Anderson Cooper's Rating Woes "Most Troubling" To CNN Staffers: Politico

Politico:

It's Cooper's ratings that are the most troubling, say staffers, given the resources and heavy promotion for his show, and persona. For years, Klein has talked up Cooper, once famously dubbing him "the anti-anchor" and, in the aftermath of Katrina, as "a reporter [who's] got that magical something.

But that magic may be wearing off.

Read the whole story: Politico

Comments

[George Whizz]

"Hurricane Cooper"? Fluff!

[Moshe]

Anderson seems like a nice enough guy.

But then there's his mumbling speaking style, milk toast approach to the news, and childish interactions with co-hosts.

Even when I try, I can't get through 5 minutes of "Anderson Cooper 360" and even if you did, you would get about 5-10 degrees (Anderson's) of that promised 360 view of the news.

CNN needs to quite playing entertainment and get back to real news.

News/tainment will never be anything other than both weak news and poor entertainment, and sadly, Anderson is proving that in abundance.

That time slot is too valuable to CNN, and an authentic source of news is too valuable to the People.

CNN needs a major overhaul. What is on CNN now (except for Larry King sometimes) is not worth watching.

[peskime]

I think you mean milquetoast

[elatas]

I watch AC but he always has the same guests/analysts. I know what they think beforehand. He should add more experts - outsiders who bring more depth and fresh point of view.

And generally, CNN has to many reruns during the evening. Campbell Brown, Larry King and AC360 and it starts over again.

[TrueThis]

I'm sick of David Gergen but Campbell Brown only appears onces and she's no better.

[Mogamboguru]

Perhaps -

other people are just as fed up of Anderson Cooper's incompetent sensationalism, as I am...?

Just saying...

[WilliamL]

Don't believe the HYPE

[DogTown]

Anderson Cooper is on way too late where I live....we are already watching non news shows or on the computer!

[Enigma2008]

There is substance if you look for it. On PBS there is Frontline, Charlie Rose, Bill Moyers and The News Hour. HDnet has Dan Rather Reports and World News (along with the best visuals on TV). Nightline is often worth the time. On CNN the specials with Amanpour beat anything else they have. Isn't it ABC that has the great middle east reporter that could do hours but only gets a few minutes? I only get to see him when he is a guest on shows on other networks. These alternatives aren't for the masses but give you meat if you want it.

The ratings mean nothing for news. There are not enough people in this country who want to hear anything but blather and bluster so the ratings for quality shows should never be the most important factor. If you separate straight news from news/talk it might be more relevant.

Aren't Fox and CNN are on on the basic cable tiers on most providers where more of the frugal elderly get them. MSNBC in my area isn't on basic---it's a step up on premium. Is that factored in to the ratings?

[Moshe]

MSNBC has some really good stuff (Rachael is very good most of the time; and Keith can be good at times; but usually only the first 30 minutes) and MSNBC also has and some junk not worth watching (especially on the weekends). But I agree, PBS has some good stuff and its available to most everyone. And in addition to the news, I would also recommend watching PBS historical documentories, as for those willing to think and reflect, far more can be learned from history than from any single days current news.

[Girl28]

I've started watching PBS News, too, and it's really good.

[THEPILGRIM]

Anderson Cooper is a phony and he is pathetic.
That's all

[Moshe]

I disagree.

He's also kind of wimpy [rim-shot]

(sorry, I can never resist a straight-line).

[Cheesemelt]

He's always been a pal, blank slate to me. I never understood his appeal or why CNN coughed up a fat contract for him, while firing Aaron Brown.

I never watch CNN anymore. You could almost convince me that they are trying to lose viewership and ad revenue.

Nicely played, TIME-WARNER.

You have turned the Tiffany Cable news channel into a cubic zirconia.

[scotia626]

john king is not objective and i will never forgive him for his supposed interview with cheney- not to mention his love affair that he and wife dana have with mccain.
but cooper's slide reflects his unwillingness to be true to his self on tv- he is a gay man that appears lifeless- and spineless- on his show. love rachel maddow or hate her- she comes off as alive, educated and educatable- and NOT afraid to be herself. cooper is allowing himself to be homogenized right off the air,

[Moshe]

CNN should trade John King to FOX.

[VictoriaP]

didn't know that john king and dana were a couple.

is john king larry's son?

[mukTech]

Blame it in the blogs, facebook, twitter, and reality tv shows. Every tv channel from CW, TLC, Bravo to even CNN, has a reality tv. on top of that, every news channel from cnn, fox news, abc, cbs, etc has a twitter... well, if you are sending us to twitter, why should we watch you? after all, our time is limited, we have a short attention span, we can only watch one thing at a time. This time, we choose to read twitter...

[LazloTu]

Anderson is attention seeking poor excuse of a journalist. He's overly-dramatic in whatever he covers, and I've long been turned off by his style.

Remember his child-like behavior during the gulf war when scores of "journalists" were riding in tanks and hummers?? He was like a kid in a candy store, so caught up in the excitement taht the "reporting" totally missed the mark. (nice bush strategy).

Last night , in a clip with Michael Phelps he donned a speedo and raced a half-lap against Phelps. It did give him another photo-op to present his bod along with Phelps.

All fluff and puff.... and cnn is surprised ratings are down......­! WTF??????

[jalapeno]

Anderson is a patsy for the right wing, he has no backbone to stand up to his guests and call them out on their shizz..

[Willow207]

CNN is a "patsy" for the right wing!!!! That is why they hire people like Cooper, Campbell Brown, Lou Dobbs.....­.

[Alice Wilson-fried]

In my opinion, the focus should not be middle of the road or left or right slanted news reporting, but good old fashioned journalism. Just report the facts with honest research and let us decide. But with all of the analysts and the new gotcha style of reporting, CNN missed the mark for non-partisan reporting. Too bad. The country could use a real journalistic outlet. There's a lot going on and to be frank, we do not have a media we can count on. Not really.

[Cheesemelt]

Agreed 10000%. CNN has tried to straddle both fences and in the process all but destroyed their brand.

[Willow207]

All but destroyed their credibility and integrity.­....

[KansasWrangler]

When reporters or newscasters stop reporting the news and start expressing their opinions and personal outrage about every f-ing thing, they go on my no-watch list. Cooper hit that a long time ago.

[time4change2009]

They're not News....Th­ey should all be called 'The View'....b­ut Barbara already owns that name.