONE who reads that story watches the video. If you WATCH and LISTEN to when the comments are made, it's not as bad as George Lewis makes it out to be." 10:26:06 AM

Playgirl Poll: Hannity, Cooper, Olbermann In Top Three
Sean Hannity leads the Playgirl anchor poll with 2,000 votes, The WPost reports Friday. "Very close behind him, though, is Anderson Cooper and Keith Olbermann, but it's changing every hour,” Editor in Chief Michele Zipp tells Anne Schroedrr. Bill O’Reilly has receieve 300 write-in votes, but his FOX colleague Geraldo Rivera is in last place... 12:41:14 AM

Wolfowitz's Apology: Media Excerpts; Amanpour's Comments
> The Associated Press compares today’s comments to Tuesday’s testimony.
> Editor & Publisher: “Many journalists have condemned his remarks.”
> On Countdown, Alex Witt called it an “unusual apology” and a “Pentagon mea culpa.”
> Christiane Amanpour on CNN earlier today: “I'm sure that I speak on behalf of most of my colleagues here, in fact all of them, that we would strongly reject...the notion that we're, A, too afraid to travel, or B, would simply published rumors. I know that's not the case for CNN journalists. And we have been traveling. And I might add, at great personal risk.”
> Did you notice that the letterhead spells Washington wrong (Washingtion?!) 10:57:20 PM

First on CableNewser: Wolfowitz Apologizes To Journos Covering Iraq
CableNewser has obtained a copy of the letter of apology Paul Wolfowitz sent today to journalists covering Iraq.
> Acrobat PDF: Wolfowitz Apology Letter
In the letter, Wolfowitz says that journalists "routinely brave danger" and notes that free press and free media have "helped us preserve freedom in this country for more than two centuries." An excerpt:

“I want to extend an apology...Unfortunately, in meaning to convey my frustration about the erronenous coverage of one particular story, the statement I made came out much differently than I intended. And while I know most reporters understand better than most that sometimes the best of intentions and the most elaborate of preparations can’t prevent error, that doesn’t for a moment change the seriousness of my mistake or the deep regret I feel that I did not instantly correct the record. Just let me say to each of you who have worked so hard and taken such risks to cover this story, I extend a heartfelt apology and hope you will accept it. I understand well the enormous dangers that you face, and want to restate my admiration for your professionalism, dedication, and, yes, courage. I pray that you all return safely.”

Charley Cooper, the "Special Advisor to the Deputy Secretary of Defense," sent the apology letter to journalists today on behalf of Mr. Wolfowitz.

> Update: Wonkette 'translates' the letter! 4:57:24 PM

"Hats Off To The Bookers:" How The Media Wooed Juror #5
On the Fox & Friends blog today, Brian Kilmeade said "hats off to the bookers" for securing an interview with 'Juror #5' this morning. And now we know how he was wooed: "News producers grabbed at him, television bookers blocked his path and reporters stuck cell phones to his ears with famous talk-show hosts murmuring sweet nothings on the other end," the San Francisco Chronicle writes (via MediaNews). "Like hawkers at a Turkish bazaar, the media tried to sell him on themselves." 2:31:57 PM

FOX Showing Scenes From L.A. Standoff
An e-mailer says FOX News is endangering police officers by airing live pictures of a standoff in Los Angeles. "What the heck are they doing?," the viewer asks. "FNC is airing live pics of a man holed up in a home after a high speed chase in Los Angeles. Shouldn't Fox be a little more sensitive showing police movement outside the house? That's very dangerous to the officers at the scene." The local affiliate, KTTV FOX 11, is really more to blame -- they frequently broadcast the chases live, and it's their cameras that are showing the police movement. "Thankfully, MSNBC and CNN are sticking to journalism," the e-mailer says...
> Update: Another viewer responds to the "sticking to journalism" comment: "Yes, MSNBC can be especially proud of today's reports on the Olsen girls and Tobey Maguire. Gotta love real journalism." 1:50:28 PM

