CNN Prez Klein More Afraid of Facebook than Fox News
By Don Irvine | March 11, 2010
CNN president Jonathan Klein sees social networking sites like Facebook as more of a threat to CNN than Fox News.
From Fishbowl NY
In an interview with Bloomberg BusinessWeek editor Josh Tyrangiel at BusinessWeek’s annual media summit in New York this morning, CNN President Jon Klein said Web 2.0 presents concerns him far more than cable rival Fox News.
Highlighting the fact that Facebook draws many more users than Fox does viewers, Klein also pointed out the unique information-based relationships that social media users develop with one another. “The people you’re friends with on Facebook or the people you follow on Twitter are trusted sources of information,” he said. The poularity of these platforms reflects a high demand for new information, he said. “People bemoan the state of journalism today, but … the audience wants in. They don’t want to turn their backs on information.”
At the same time, all the new conduits for news make the world more confusing and complex, meaning that organizations that can synthesize the information will provide a highly valuable service to their audiences. In this arena, Klein said, CNN has an advantage over its more openly partisan rivals.
The last time Klein commented Fox, a Fox News Channel spokesperson said: “We don’t respond to presidents of fifth-place news networks. The last time we looked, Jon was losing to the Weather Channel, so call us back when he and CNN regain relevancy.”
The main goal for CNN going forward is to consistently sustain a level of quality seen at publications like The Wall Street Journal and TV programs like “60 Minutes,” said Klein. Part of that credibility comes from letting a story die as soon as the audience is informed, rather than engaging in speculation or “fanning the flames” when a story captures viewers.
“If we can be the pipeline for reliable, accurate information, that’s a pretty essential function in the world of these social networks. Thats why not clouding the work that we do with suspect partisanship really helps our business,” he said.
There is no doubt that socail networking sites are a threat to the mainstream media though it seems to have more of an impact on the print side where news is a day old by the time the reader receives it than cable news which has tried to adapt by embracing Facebook and Twitter in an effort to engage viewers.
As to Kleins last statement, if CNN had provided reliable and accurate informationin the first place they wouldn’t be trailing Fox and MSNBC and searching for an identity.
If you have journalistic integrity and present only truth and facts, you don’t have to be afraid of anyone. You need to be very scared, Klein since you are a mouthpiece for lying liberals and Obama.
I am a member of a couple of social networking sites, including recently twitter (not not really like that forum, limited to 140 characters). I created my accounts with an anonymous IP address due to the nature of some of the problems which accompany these sites.
It is true that CNN and the MSM are being ripped apart on these sits. Such as on Facebook, you can create your own causes, and send them to friends, and they in turn send them to friends, friends…within a few hours you have thousands upon thousands. There are already too many named sites with correct, and contradict the myths of the MSM. Same with the liberal progressives, it is easy to see the majority of Americans standing up for their rights, the ills of the Obama agenda.
Many of us supported the Moderate Dems willing to vote against the year (and longer) battle over H/C, only to see them being bought off and compromising their own values…they have lost my respect.
Jon Klein may see a home truth about Facebook and other social networking sites; no more top-down imposition of viewpoints, when audiences can interact with their news sources, argue with them, develop new truths as discussion tests belief and truth begins to prevail.
CNN and the other broadcast/cable news networks have had the advantage previously of being able to assert their viewpoints without contradiction. I guess losing that edge WILL be scary to anyone who can see past the end of his or her nose.
From now on, news outlets won’t be able to simply broadcast what they please and assert its truth – they will have to defend the truth of what they say.
Yeah, I imagine Jon Klein IS scared of Facebook,
It is FOX that has the most to lose with the gaining popularity of facebook. FOX NEWS viewers are being invited to engage in discussion and debate … and finding that the talking points they’re given by FOX talking heads don’t get them very far in an intelligent discussion.
The truth will kill FOX NEWS … and the truth is becoming more and more easily accessed.
Sorry FOX NEWS …. you’ll soon be history.
Jon Klein and all his progressive Media cohorts have not seen the truth since Mars had an atmosphere. If FNC does go by the wayside after all the others, they will still be a force on radio and the Internet…or may never go away.
Only if Obama succeeds in becoming president for life (a dictator), Emanuel will just take it away from his puppet master…Of course he would need the U.N.
Take into account how a badly trained military, and some completely untrained militia’s in a New World brought down one of the greatest Empires (British) ever known…it ‘would’ happen again. We are not the USSR, Cuba, China, or even Venezuela, the majority of ‘real’ Americans including the vast majority of our Military will not stand for such a thing.
I find it sad that those of you who do not like this country and its history are nothing more than elitists, arrogant pseudo-intellectuals from the top down.
Perhaps it is those former Hippies who are now in our Government, and those of you who are still wet behind the ear, or have been indoctrinated do not know a thing about the very freedoms you enjoy really came from…the barrel of a gun and Courage when this nation began.
If the H/C Bill goes down, you lose; conversely if it passes you lose. Frankly I really do like the odds, a whole year of a Super Majority wasted due to infighting within your own party.
Your man is an Ideologue, and continues to show it daily, his arrogance to the Supreme Court in the State of the Union (which was nothing more than a political pep-rally) cost him voters. He stood there on behind that lectern, not only put down SCOTUS, worse he had the facts wrong.
