My letter to Eason Jordan - CNN news chief

[DancingBear]

Dear Mr. Jordan,

Once upon a time, in a land we all hold dear, lived a giant of a news organization called CNN. The job of this giant was to be a teller of truth, the journalistic lamp of enlightenment, if you will, for us all. Bowing neither to the left nor right, its mission was to bring the truth to the American populace, and then let the populace make up its own mind. There was no fear of retribution by those in power, no fear of calling the spade for what it truly was. The people watched the giant, and times were good.

Sadly, today, we must banish the giant to the land of make-believe, for it no longer resembles itself. It cowers in the corner now, afraid to peek its scared head into the world of truth, lest its ears be boxed by those who make it jump and dance on command. Its days of integrity have long since passed, and it now finds itself content to parrot the party line. No longer do we see journalism as news, no, that has long since passed. We see instead pandering to the gods of ratings, thinking those ratings begin and end at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. We long for the days when equality meant an equal hearing of all sides of an issue, rather than apology after apology when the “news” veers too close to objectivity.

We laugh at the “anchors” now, dancing for their dinner at the Republican Inn. We shudder now at how the “guests” on one side eat full meals, while those on the other beg for crumbs. We mourn for the days when it wasn’t so, when pandering was a word to be hated at CNN, rather than embraced.

The fable has ended badly, Mr. Jordan, for now yet another viewer bids adieu to CNN in search of truth. Often times, though, these fables have happy endings, as someone rises up to make things just. The Big Bad Wolf goes hungry, or the gingerbread house fails to entice. This fable, too, can have that ending, but we need someone to make it right.

That someone, in this fable, is you.

Sincerely,

xxxxxxx
xxxxxxx

[Syrinx]

1. Excellent, poetic letter

Please let us know if you get a reply.

[countmyvote4real]

2. Wonderful letter. Spread it around.

It would be a great petition that I would sign.

[DancingBear]

4. I hadn't thought of it as a petition

It would work, I think. I could tweak it just a bit.

Do you think folks would sign on to it?

[countmyvote4real]

13. Yes, I do.

I see rants on CNN daily here, although none quite as eloquent as yours. I think there are even some online sites that host such things. Then there is eopinions or something like that. Not exactly a petition site, but certainly an opportunity to post a consumer’s review.

And another thought occurred to me. Why stop at CNN? As a post by IMR further down the line suggested, we should take it local and make it hurt their bottom line. Then it can go with some relevance over CNN to TW and their board of directors. Remember how they bailed on AOL. While they can’t exactly remove AOL from CNN, they could still do another purge and redirection if they felt some threat to a division’s cash flow or relevance.

A “CC” to Ted Turner couldn’t hurt either. I’m sure he feels the same way.

[Paradise]

18. Can't write like you, but what I can do is sign and I will! n/t

[Melodybe]

8. Good for you, this is a great letter.

:toast:

[maggrwaggr]

14. write your own! Fax it or e-mail it to him here:

fax: [phone]

e-mail: [e-mail]

Also, there's News Director Kim Bondy:

Fax: [phone]

And you can call them and talk to their offices by dialing
404 827 1500

[mike1963]

3. Excellence writ large. Kudos.

;-)

[Leilani]

5. Terrific Letter!

Let us hope someone reads it.

After the David Letterman fiasco, I have my doubts. I think we know where they get their marching orders.

[KharmaTrain]

6. Truth Mission???

You say " its mission was to bring the truth to the American populace"...as the purpose of CNN? No offense, but whose truth?

I think you might have meant facts...reporting things straight-up without any commentary. The truth is what the viewer believes them to be. Now, if one distort facts, then it can distort truth.

I'm curious if you'll get a response and hope you share it with us if you do.

[DancingBear]

7. No, I meant "truth"

It just sounded more powerful to me in the context of the letter, and sounded more damaging as well when it all went bad.

Besides, you know these news guys just salivate over that word.... :)

[KharmaTrain]

9. Never Assume...

While it feels good to rant and this was a very well done one, if that letter hit my desk, I'd toss it circularly once I saw that line. I'd ask "who is he to determine what truth is?"...my point. I would think the object of the letter would be to start a dialogue and then see what his view of things are and then see if he's open to discussing things further. Beyond that, you're insulting his experience and title.