CNN Edition of Media Notes: 'Anonymous;' Clinton On Larry King Tonight
> CNN aired the first interview with the 'Anonymous' CIA author on Wolf Blitzer Reports yesterday. CableNewser hears that NBC kept him at their studios for about two hours, before he was swept over to CNN for a sit-down with David Ensor...
> "Why is the media hiding the name of the CIA official who wrote Imperial Hubris...as "Anonymous" when they know exactly who it is?," The National Debate asks. A CNN guest mentioned the author's name this morning, but Daryn Kagan didn't follow-up.
> CNN's Anderson Cooper will appear on an A&E; special featuring Forbes' "Celebrity 100" list on Sunday night.
> Larry King has Bill Clinton's "first live prime time interview" tonight at 9pm. Bill "takes your calls," of course... 12:32:15 PM

Do Journalists' Reports "Further The Terrorists' Objectives?"
On Paula Zahn Now last night, CNN's Bruce Burkhardt had a top-notch package on how media organizations should handle the beheading videos. From the transcript:

"It is a question that dogs journalists every time terrorists do what they do. What should be reported and shown, and what shouldn't? The basic problem that no journalist can escape is this. Terrorism is only as effective as the number of people who are aware of it. By reporting an act of terrorism, do we further the terrorists' objectives?

> Also: NBC's Jim Maceda on how terrorists are using the Internet 12:31:21 PM

F/911 Premiere Guests: Woodruff, Shaw, Snow, O'Donnell
A bunch of CNN folks were among the guests at Wednesday’s Fahrenheit 9/11 premiere in Washington. Knight Ridder spotted anchor Judy Woodruff, analyst Bill Schneider, and contributor Mark Shields in attendance. Former CNNer Bernard Shaw was also there. MSNBC’s Hardball was alongside the “red carpet” for the premiere. One of the guests at the premiere tells CableNewser she spotted ABC's Kate Snow, NBC's Norah O'Donnell, CBS's Bill Plante, PBS's Gwen Ifill, and CNN Capital Gang co-host Al Hunt on hand, too...
> Update: Wonkette also noticed CNN's Margaret Carlson and MSNBC's Bill Press. Howard Fineman and David Shuster watched the movie from the balcony... 12:05:38 PM

"Stop Filming," The Soldier Demanded
CNN's Ryan Chilcote describes traveling with a platoon of soldiers in Afghanistan when the army shot a 13-year-old boy. "I don't think I'll ever forget the tone of voice and words of the soldier who shot Azizullah as he told [Cameraman Alexey Belov] to "stop filming." Alexey went off to switch out the tape - I was pretty sure someone would try to take our tape away, but no one ever came to us for our tape." A must-read CNN.com story... 10:04:23 AM

NYPost's Orin Accuses Media Of Ignoring Saddam Torture
Haven't we heard this refrain before? Media organizations are ignoring video of Saddam-era torture, Deborah Orin says in her NYPost column today. "It's just the latest instance of how the press often hesitates to show the true savagery of America's enemies in the War on Terror," she says. Hannity & Colmes aired edited portions of the AEI video recently, and Joe Scarborough plans to air some tonight, but: "Otherwise, silence," she writes.
> UPDATE: But that's not true. The Pentagon released the video in October 2003, and news organizations reported on it. A quick Google search pulls up this October 30th CNN transcript, where the reporter describes "this man about to be beheaded by sword" and notes that "other segments of the tape shows parts of fingers and tongues being cut off." Send other examples to [email protected].
> UPDATE #2: FOX was the first news organization to reveal the video, on October 29th. "We must warn you that this video may be hard to watch," Brit Hume said that evening. "One man is seen partially beheaded with a sword, and then finished off with a knife," Bret Baier described... 10:04:12 AM

"Wolfowitz Is Basically Accusing Journalists Of Cowardice"
Howard Kurtz follows up on his Wolfowitz point in his online column today. "Paul Wolfowitz is basically accusing journalists of cowardice," he writes. He lists five recent incidents where journalists risked their lives in Iraq. "Aren't the reporters operating in an environment that administration officials predicted long ago would be a safe and democratic environment once Saddam was toppled?," he asks... 10:03:10 AM