That “talking” to Iran thing really worked out well, huh? Only gave then another year to get their program running. Taking credit for the success of Iraq while our soldiers sat on the sidelines all during Obama’s short reign.
True Americans will not walk gently into that good night…nor will Fox News go the way of the MSM.
Wesley in Dallas says: “I find it sad that those of you who do not like this country and its history are nothing more than elitists, arrogant pseudo-intellectuals from the top down.”
Those of us who do not like this country?
You say something like that and don’t expect to be called an idiot? Really?
Post #7
Allow me to prove my point, Science ‘Czar’ John Holdren has long been an advocate for population control, in his book he puts forth an idea that it would help this country if we were to put sterilization chemicals into the drinking water, to target the minority explosion during the 1970’s. He never thought about future consequences, such as those chemicals would eventually end up in the water table, sterilizing thousands of species and damage to all plant life. Cause and effect!
During one of the more recent “Closed Door” H/C talks (Transparency?) Bart Stupak and Ben Nelson made an appearance on television on Rahm Emanuel’s point, that if the Abortion Language was not in the Senate Bill, too many more citizens would overload the proposed Health Care system, thus increasing costs. That is not what this America is about…If Progressives in this country are worried about too many citizens, then stop illegal immigration.
Obama wants to pay for the first half of his H/C plan with $500 Billion Dollars from Medicare, while still claiming the money is still there, conversely spending the same dollar twice, something the CBO is considering to put into the cost of the Bill, thus making H/C ‘not’ deficit free, which means an exploding deficit and no way to pay for H/C, other subsidies or reforms.
We are tired of the double-speak the progressives are using, stimulus is now being called ‘the Jobs Bill’, Reconciliation is being called ‘a straight up or down vote’. Like watching a magician, I am always looking at the other hand, the underlying agenda(s).
Our Constitution is under attack, we are losing more and more freedoms under this Administration, appointed Judges Legislating from the Bench. Mandating what we can or cannot eat or drink.
Taxing businesses out of existence, then doubling the Capital Gains Tax, which put them out of business or causing layoffs. The U.S. for the first time in history in a very real danger of losing its Triple A Rating, which will more than double our worldwide interest rates (we are already paying $800 Billion dollars a year on what Obama has borrowed…‘before’ H/C)
The lies of Climate-gate to be used for Cap and Trade, thus forcing Americans to pay up to 90% more for electricity (Obama’s words, not mine), refusing to use Clean Coal Technology. Fair market competition is being stomped on; in fact we are close to losing a key ingredient that makes this Country the best in the world, yes Capitalism.
If you progressives want Socialism or Marxism, rule, the move!
I pray than the Moderate Democrats will not be bought off again, or will stand by their principles and not allow Emanuel and Pelosi to intimidate them. While we are at it, put the Doc Fix back into the Bill.
Most of us are sick of seeing Che, Mao, and Stalin as fashion statements; they are celebrating mass killers and communists. Video of White House communications director Anita Dunn telling graduating students saying that she looked to Mao for inspiration.
Get rid of all the Radicals in Government, before the Cloward and Piven strategy takes hold.
Millions upon millions of Americans will take the 2010 Census, but under “Race” people will be checking “Other” and writing in ‘American’ to prevent redistricting.
Wesley … you’re a fine example of the dumbing-down of America. It’s sad.
You say “I pray …”
Well … good American Christians are much more honest than you.
So … I PRAY … that God delivers you from your troubled mind and that He brings you the courage to be a better man. (An honest man.)
Frankly I do not need advice from someone such as the likes of you. I am quite sure Diogenes would find me, while he passes those who judge others.
How many soup kitchens have you volunteered to help, how many children with terminal cancer have you made smile…how many disasters have you driven or flown to in order to help people? Did you take in any families who lost everything? Have you served your Country in any form or fashion…I not only believe in the Ten Commandments, I live them just as I avoid the Seven Deadly Sins.
The very fact that you would judge others you do not know, or know what is in their hearts says enough for me to understand. Only God has that right and Him alone.
Regardless, I will pray for you and your soul.
Heed the warning signs in Revelations, I believe the seals have begun opening, however I am not afraid.
We raised our children to be good persons, they were taught common sense, respect, ethical persons, care for the fellow men/women. Before Unions took over schools, we were constantly complimented on their great grades, hard work, and for being examples to other students.
Now it appears as though you are in agreement that the President, his Administration, progressives in both houses to shove H/C and other freedom losses, in which only 34% of Americans want. Using strong arm tactics, bribes, kickbacks, and since they still do not have the votes from their own party, will use unconstitutional procedures to force it on the Majority who want nothing to do with the ruin of this once Great Nation.
We are very close to a Constitutional Crises.
Benjamin Franklin November 17, 1766
“I think the best way of doing good for the poor, is not making them easy in poverty but leading or driving them out of it. In my youth I traveled much, I observed in different countries that the more public provisions were made for the poor, the less they provided for themselves, and of course became poorer. And on the contrary, the less was done for them, the more they did for themselves and became richer”.
March 11 at 5:48 pm | #1 | Link
“Part of that credibility comes from letting a story die as soon as the audience is informed, rather than engaging in speculation or “fanning the flames” when a story captures viewers.”
Well, he got that part right.