CNN To Disclose Castellanos's Health Care Industry Ties

A day after Media Matters revealed that CNN contributor Alex Castellanos' consulting firm is connected to the recent anti-health care reform advertising blitz from America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), CNN has announced that they will hereafter disclose Castellanos' ties to the health care industry in future appearances. Greg Sargent has more:

This connection, you'd think, should be disclosed whenever Castellanos appears on CNN discussing health care. Asked for comment, CNN spokesperson Edie Emery acknowledged the tie and promised full disclosure in the future. She emailed:

"When Alex Castellano returns from his vacation and next appears on CNN, we will clearly disclose to our viewers relevant information including his firm's relationship with AHIP."

Sargent's take is that "CNN doesn't appear to have known about Castellanos' work," but it's worth pointing out that Media Matters cited a prior occasion on which CNN fumbled a disclosure issue where Castellanos is concerned.

Last August, we noted that Castellanos -- best known as the creator of the racially-charged "Hands" advertisement -- was hired as a CNN contributor three days after the New York Times reported that he was part of John McCain's "panel of outside advertising consultants." CNN subsequently failed to disclose Castellanos's connection to the McCain campaign while he was, for instance, applauding the McCain campaign's ads.

I shan't be holding my breath, by the way, that this matter gets discussed on CNN's Reliable Sources!

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Comments

[carlgt1]

what's hilarious is that the dittohead morons still screech about the "Clinton News Network"! if you're not absolutely unashamedly in bed 110% with Repubs then you are "liberal left mainstream media" to 'em!

[ElTommo]

Oh, what, like anyone should really be surprised?

[woody7]

Even Keith Olberman keeps commentators of his show if there is a disclosure problem , until it is fixed. Wolff comes to my mind.Glad he is back though!

[Aroon]

When a news organization does know the background of the invited guests, they cease to be news organization!!!!!

[tel8034]

Why was it necessary for CNN to be FORCED to be ethical in the first place?

Don't they vet their contributors to find out what their backgrounds are?............... It's not as if Cstellanos is a newbie to CNN.

CNN probably knew abou Castellanos all along (they certainly knew he did some of the McCain campaign ads), but CHOSE NOT TO BE HONEST with the viewers.

For CNN ALL Obama bashing makes for good TV, and that's why they NEVER challenge the nonsense from the likes of Castellanos and his rethuglocan cohorts.

Because CNN was FORCED to be ETHICAL, this fact only reinforces my previous decision to stop tuning into that cable "news" (lol) station.

[Jeff Cunningham]

Or better yet, don't have him on at all when discussing health care, now that his conflict of interest is so blatantly obvious. Yet *another* reason why I don't watch CNN anymore.

The most trusted name in news my butt ...

[LibertyBell7]

Not kidding. About the time the whole stimulus cable mudflap started last January, ThinkProgress did a little analysis of cable news coverage that showed all the cable news outlets were having Rethuglicans as their guests at a minimum of a 2:1 ratio (strangely, that was Faux News's ratio) — and CNN's ratio was a staggering 6:1 ratio of righties vs. the more sane.

It was my surface impression that the NO nuts were being disproportionally featured, but when I saw Faux news was more "fair and balanced" at least in terms of its featured guests than CNN, that was the last time I wasted my Neilson "vote" for any of their programming.

I mean, we had just come through two successive elections basically telling anybody with sentience that maybe we don't want to hear from these thugs anymore and their reaction is to depend on them for "analysis" of events? Screw 'em. Corporate shills.

[raop]

While CNN is not watchable anymore, I have never understood the lack of names for their programmes. I hate the titles of "The Situation room" and " State of the UNion". These are associated with the govt. and should stay unique. The real situation room is not a place where one can tune in for fun or info anytime. The place has a strategic importance for govt. making decisions and should not be confused with a TV programme. And the State of the union is unique. A title meant for the president's speech to communicate to the country about the country. It's meant to be heard once a year...Not every Sunday on TV. I saw how bad Blitzer was on Jeopardy. But cant he and John King at least think of a unique title for their shows for heavens sake. And they blame Obama for copying some of Bush's policies. Guys, you cant even come up with a decent title for your own shows, forget about an original policy.

[Billar]

I do not watch CNN anymore.

[ginamarie101]

ditto that.

[meede]

The night Alan Grayson appeared on the Situation Room with Wolf after he had appeared on the house floor with his cards about If you get sick etc, Wolf had a panel of Candy, Gloria and which included Castellanos there. Castellanos went full out with Grayson setting out the GOP healthcare plan -- like they had one. Grayson said the GOP had no plan and Castellanos kept at it that they did and ran through the old talking points list that so many of the GOP quote. It was clear there was something up as Castellanos was going at it hard to discredit Grayson. Now we know why.

[msgirlintn]

They shouldn't just disclose it, they should fire him, then disclose how long they have known it and why they kept putting him on television and referring to him as one of the best political team on television. CNN is going downhill fast.

[apoyo]

CNN's bias is showing.

[lmvd3]

A blatant conflict of interest. Castellano should make a choice--which job does he prefer, because it's certainly unethical to do both. If he can't choose, than CNN should make the choice for him.

[lihsus]

CNN, wise decision to disclose Castellanos ties. And you expect us to watch your show, CNN? You must be joking. You do not have anybody besides Castellanos? No interns who can do some research for you? Sad. Get Ted Turner back to run CNN.

[abbienormal]

Exactly. What does it take for CNN to get someone that is not profiting from their position to come on and talk about it? I should never venture away from PBS.

[OxamsRazor]

How can CNN not know this? What are they doing all day long? how about fact checking something other than SNL?

Does anyone else remember when they had this guy talking about GOP members while he was STILL a paid consultant for Romney? He was TRASHING Romneys competition without CNN telling people he was PAID to do so.

[Tags]

Now you've done it!

This article will probably touch off a bidding war between CNN and the Fox Ness Monster, who is going to need someone to fill Glenn Beck's old slot after they move him to prime time.