Elber: "Promotional Cross-Pollination" Is Annoying!
AP TV writer Lynn Elber says that "TV journalists cross the line on book promotion:" "It's promotional cross-pollination that has become endless and endlessly annoying, and which reinforces perceptions of a self-absorbed "media elite" possessed of a skewed notion of public service." But she admits that it is "fun to watch the jockeying for position: First broadcast interview. First cable interview. First LIVE cable interview. First interview conducted while spinning plates." 10:03:01 AM

121,000 Viewers Kept Watching CNN While It Was Silent
In the Washington Post Thursday, Lisa de Moraes points out that while CNN lost audio for 20 minutes Monday afternoon, the channel “managed to average nearly as many viewers as rival MSNBC in that time.” Quoting the story: “After CNN lost audio, its audience plunged by nearly 300,000 viewers from the 420,000 who had been watching between 12:30 and 1 p.m....Still, from 1 to 1:30 p.m., CNN averaged 121,000 viewers; simultaneously, 139,000 people watched ‘MSNBC Live’...Events like this may explain why new MSNBC chief Rick Kaplan recently turned his focus from the network's prime-time lineup to its daytime schedule.” Hmm, doesn’t that sound familiar? 12:37:11 AM

Media Notes: Brave Journos; Willow Bay on MSNBC
> Howard Kurtz says that Paul Wolfowitz’s comments accusing the media of being afraid are “rather insulting to many journalists...who are risking their lives by being in Iraq.” (Inside Politics trnscript)
> John Gibson censures the British Office of Communications: “Ofcom censured. Offense: The BBC. Enough said.”
> MSNBC.com won the National Press Club’s “Online Journalism Award for best site.”
> Former CNNer Willow Bay is anchoring MSNBC Live on Thursday 12:36:23 AM

A Sampling Of Greta's E-Mail: "You Suck;" "Good Work"
On her blog, Greta posts more viewer reaction to the video of four dead Marines that aired during her program Monday. Some of the e-mails were nasty: “I will no longer be watching Fox news,” one person said. "YOU SUCK!," another e-mailer summarized. “You have shown yourself to be the epitome of what you truly are... A pathetic worthless ambulance chasing lawyer! YUCK!” But I agree with one of the positive e-mails: “Our country NEEDS to see the horrors of war!...We must not sugar coat the news.” 12:32:31 AM

Juror #5: The Media Blitz Begins
The former juror will be interviewed by Dan Abrams and Greta Van Susteren tonight. "He seems mighty eager to score a book or movie deal for himself," Linda Vester blogs.
> From an e-mailer: "Since you were quick to point out who was first and who was last with the South Korean hostage story yesterday, I will say CNN was FIRST and MS was last on the live breaking event on Juror #5 coming out to speak today on the Peterson trial." 5:35:55 PM

Egg On CNN's Face? Hardly
A review of yesterday's NewsNight transcript demonstrates that CNN’s "water boarding" retraction yesterday was due to the error of a "senior defense official" -- not unfounded or irresponsible reporting, as others have suggested. "A Pentagon official Monday inaccurately told CNN that Rumsfeld had approved water boarding," Jamie McIntyre said last night. While sites like NewsMax say that "CNN had egg on its face," CNN’s sourcing was solid and credible. But shouldn't McIntyre have confirmed the information with more than one source?... 5:25:59 PM

Media Notes: It's Reagan Night On CNN; Geraldo The Astronaut?
> Paula Zahn will air a pre-taped interview with Michael Reagan on CNN tonight. (He appeared on Hannity & Colmes Tuesday.) Ron Reagan is booked on Larry King Live.
> Randy Meier demonstrated a yoga routine live on MSNBC this morning.
> People in Finland can now watch CNN on their mobile phones.
> Geraldo wants to go into space before he dies. (Now THAT would be one hell of a live report.) 5:23:44 PM

"Pentagon Memo Release Causes CNN To Do A 180"
...That's the way That Liberal Media headlines CNN's retraction. Quoting the WP Reliable Source: "Drip, drip, drip: CNN had to endure its own kind of water torture yesterday, repeating at least five times in five hours that a story was wrong, dead wrong, couldn't have been more wrong when it said Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld had signed off on an interrogation technique called "water boarding" for detainees at Guantanamo Bay."
> Update: "The most trusted name is news is taking on a whole new meaning," an industry source writes. Let's not forget the the Letterman fiasco... 11:39:35 AM

