A CNN executive’s snarky tweet in response to President Donald Trump mocking the ratings of anchor Chris Cuomo’s show drew criticism from a former producer for the network.
Trump’s tweet referred to CNN’s latest ratings, which showed that Cuomo Prime Time failed to crack the top 15 most-watched cable programs in the second quarter of 2020.
“@CNN should move Fredo back to the morning slot. He was rewarded for bad ratings with a much better time slot – and again got really bad ratings. Getting totally trounced by @FoxNews. Give him another shot in the morning – He would easily beat Morning Joe’s poorly rated show!”
CNN head of strategic communications Matt Dornic, who has shown his disdain for Trump, responded directly in a now-deleted tweet that read, “CNN is not seeking a new head of programming. But there is a job opening up at the White House.”
That response attracted the attention of former CNN senior digital producer Steve Krakauer, who wondered if a Fox News executive would have been given a pass by the media had if they similarly responded to President Barack Obama in 2012.
“I have to say, there’s something refreshing about a CNN executive feeling completely unrestrained in stating his personal political objective of electing Joe Biden. I do wonder what the media reaction would be if a Fox News exec did this in 2012 responding to President Obama.”
I have to say, there’s something refreshing about a CNN executive feeling completely unrestrained in stating his personal political objective of electing Joe Biden. I do wonder what the media reaction would be if a Fox News exec did this in 2012 responding to President Obama… pic.twitter.com/A9veazExLK
— Steve Krakauer (@SteveKrak) July 3, 2020
The three major cable news networks set viewership records in the second quarter of 2020 with Fox News still atop at No.1, followed by MSNBC and CNN. CNN narrowly beat MSNBC in the all-important 25-54 demo and recorded its best ratings for any three-month period in the network’s history, but still couldn’t beat Fox News.
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