Friday, September 02, 2022
WHAT'S GOING ON AT CNN?
What is going on at CNN?
It's clear that the head of Warner/Discovery is clearing out many culturally valuable properties.
But Licht (now running CNN) was the runner for Colbert. He does not seem like a GOP ideolog.
There have been reports that Licht wants CNN to feature "hard news" reporting and wants to get "Republicans" back into the interviews on CNN.
There are actual Republicans who still believe in the values of democracy and a republic. However, most RINOs in office, who call themselves "Republicans" have supported the anti-democratic, authoritarian, violence and lies that the defeated Previous President (dPP) used to try to overthrow the democratically mandated transfer of power to the President Elect.
You cannot be a Republican if you are attacking the very essence of what it means to believe that the USA should be a republic.
More fair attention can be given to Republicans like Kinzinger.
But most RINO's are spouting dangerously anti-democratic venom. It is a minority, but a significantly loud minority, that has shown it will use violence and lies to overthrow democracy. That is a one-way trip. Once democracy is lost it cannot be easily restored. Giving voice to lies, threats, fantasies, false conspiracies, and excuses, that attack American Democracy at its core, that threaten fair and honest elections and a peaceful transfer of power, is not "fair and balanced", it is a verbal war against American Democracy.
Journalism is about truth, it is not about giving publicity to lies; it is about exposing lies, not promoting them.
The pen is mightier than the sword. Emotional TV (and lies and false news reports can be very emotional) can be mightier than the pen, when they are not fact-checked.
Be careful who you invite in the interest of preserving honest, balanced reports. Be careful what you wish for.
FOX news has prospered because it is single minded in its devotion to twisted, one-sided, emotional propaganda, not because it presents "conservative" views. It is the opposite of journalism, and has done serious damage to democracy and truth. "News" that pretends to be honest, but does not challenge dishonesty, will be valuable neither culturally nor financially.
Why is CNN firing serious reporters like Harwood? It is inconsistent with good reporting, damaging to CNN's reputation, dangerous to democracy, and risky for the bottom line. Journalism needs to stand against lies. Journalism requires honesty.
Labels: Chris Licht, CNN, John Harwood