MSNBC.com's Video Feeds Among The Worst, OJR Says
OJR says CNN.com's video feeds are the best, and MSNBC.com's are among the worst. It's unclear why MSNBC.com is ranked so poorly, though; it's free afterall, and offers a wealth of video. Here are the reviews. An interesting introductory quote: "And with the release of so many controversial videos online (think beheading), the use of video will only grow in the coming months and years." (Hat tip: LostRemote) 11:39:17 AM

What Anchorman Would You Most Like To See In Playgirl?
...That’s the title of Playgirl’s current online vote. “We like to stay informed on the latest news,” the site says. “While getting all the information, we realized that we favor some anchormen over others. Some of them are so cute, we’d like to see them in PLAYGIRL.” The winner “will be profiled in the October issue of the magazine and a contribution will be made to that lucky newscaster's favorite charity,” the press release says.
> Alex Witt, in for Keith Olbermann on Countdown last night, offered a mock-up of what the cover could look like... (Click to enlarge)
> Wonkette has a revealing photo of Chris Matthews “So many names are missing! What about Tucker Carlson? Joe Scarborough? Aaron Brown? Sigh.” 10:44:16 AM

Aaron Brown Defends Media, Rebukes Wolfowitz
Aaron Brown tore into Paul Wolfowitz on NewsNight last night:

It seems the administration has decided that among the enemies in Iraq are the media. Complaining about what he believes is a lack of balance in the coverage, the number two man at the Pentagon, Paul Wolfowitz said this before Congress: "Part of our problem is that a lot of the press are afraid to travel very much, so they sit in Baghdad and publish rumors and rumors are plentiful." He then said too much attention is paid to violence because the violence is sensational. First of all, we don't publish rumors. Second, reporters ours and others, travel a good deal. They went to Fallujah during the nastiness there. They were in Najaf. They're in Basra tonight. They have also gone to schools and hospitals and a lot of other places to present the most balanced picture they can of what life is like but the fact is that life in Iraq today is dangerous...

Here's the rest. 10:42:58 AM

Brian Kilmeade Is A Slob
Brian Kilmeade told E.D. Hill that her last FOXNews.com blog was "dull," so her post today offers "the skinny on the inside… actually the backside of the desk we sit behind: Brian is a slob. He brings in five times more photocopied papers than I do. He wads up some, spills coffee on others and in general makes a mess. Furthermore, after the show he NEVER cleans up his area. I toss my tea-cup in the garbage. Steve and I both remove our newspapers and notes. Brian, on the other hand, forgets (or pretends to) that he has anything in front of him. Each day Chris and Hardy have to clean up after him. I know Brian's mother and she did not raise him this way." Let's see if he responds tomorrow... 10:40:45 AM

FOXNews.com: Online Video Takes Time, But It's Popular
The FOXNews.com changes are a reaction to visitor requests for "more video and easier navigation," site GM Bert Solivan tells Journalism.co.uk. Tidbits:
> "It takes around 30 minutes to edit and digitise video for the site, which is offered in narrow and broadband streams for both Windows Media Player and Real Player."
> "Hourly news updates are one of the most popular video services on the site, particularly during office hours. Between 60 and 65 per cent of traffic to the site comes during the working day."
> "Online video brings TV closer to the web," Solivan says... 9:50:18 PM

FAIR Criticizes FOX's Handling Of 9/11 Commission News
FAIR says FOX News "eagerly defended the Bush administration and criticized the rest of the media for mishandling" for the 9/11 commission's report regarding the Iraq/Bin Laden/September 11 relationship. The liberal action group asks supporters to "ask the Fox News Channel why it sought to defend the Bush administration, instead of reporting the facts about the interim report of the 9/11 commission"... 9:49:14 PM

MSNBC First With "Hostage Executed"
MSNBC.com's headline is simple: "Hostage executed." From an e-mailer: "MSNBC was first with the South Korean hostage news at 12:44pm ET. A couple of minutes later, I caught(I think) the first Fox News report on it. I'm not sure exactly when CNN first reported it, but I didn't see them talk about it til almost 1pm when Live From began." I got the news alert on my cell phone from CNN.com around 12:55pm...
> Update: From another e-mailer: "For the record, CNN was on the air with the story well before 1pm. Wolf Blitzer was doing breaking news on it well before Live From was on the air." 3:21:51 PM