Again, I see bias in CNN's reporting these days, but a flood of nasty rants from a partisan website just hurts any possible dialogue and makes this place no better than freeperland.

I always suggest that the fastest way to a station manager's ear is through the pocketbook. See if there's a local business that advertises on the CNN cable feed. These people pay a premium to be on that channel. If they yank their commercials off, CNN loses revenue, as does the cable company...both get unhappy...especially if it spreads to cable markets and systems all over the country.

Just a thought.

[DancingBear]

10. I'll take these thoughts under advisement

Whether or not Mr. Jordan files this missive circularly is of course entirely his prerogative, but I must ask what is the purpose, then, of complaining?

The usage of the word "truth vs. fact" component has validity, and as I reread I begin to see your point. I myself do not see this use of verbiage as a "deal-killer", but perhaps it may be so. I would argue that it is the goal of many (if not all) news organizations to bring forth the "truth" rather than just present facts - hence the terminology of "searching for the truth" from earlier (re: Watergate) days.

I do, however, take some exception to your viewing this letter as a nasty rant. Far from it - it is merely my way of explaining my decision to leave CNN. The pocketbook part will come in time, perhaps - but one must make known their dissatisfaction with the programming content first.

Thanks again for the input - it always helps to have someone from "outside the forest" take a look at what the guy from "inside the trees" is writing.

BTW - check some of my previous writing - I do a GREAT rant when the spirit moves... :)

[KharmaTrain]

11. I Salute You

I wasn't taking issue with the rant. I find myself doing that endlessly these days and there's lots of things CNN is doing that we both can easily agree shows bias and, intentional or not, is offensive to a lot of its long-time viewers. Some of us are just a little louder than others.

I'm all for the spirit of changing things...they need them and I'm one who loves nothing more than taking someone down a peg or six with their own stupidity and arrogance. I'm just looking for the points of least resistance.

It's frustrating for a lot of us in seeing the endless lies and slams turned into "fact"...which is your point, but it has to be shown in a light that will get a positive, not negative reaction. Anger rarely accomplishes positive things.

And, I'll be on the lookout for one of your rants...let me know when you uncork a good one...chanes are we're on the same page and I'll be right there with you.

Cheers

[maggrwaggr]

15. okay, then let's see yours

or you can send it to me, and I'll fax it to them:

News Chief Eason Jordan:

fax: [phone]

e-mail: [e-mail]

Also, there's News Director Kim Bondy:

Fax: [phone]

And you can call them and talk to their offices by dialing
404 827 1500

[KharmaTrain]

17. I Vote & Write Pocketbook

I'll make you a cyber-wager. You send 100 letters and 1,000 emails and see how quickly Mr. Jordan responds...I'll work on advertisers who pay for Mr. Jordan's nice car and perks...not only refuse to buy their products, but be sure to let them know why. Wanna bet if CNN sees losses on its bottom line Mr. Jordan will be more interested in looking at how his product is being presented.

Nothing wrong for those who want to vent and express opinions, isn't that why we're here? However, if you're looking to bring some serious change rather than spinning wheels, then think a little differently.

Cheers.

[mandyky]

12. Isn't he the one who let Saddam bully CNN

out of reporting news in Iraq (priior to the invasion)? Add a blurb about how we can see him doing that when dealing with a dictator, but hopefully America is not yet a dictatorship.

[Lefergus70]

16. Only specific charges can put CNN on the defensive-

I applaud your letter, but lament that Jordan can easily dismiss it as rhetoric. He probably gets a lot of similar messages from RWs who think the network is too liberal. I've noticed that CNN reacts only to specific charges of bias. Look at Wolf blitzer's desperate reply to Paul Krugman's detailed report of how Wolf manipulated an interview (granted, a NYT article makes the issue public). Then there's Lou Dobbs recent stacked "poll" on Spain. I wished I'd saved one blog shot that caught Paula Zahn suppressing half of a Howard Dean statement so she could trash him. At least I'm now inspired to open a specific file on CNN Bias; my Fox file is already so stuffed with lies that only another Franken book could do it justice.