Fareed Zakaria GPS Redeems CNN's Iran Coverage

A couple of years ago, I was at a party, locked deep in conversation with a former producer at CNN. And I recall that one of the things we had talked about was the media's coverage of Hurricane Katrina. I remember telling him that even as specialized news programs came and went, and even though I had never made it a point to tune into CNN on a regular basis, whenever there was the pressing need to watch the news, it was CNN I turned to. I got to know Aaron Brown the same way most Americans did -- on September 11th, when the anchor was pressed into duty ahead of schedule. And during Katrina and its aftermath, I stayed glued to the network because they were offering the best and most consistent coverage of that story.

But, as has already been remarked upon, where the Iranian election and its aftermath are concerned, this was the weekend of #cnnfail. And I couldn't help but notice that the old equation had been inverted -- where once CNN had been defined by steady and comprehensive coverage instead of iconic news programs -- this weekend, it was a single news program, celebrating its one year anniversary, that gave CNN its only real bright spot in its coverage of the Iranian election. I am speaking, of course, of Fareed Zakaria GPS, perhaps the only show on Sunday that inspires people to send me complimentary emails, urging me to escape from the Sunday Morning talk show axis to watch.

GPS dedicated the bulk of its program this weekend to covering the Iranian election and its aftermath. Opening with Zakaria's frank assessment -- "My own sense is that the vote appears to have been rigged." The show went on to star international reporter Christiane Amanpour, who's covered a number of elections in Iran, and stayed with her through to the commercial break.

[WATCH]

When Zakaria returned, he handed the show over to a panel discussion on the events in Iran, which significantly included two Iranian panelists: Reza Aslan, author of How To Win A Cosmic War; and Afshin Molavi, fellow at the New America Foundation (where Zakaria is a board member).
[WATCH]

Former Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns rounded out the panel, and the ensuing discussion was simply on a higher than you were getting anywhere else. On a day when America had to struggle through Mitt Romney's simple-minded talking points on the subject on This Week, and CNN's earlier Great Debate on WHAT TWITTER MEANS TO THE WORLD (the never touched on answer was the Twitter was the means by which the world was doing CNN's reportorial job), GPS's depth of discussion was a welcome oasis. As was its dedicated eschewing of the typical patterns of cable news discussion. Matt Yglesias did a fine job summing up how the Iranian election, as a story, just failed to fit inside the square peg that cable news has carved for every story:

Whenever I find myself talking about new media to skeptics of an older generation who worry that the standards online are too debased, I try to remind people that the real debasing came with the rise of multi-channel cable news. In terms of the Iranian elections, the world's top newspapers have the people on the ground reporting the main facts, and there's lots of smart analysis from legitimate experts all over the web, but on television if it can't be captured by two talking heads debating each other it's like it never happened.

Emphasis mine, and I really cannot second this assessment strongly enough. It is like a sickness. But yesterday, GPS demonstrated it's immunity and turned in coverage and discussion of surpassing depth and unconventionality. It's survived one year on the air -- will other shows follow its lead? Or will they follow the lead of Howard Kurtz, who absolved CNN's coverage by suggesting "even journalists have to rest sometimes?" Would he have said the same about New Orleans, circa August 2005?

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Comments

[oropesav]

Jason, You are wrong. CNN's coverage of the election fallout in Iran has been amazing. CNN has told the story, probably better than any other US news network.

[Shahrom Kiani]

part #3

This is a very effective approach and without fear which would involve millions of Iranians without any bloodshed. Be certain that this is such an effective way, that the enemy will begin spreading false rumors and will struggle to stop it. Do not be fooled, because this program will continue. Do not listen to rumors and inform everyone in any which way you can.

With hope for success

[Shahrom Kiani]

part #2

We only think of victory. Bring on your children in all the cities in Iran. Without any slogans or any green signs and very quiet. If anyone creates a conflict, we don’t get involved, because we are supposedly going shopping. There is nothing to fear and everyone will go. No fights, no bloodshed, no slogans. If anyone stops us, we simply turn back, because our goal is to shut down the Bazaar, not a gathering so that they could use tear gas on us. Again, be smart, our goal is to shut down the Bazaar. We do not get involved in any altercations. Even though an altercation would also cause the Bazaar to shut down, we do not get drawn into an altercation, just simply and quietly think of victory. The Bazaar will be shut down either as a result of our huge gathering, or it would be shut down, because no one would be there. In any event, we would be victorious. Mr. Moussavi, we do not need you losing your life or becoming a martyr. We need your leadership until 9AM Tuesday morning, which is three days after the martyrdom of our Saturday June 20th martyrs. We just have enough time to broadcast this message. However you can, inform your friends, the foreign news outlets, web sites, etc. Spread the word to all corners or dear Iran.