Greta: "Many Viewers Were Outraged...And With Hindsight..."
Greta has a must-read blog entry today describing reaction to the video of four dead Marines that aired on her show last night: "While none of the video showed close ups, the video was difficult to watch. Many viewers were outraged with our showing the video and, with hindsight, I still would have shown the video BUT with a warning that the video was graphic and the viewer might want to turn away for a moment. Warnings often allow us to do it better — you may see it all if you wish (and then decide about the news, the war, etc.) or you may turn away for a moment because you don't want to see the terrible scenes." She reprints several very critical e-mails, too... 12:15:15 PM

Lou Dobbs Gives In
Responding to a Campaign Desk expose last week, Lou Dobbs says he will now "alter his investment newsletter to reconcile inconsistencies between the publication and his television show on the increasingly contentious subject of sending jobs offshore," the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports. (The WSJ advanced the story yesterday. "We're watching," CJR says... 12:14:24 PM

CNN's Audio Outage: 'Conservative's Dream;' Media Conspiracy'
In the Philadelphia Inquirer, Gail Shister has some fun: "It's a conservative's dream - CNN goes silent." She says " lightning scored a "direct hit" on a Turner Broadcasting transmitter."
> Eric Deggans reports that "At least one caller to the St. Petersburg Times thought it was a corporate media conspiracy to silence Arab voices on TV."
> Daily Variety calls the 20 minutes a "veritable eternity in the world of television"
> CNN.com has a helpful, timely guide: "Don't let lightning zap your PC; Tips for protecting your computer from summer storms"... 9:37:32 AM

Joe Scarborough Challenges Michael Moore To An Interview
Joe Scarborough is challenging -- some would say practically begging -- F9/11 filmmaker Michael Moore to come to his 'Country.' "Whatever you want, wherever you want, we'll be there," Joe said to Moore on Monday night's show. "Come on Scarborough Country, we'll have a good time." He re-assured Michael: "I'm not a right-winger, I'm a nice guy!" And he asked viewers for help: "If there are any Michael Moore sightings in your neck of the woods, tell him to go on Scarborough Country," Joe said. "Michael, give us a call"...
> Update: Wonkette has a transcript excerpt, and the perfect headline: "
"Wouldn't This Be a Great World If Insecurity And Desperation Made Us More Attractive?" 9:37:00 AM

MSNBC.com Officially Names New Publisher/GM
Quoting MSNBC.com: "MSNBC.com on Tuesday appointed Charlie Tillinghast publisher and general manager." He will provide both "operational and strategic leadership." He will also "set and direct the company's business priorities, manage its editorial reorganization and oversee development of new technology." More...
> March 22: Tillinghast named "acting GM" 9:36:04 AM

MSNBC's July 12 Revamp: An Open Apology To Rick Kaplan
The buzz in Secaucus today is that Rick Kaplan is angry about today's post revealing MSNBC's daytime revamp plans. "Wow -- that post regarding the relaunch really set Rick off," an MSNBC source says. "He's pissed."
A second source says Kaplan sent out a memo about it. MSNBC employees: Please send a copy of the memo, anonymously, using the form up above.
The source who leaked the revamp plans to me says he was trying to promote MSNBC in his small little way. Rick "obviously doesn't see it that way," the source says.
Rick, I apologize for spoiling a "big surprise." But personally, I'm counting down the days until July 12. It looks like your biggest fans are, too... 8:42:58 PM

FOX Viewers Favor Bush, CNN Viewers Favor Kerry (Surprise?!)
...That's according to a Rasmussen Reports survey of "1,000 likely voters" last week. Quoting the press release: "Among fans of the Fox News Channel, George W. Bush is winning by a landslide--65% to 28%. Those who prefer CNN also prefer Kerry by an almost identical margin (63% to 26%)." FOX fans will vote for GOP candidates by a 56% to 25% margin, the report says, while CNN viewers will vote Democratic by a 54% to 27% margin. CNBC apparently has more bi-partisan appeal, and MSNBC viewers weren't polled... 3:35:23 PM

