That Billboard
How bitter is the rivalry between CNN and Fox News? For the past several years, Fox News has purchased space on two large billboards right outside the front door of CNN Center, where I drive to nearly every day as part of my ongoing work with Turner Sports Interactive. I've been meaning to snap a photo, for unless you worked inside or near CNN Center in Atlanta, you'd never see one. Today however, prompted by the arrival of yet another Fox News "ad," the newspaper beat me to it and ran a story.
Comments
Add that to the dust up last month, when Crossfire host Tucker Carlson gave out FNC Washington bureau's phone number on-air, leaving FNC swamped with phone calls.
In turn FNC first gave out Tucker's home phone number (mirrored) later changing the article to give out the CNN Washington bureau's phone number.
I can only imagine what other dubious things are going on between the two networks.
Posted by: Steve Miller at October 8, 2003 3:28 PM
I posted a few photos here from last month (I think they've rotated out the designs since).
Posted by: Kevin at October 8, 2003 6:35 PM
It occurs to me that maybe being #1 in the ratings for news channels is not a good thing. At the very least it indicates you are giving the people what they want, and maybe not what they need.
Posted by: James at October 8, 2003 8:59 PM
How about O'reilly and Teri Gross! Did you get an earful of that!
Posted by: organize at October 8, 2003 9:07 PM
giving the people what they want, and maybe not what they need.
Who is a news organization to decide what "the people" need? That sound very big brother-ish to me.
Posted by: Steve Miller at October 9, 2003 5:19 PM
It's up to each news source to decide what it is that the public needs, isn't it? They have limited resources, they must pick and choose their stories. I should hope they are basing it on what is the most important stories from a sense of their responsibility to the public and the public need. That's why you want a bunch of independant news sources -- they may differ in that opinion.
Candy tastes good and is very popular, but that doesn't make it the best food. Being the #1 news source based on ratings is a dubious distinction for the same reason. It only indicates you can lure more eyeballs.
Posted by: James at October 10, 2003 12:51 PM
Is this "Fair and Balanced"? Maybe CNN should sue.
Posted by: Avarice at October 15, 2003 4:08 AM
