Klein Puts CNN's "Most Trusted" Brand at Risk

On July 23, CNN president Jon Klein acted like the head of a serious news network. On July 24, he acted like an intern for Lou Dobbs.

During the previous week, Dobbs had breathed new life -- and, as a CNN anchor, unprecedented legitimacy -- into a long-discredited conspiracy theory concerning the details of President Obama's birth. Other CNN hosts roundly debunked accusations that Obama wasn't born on U.S. soil. In fact, Kitty Pilgrim, who guest-hosted Lou Dobbs Tonight on July 17, used her time in his chair to do just that, stating, "CNN has fully investigated the issue, [and] found no basis for the questions about the president's birthplace." And yet Dobbs persisted. On July 20, he reported on the story again, summing it up this way: "A lot of questions remaining, and seemingly, the questions won't go away because they haven't been dealt with ... straightforwardly and quickly."

While Dobbs said that he personally believed Obama was a citizen, he had fueled the "birther" fringe by repeatedly complaining that Obama had yet to produce an original birth certificate listing a doctor and hospital.

Klein asked CNN researchers to look into the matter and passed along their findings to Dobbs' producers in a July 23 email that was soon leaked. Specifically, they found that the document had been discarded when the Hawaii Department of Health digitized its records.

"It seems to definitively answer the question," Klein wrote. "Since the show's mission is for Lou to be the explainer and enlightener, he should be sure to cite this during your segment tonite" [sic]. Klein continued: "And then it seems this story is dead -- because anyone who still is not convinced doesn't really have a legitimate beef."

Within 24 hours, he had reversed himself.

"Look, Lou's his own show," he told reporter and blogger Greg Sargent on July 24, the same day that Dobbs used his nationally syndicated radio program to ask, "Where is that birth certificate? Why hasn't it been forthcoming?" Klein wrote off Dobbs' critics -- not those pushing the conspiracy -- as biased partisans. "I understand that people with a partisan point of view from one extreme or another might get annoyed that certain subjects are aired." He reportedly claimed Dobbs' coverage amounted to "a few conversations with people representing a wide range of opinions." Klein also told Sargent that Dobbs was under no pressure to stop reporting the story. "I think no good journalist would ever say that a particular story will never be covered again. Every day brings new facts, new pegs."

The next day, he went a step further, telling the L.A. Times that Dobbs' broadcasts had been, simply put, "legitimate."

From "dead" to "legitimate" in less than 48 hours.

Klein owes CNN's viewers an explanation. Does he harbor any doubt that President Obama is a U.S.-born citizen? Assuming he doesn't -- and his July 23 email was pretty definitive on that score -- what about the story, and Dobbs' actions, could possibly be considered legitimate?

By saying one thing in private and another in public, Klein has blown a huge hole in CNN's credibility. CNN likes to characterize itself on air as "the most trusted name in news." But how can viewers trust anything from a network whose president deems "legitimate" the promotion of questions that even many conservatives have dismissed as lunacy, and their proponents "nutburgers"?

An April 27 New York Times article reported that Klein touted what he said was the network's commitment to high journalistic standards, differentiating it from its competitors. "We would do ourselves a disservice if we thought that our main competitors were the other so-called cable news networks," he said. "They don't have journalists on in prime time." He also expressed discomfort with Dobbs' highly opinionated style and implied that changes were under way. "If you watch Lou's show, he's doing more of a straight newscast than he's ever done before."

And, yet, notwithstanding Klein's dismissal of "the other so-called cable news networks," it was left to Phil Griffin, the president of MSNBC, to state the truth about the whole birther movement. "It's racist," said Griffin, according to The New York Times. "It's racist. Just call it for what it is."

Klein has a lot of questions to answer.

Eric Burns is President of Media Matters for America (www.mediamatters.org), a progressive media watchdog and research and information center based in Washington, D.C.

Comments

[oldschoololdsoul]

When Ted Turner agreed to the merger with Time Warner, CNN was taken over by special interest group wolves in bed with their own agenda and not the best news interests of the American public. And I'm sure that he has regreted it ever since.

[weatherwaxx]

CNN's "most trusted brand" was a label they gave themselves, not long after Time-Life took over and the station started its long, dismal slide to the right.

Anytime somebody says "Trust me" -- whether it's a door-to-door salesman or a TV station -- my BS alarms start clanging.