Lester Holt To Anchor MSNBC Olympics Coverage
Lester Holt will anchor his first Olympics games this August in Athens, NBC announced today, as they released a list of hosts and announcers today. Holt will share MSNBC host duties with Pat O'Brien. The P.R. also confirms Fred Roggin's CNBC anchor duties. (Mary Carillo will anchor CNBC's weekend coverage on August 14 and 15.) 3:34:07 PM

Lightning Strike Caused CNN's 20 Minute Audio Glitch
On Live From this afternoon, Kyra Phillips told viewers that the 1:00pm loss of audio was due to a lightning strike in Atlanta. Ed writes in: "Come on people, its 2004, install tech power in the studio!" A series of storms are moving through Georgia today… 2:47:45 PM

! 20 Minutes Of Silence: CNN Loses Audio Feed From Dubai Forum
Robert writes in: "CNN lost audio on its first town hall meeting on Iraq, just a few minutes after the live broadcast started." Even the commercials were quiet. The malfunction lasted for about 20 minutes, until 1:25pm ET. CNN put a "technical difficulties" graphic on the screen. Robert says he called CNN in Atlanta and heard a recording "about their awareness of the problem." "They apparently have no back-up plan in place," he says. "This is really bad for a world-class cable news operation. As of this note, it is 23 minutes into this program, with no audio. Dig up a Larry King re-run of Phyllis Diller, for god's sakes!"
> Another e-mailer says: "I was watching CNN at lunch and thought someone had during down the volume but that was not the case!"
> "It's things like this irritate viewers and would drive them to other networks," one viewer writes.
> Mark noticed it: "I thought it was my cable company, but all the other channels were working well."
> One person says he noticed problems with CNN Headline News at the same time.
> The audio worked on the international feeds, CNNFan says. 2:08:18 PM

Technical Problems During CNN's 'Countdown to Handover' Forum?
Is anyone else noticing this? From an e-mailer: "What's going on with CNN right now? I'm trying to watch the Arab Pulse special, and there's no sound. Every other channel works, so I don't think it's my cable. I know this is a CNNI simulcast, are they having massive technical problems?" I noticed the channel flicker a few minutes ago... 1:25:14 PM

Michael Moore Criticizes Cablers: CNN Mis-Directed, FOX "Irrelevant"
In the July issue of Playboy, Michael Moore calls Bill O'Reilly a "cartoon" and says CNN wastes too much time "wringing their hands that they aren't like Fox," I Want Media reports.
> Moore's opinion of CNN: "They're obsessed with trying to catch up in the ratings when they should do everything they can to separate themselves. People at the New York Times don't sit around saying, 'Why can't we be more like the National Enquirer.'"
> Moore's opinion of FOX: "Only 1 million to 2 million people watch Fox News at any given time. Let's not waste our time worrying about something as irrelevant as Fox News." 11:57:33 AM

Media Notes: CNBC Names Athens Anchor; NABET May Picket CNN
> "NBC is expected to announce today that Channel 4 sportscaster Fred Roggin will be the host of CNBC's Athens Olympic coverage," the LA Times reports.
> "New York unions are threatening labor unrest at the GOP convention—and CNN may be to blame," New York Metro says. The union prez says "our goal is to embarrass CNN before a national audience by creating difficulties at the convention." (Thanks Mark)
> Campbell Brown subs for Chris Matthews all this week, Michael Starr notes. 11:55:33 AM

Cooper: Finding Good Stories "Keeps Me Up At Night The Most"
Anderson Cooper tells USA Today about his trip to Iraq: "Certainly I have some trepidation. Anyone who says they don't is either a fool or a liar, or maybe both," he says. "I tend not to worry about things that are beyond my control. We have security people on the ground, and I have confidence in them. Ultimately, what I am most worried about is trying to find good stories and tell them in a way that is interesting and compelling. That keeps me up at night the most." He begins anchoring 360 from Baghdad tonight... 11:55:28 AM