[Shahrom Kiani]

part #1
I saw this Farsi message on one of the blogs in Iran which requested for a translation to English. It does not seem to be an authentic message from the former president Khatami, but nevertheless encourages a peaceful resistance approach that is worth to look at:

In the Name the God, the Creator

We shall not waste our energy and work effectively. We have already expressed ourselves in the streets and have talked to the coup d'etat people. Now we need to change our approach.

Starting Tuesday, every day at 9AM we shall move towards the Bazaar. If they prevent us, then the Bazaar will be closed. If they don’t, they we create such a havoc that would result in the bazaar closing. If they cut off the phone lines, then it would result in stoppage of activities in the country and the bazaar would be closed down. As a minimum, we will shut down the city and move towards closing the Bazaar. We shall take everyone with us.

Bring the kids, be quiet, no slogans, no green. Without any pretension, we go shopping, but we do not buy anything. We only think of closing sown the Bazaar. We do not leave any signs, even a victory sign with our hands. Nothing.

[amiri1]

Fareed's GPS is the only TV show I must watch every week.

[BMFZ]

Judy like huuf-Po. Used to be a good source. I'm losing faith in AH too.

[Wrenigade]

Why is anyone surpised or even disappointed by CNNs coverage of the Inanian election.
It is yet another example of a very loooonnnggg string of misqueues in the station's quest
to go for ratings rather than reliable, accuarate reporting of news. With the likes of John King and Wolf Blitzer as their prime anchors expect CNN to continue slipping in rating -- even against the boneheaded reporting you find on FOX news. My suggestion: stop watching. Jump on the internet yourself and find the truth rather than expecting it to be spposfed to you by the idiot "news readers" at CNN who rely on the RNC and the DNC for their daily talking points..

[Marbur]

GPS is the only intelligent and informative hour on CNN. It puts all other CNN shows to shame.The only CNN program our household cares to view and listen to. What an intelligent and informed lineup, courteous and lacking in bias, we can agree or disagree with the points of view, but we come away having learned from the hour spent with Fareed and company.

[Cambridge9]

Just about a year ago I was flipping channels on a rainy Sunday when I was struck by a gentleman with the most piercing eyes I had ever seen and I stopped flipping the remote. Since then I've been adicted to GPS because Fareed makes the most difficult subject understandable. He interviews the most interesting people and the discussions on his show are always a teaching experience.

And yet I think his best show was when the terrorists set fires in Mumbai. He admitted that he was a bit worried about his family who still lived in Mumbai and that he was leaving in a day or two to visit them.

I hope that he is a fixture on CNN Sundays for a long time.

[SF13]

Fareed is the most intelligent person on cable "news" . He actually delves into his subjects and has "real" discussions. not the lightweight fluff the rest of the them do.

A breath of fresh air.

[Taz2]

I love Fareed's show GPS, it's gives a broader perspective and it's intelligent and Informative, we need more of that!

I think all the Cable News Stations Need to have More Ethnic and Diversified Commentator‘s, Hosts and Anchor’s by far CNN and CNN International have the most but we need more

[CIgarCityGirl]

I really miss Aaron Brown.

[amorvincitomnia]

You know, as long as they're running shows hosted by the likes of Lou Dobbs and John King, even Fareed Zakaria can't redeem CNN. 'State of the Nation' is like some weird time machine back to Fox News at it's lowest points as a Neo Con microphone.

[Ladyrantsalot]

Any news organization with Christiane Amanpour covering events in Iran is going to have superior coverage of Iran.

[We-Are-The-Ones]

CNN cannot be redeemed for its lack of coverage on Iran. GPS covering it for an hour or so does not make up for hours and hours and hours of lack of coverage by CNN . . . TV and online.

CNN is toast. It rendered itself irrelevant.