As far as I'm concerned, it's CNN... the MIS-trusted name in news.

[expired]

Some news presenters aside on C No News, it is a bit far right.

[ranchero42]

Let me get this straight. Lou Dobbs was the FIRST sign there was a problem. Are you gonna stick with that story?

[Keith52]

At risk? As far as I can see it's no more trustworthy than FOX. Lou Dobbs is a raving lunatic and they are standing by him.

[proudindian]

CNN's brand is not at risk. It is under siege. Lou Dobbs is eating the credibility of CNN from within, much like a cancer. His rants at 90 words a minute are killing the brand that has painstakingly been built on the hardwork and commitment of reporters like Christine Amanpour, Anderson Cooper, and Candy Crowley. It is destroying the brand built by the well-informed and engaging opinions of commentators like Roland Martin and Jeffery Toobain. Lou Dobbs is ringing the death knell for CNN. And the only way to save the channel is to dump him and his lunatic, extremist views.

I call on all rational viewers to boycott CNN, so the president, who apparently doesn't have a spine, can hear, above the din of Lou Dobbs' rants, the message that sane people want him to hear: "SACK LOU OR PERISH"

[UKOH]

Its not just Lou Dobbs. CNN has failed to live up to objective standards of journalism for some time now. Recently on CNN a Republican senator was allowed to get away with "Obama's health plan will result in millions of Americans loosing their current coverage, and taxes being increased on every American." without any questions, in spite of the fact that the CBO (so widely quoted as having concerns about the cost of the program) states categorically that the plan will not cause anybody to loose their health coverage who wishes to keep it.

I expect such lies to go unchallenged on Fox but CNN? Surely a responsible news channel has to point out when statements are made that have been proven to be false? As a European I used to hold CNN in high regard as the American equivalent to BBC World News. CNN International still deserves this respect. Domestically I find myself tuning more to MSNBC.

[Keith52]

Exactly.

[Yumay]

Michael Jason Overstreet's book, 71 DAYS: THE MEDIA ASSAULT ON OBAMA. a real-time review of political reporting during the '08 election reveals that CNN's Anderson Cooper clearly is not a reporter with much "credibility". Lou Dobbs is only the most extreme case of deteriorating credibility on the so-called "most trusted name in news." Remember, any brand that gave Glen Beck his boost to stardom on FOX, was already tanking as a respectable news source. Lou is probably jockeying for a slot on FOX, in case CNN decides to move back toward real journalism.

[Wingit]

I gave up on CNN during the last presidential campaign. Their coverage is biased; not the trustworthy news that they tout.

[daisydukes]

Totally agree, I stopped watching them. They have become Lou Dobb's network as even their discussions and analysis is geared towards how and why the current adminstration's decisions are failing, instead of unbaising providng the facts so we can make up our minds. Thank goodness, I discovered MSNBC.

[Jojoy]

You don't have to call on me to boycott CNN. I'm ahead of the game. I was watching Lou Dobbs earlier this year and the man ticked me off so much I turned off the TV. I've never watched CNN since.

[CNNfan]

According to your own article, Jonathan Klien never actually said the story was dead when he said, "And then it seems this story is dead." Legitimate news stories do sometimes seem dead. That is just common sense that can be trusted.
The Huffington Post is excellent. However, in this case, it seems it is you who owes CNN viewers an explanation for publishing this article "From" what seems to be no legitimate source.
Please note that this reply to The Huffington Post is intended to convey honesty, without offense. For your information, Jonathan Klien is very popular among CNN viewers and CNNfans.

[HowietheScreamer]

The story is dead, it's been positively, conclusively proven to be a LIE. The Birthers, and the Repubics that cling to it are stooopid.

[CNNfan]

Both Jonathan Klein and Lou Dobbs adhered to the highest standards of journalistic professionalism and integrity. This is why CNN is The Most Trusted Name in News.
This is why Lou Dobbs is an award winning veteran newsman of three decades.
The way CNN handled this report regarding U.S. President Obama sets a standard. It may even demonstrate how CBS could have resolved the dispute with Dan Rather without resorting to a lawsuit over whether or not CBS tried to suppress the report on U.S President George W. Bush's National Guard Service.