Headline News Tweaks: Graphics, 'Need To Know' Headlines
A CNN Headline News viewer notes that the channel has been "tweaked" a bit. The lower-thirds are colored a bit differently, and the over-the-shoulder graphics are updated as well, he says. "The open is different and they are emphasizing the 'need to know headlines.' 11:54:03 AM

CNNfn Becoming More "Consumer-Oriented:" Real Estate Show Planned
CNNfn will replace their mid-day stock show "Money & Markets" with a real estate program called "CNNfn Open House," the NYPost reports. The announcement will be made today. CNN personal finance editor Gerri Willis will host the show, which will debut June 28 from 12 to 12:30pm (and re-air at 3pm). "The programming change is part of CNNfn's broader goal of shifting focus from the stock market to more consumer-oriented fare," the paper reports... 11:50:38 AM

Exclusive: Coming July 12, A New MSNBC Daytime
"Rick wants to pick apart every part of a story"
    MSNBC's daytime programming will be relaunched on July 12th emphasizing in-depth news and utilizing a wheel format, sources tell CableNewser.
    Network president Rick Kaplan wants MSNBC "to be known for our extensive in-depth reporting of the stories," a source inside the network says. "Let FOX have their gimmicks and their very partial views -- let us give the entire picture, soup to nuts, and let the viewers decide what is more important to them."
    The channel will use a "wheel" format. Every 15 minutes -- at the top of the hour, 15 past, bottom, and 45 after -- there will be a "Top Story" segment. A live report, a package or a guest will "hammer home the in-depth knowledge behind the story," the insider says. The first 15 minutes of the hour could be spent discussing Iraq, while the next 15 minutes could be dedicated to the 9/11 Hearings, for instance.
    "Rick wants to pick apart every part of a story and tell it to the fullest," the insider says. Kaplan told former colleagues about his intentions to revamp MSNBC's daytime content and adopt a wheel format several months ago, an associate of his says. The producers on every level and the various desks will be working more closely to ensure that "every story is exhausted, top to bottom."
    Training for the daytime producers has been in full swing for a couple of weeks. "They get together for 2 to 4 hour meetings -- in shifts of course -- and put together mock news wheels based on that day's stories," the insider says. "That way the producers can really get a feel for what Rick is looking for -- and they are not dealing with 'hypothetical news.'"
    A less-is-more philosophy toward lower-thirds was set to begin on July 12, as well, but viewers seemed to appreciate the style during MSNBC's D-Day and Reagan coverage, so that part of the plan has already been introduced.
    "I know [Kaplan] has a good vision and is really committed to making changes that help MSNBC become better," another employee says. But will it work? Time (and ratings) will tell. 12:50:55 AM

Media Safety In Iraq: For The Networks, A Truce
Quoting USA Today: "Competition in cable and network news is always fierce. But when it comes to covering Iraq and the safety of correspondents, producers, cameramen and anchors there, a truce is in effect...Every Thursday, news executives, bureau chiefs and security officials brief one another on the latest intelligence." 12:44:50 AM

For Ailes, F9/11 Was A First Amendment Issue
Harvey Weinstein says the biggest media supporter of Fahrenheit 9/11 was FOX's Roger Ailes: "...On a First Amendment issue, it blew his mind," the WP Reliable Source reports. "So the best coverage we had wasn't ABC, CBS or NBC -- even Michael Moore couldn't believe it -- there's Fox News. A movie in [Ailes's] mind that couldn't be distributed or had to fight for distribution, just was un-American. He'd rather say, 'Bring it on, we'll deal with that, but you have a right to show it.'" 10:50:25 AM

Partisan Media Trend: "It's Like Picking Restaurants"
"People are increasingly picking their media on the basis of partisanship," Robert Samuelson writes in Newsweek. "If you're Republican and conservative, you listen to talk radio and watch the Fox News Channel. If you're liberal and Democratic, you listen to National Public Radio and watch "NewsHour With Jim Lehrer." It's like picking restaurants: Chinese for some, Italian for others. And everyone can punch up partisan blogs—the fast food of the news business. What's disturbing is that, like restaurants, the news media may increasingly cater to their customers' (partisan) tastes. News slowly becomes more selective and slanted." He concludes: "It will be a sad day when we trust only the media that voice our views." 10:50:10 AM