[roshni]

There are fewer CNN viewers and less popularity every day as CNN tries to imitate FIX News. Kitty Pilgrim put this nonsense to rest and Lou needs to apologize for fulminating and agitating the right wingnuts when the controversy has been put to bed except for a few crazies. Even the rethug H'I gov. vouched for the BC.
This is NOT a legitimate news story but a way to stoke the agitation of rac.ists who don't want Obama to be president. Dobbs is the prime rac.ist of the lot.

[mccallum]

Let's see here...Lou Dobbs gets a free pass for continuing to report a discredited conspiracy theory, but President Obama gets no free pass for sharing his opinion about the Gates matter. It's just not right, folks...

[HowietheScreamer]

Never is for a brown man. The brown man must work twice as hard to achieve half the result. We are witnessing that right now.

[trocar1970]

I used to watch Lou and enjoyed his program. Somewhere along the way he morphed into a shrill messianic personality with little need for open dialog or discussions.

And another question; Why is Wolff Blitzer always yelling on his show? Perhaps if he didn't stand in the middle of the room people could hear him.

[Guy Fraser]

Do you know what CNN and The Straight Talk Express has in common?... McCain and 90% of CNN anchors are extreme right wing liars

[TROJANHORSE23]

DAMN, IF YOU THINK CNN ANCHORS ARE EXTREME RIGHT WINGERS, YOU MUST BE SO FAR TO THE LEFT THAT IT WOULD TAKE A 1/2 DAY BOAT RIDE TO GET TO YOU!!

[lenoirlady]

Agree, and three snaps!

[roshni]

Yes CNN anchors are all turning into right wing liars and Dobbs is one of the worst of the lot.

[lady49]

Contact all the sponosrs who advertise on Dobbs show and boycott them- That is the onyl way to shut him up!

[roshni]

I've already contacted a few, but I refuse to watch the show. Anyone have a complete list?

[Moncar]

Mr. Dobbs is simply a symptom of CNN's failure. When was the last time its staff broke a major story? How often does it recycle yesterday''s or last week's news? How much has it come to lean on twitters and internet gossip? The 24 hour news cycle has been bludgeoned into a 24 minute cycle by the incessant repetition of the same clips and half-baked stories.

Whatever Ted Turner had in mind is gone. CNN is running on the momentum of going down hill. Sic Gloria Transit.

[Jennfizzer]

Observing the level of control exercised by the media over the masses is becoming too tiresome of late. CNN, FOX, et al seem to derive sadistic pleasure in pushing people buttons, manipulating great numbers of citizens (who are unable to reason for themselves) by inserting their own biases and constantly polling to skew data to their liking, as well as instigating controversy to make news, rather than reporting news as it happens is really beginning to wear my patience thin.

I have concluded that media outlets are the real sources of power in America. Seems "the voice over the airways is the voice that rules the world." I have curtailed watching TV news so think I'll just swear off TV altogether and go back to my good ole hometown newspaper.

[HowietheScreamer]

It pays the bills, and makes corporate execs huuuge piles of money.

[weatherwaxx]

Deregulation under Reagan removed the limits on how much of the media could be owned by a single entity. At this point, 95% of the media are owned by the same half-dozen corporations that own the GOP... some, like Murdoch, aren't even American and have no concern for the well-being of this country.

Your hometown newspaper has probably been bought out by a syndicate.

[koolwoman]

A few years ago I recommended Lou Dobbs to my sister, I told her that Lou tells it is. That was before Lou became an immigrant-basher, and generally just a bitter old man. I watch MSNBC all the time now. Sometimes I click to CNN if a commercial comes on, but have found it too right wing for my taste, so i switch back to MSNBC to Keith, Rachel, Ed, Contessa, Andrea, and Dr. Nancy. Sorry, I kost my letter and then found it again

[skrapmap]

ITA with you. Lou Dobbs thinks way too highly of his opinions and has a huge ego. I too have switched to MSNBC. CNN is stale and is NOT keeping them honest. Rachel is a breath of fresh air.

[koolwoman]

Lou is so last year, or maybe 5 years ago. I have long ago moved to MSNBC, where I can enjoy Rachel , Keith, Ed, Andrea, Contessa, and Dr. Nancy. and Nora. CNN does not fit me anymore.

[woody1291]

Maybe CNN has gotten envious of Faux News and decided they would become a clone of theirs. Lou Dobbs should not be considered a newscaster. He has become another arm of the Republican Press Corps. CNN: Consistently Not News.

[skrapmap]

CNN: Consistently Not News. That's good:)