134 replies to this topic

[Houston]

A very positive account of CNN's Egypt coverage
http://tv.nytimes.co...id=tw-NYTimesAd

From what I've watched MSNBC does a great job when they are actually covering the scene but the talking heads need to stay out of it. And Fox, well, I never thought they could stun me with anything they say, but the absolute ignorance and lunacy of Beck and some others did. It would be funny if there weren't people out there would actually believe that...whatever he is.

[excel99]

Just watched the Egypt Uprising special. Comprehensive, covering different aspects of the story

So I was going to post this in CNN Praise, but sadly the panel discussion turned shouting match spoilt it. I don't know if anyone else was watching but IMO Suzanne Malveaux (who was anchoring) needed to intervene earlier. It was quite embarrasing to be honest because Suzanne struggled to get back in control of the discussion

[Houston]

Maybe cause she said at the begining that woman was her friend - hard to yell at your friends. And Dershowitz is always trouble - he is so pro Israel he goes nuts when anyone disagrees with him, this time called for on raising same old crap the MB is out to take over Egypt and then get everyone.

[Leeroy]

I was going to post this in the ratings thread, but I feel this relates to the broader discussion on CNN's coverage as well. CNN might have got praised by some media commentators, but viewers have the final say.

"In Egypt Coverage Fox News Dominates Rating" Mediaite

I can't say I'm that surprised to be honest. I know people here get excited by bumps and small victories here and there, but I feel CNN (in the US) has been a damaged brand going right back to the mid 00's. It's going to take a long time to rebuild that pulling power the network once had when it came to breaking news.

[Nelly]

I think that is a fair point. I mean, when you see "text the news you want" and cooking segments during the rolling news hours of CNN Newsroom, it's not hard to see why people are shy about turning to CNN first during breaking news.

[Leeroy]

CNN's coverage is starting to become a farce. Anderson Cooper injecting commentary (not that I disagree with him, but Al Jazeera English was singled out for apparently taking sides - so Cooper and anyone else at CNN should be too) and hours of speculative coverage that proved wrong. I know CNN wasn't the only network reporting that Mubarak was going to step down, but today was the perfect example of why news organisations shouldn't report news as fact until it actually happens. Most networks, including CNN, attributed the news that Mubarak was stepping down to "sources" most of the time, but it was reported as fact during parts of the coverage we saw today. Some of the coverage I saw today was irresponsible, both CNN and Al Jazeera English.

[Lazlo]

What's wrong with this picture? Fox News breaking in live during Hannity with 2 anchor coverage from Egypt. I don't know how long it lasted as I only flicked thru while their live coverage was in progress around 45 minutes past the hour. CNN was airing the replay of Piers Morgan. I don't count Fox News as a reliable source for continuous news coverage, but I was impressed they managed to have 2 anchors on live while CNN was in replay mode.

[newser]

Rosemary welcomed US viewers at around 1.30am ET, but they didn't hear it, cause the simulcast began abruptly about 30 seconds later. Then, at around 1.35 it was all over and repeat of AC360 continued.

I don't get it why there wasn't an update at top of the hour and why aren't they just taking CNNI all night.

[hundnz]

The low quality of the picture and audio from Egypt on CNN is really starting to annoy me - how come all the other international channels have got good video, but CNN doesn't? I understand that conditions for reporters were tough for a while there, but the situation is far better now. And after 18 days surely there has been time to fly in some better equipment, or hire it locally... Even Skype audio quality is better than what they're using.

[Gruffny]

I think it's unfair how Jim was replaced as the news was getting exciting and now Hala has been on for a couple of hours, supposedly representing CNNI (even though I haven't heard or seen anything exceptional from her so far).

[Morpium]

I think it's unfair how Jim was replaced as the news was getting exciting and now Hala has been on for a couple of hours, supposedly representing CNNI (even though I haven't heard or seen anything exceptional from her so far).

I'm not sure how to reply to that, except...

Isha co-anchored coverage between 9am (E) - 11am (E), Jim co-anchored coverage between 11a (E) - 11:45a (E). With the exception of the 9am hour (which is WBT on CNNI), both worked the hours they usually would have - Jim got an extra 15 minutes. As for "representing" CNNI, I don't see a real issue as Hala sometimes anchors the World Report that replaces Prism on Friday. She started a few minutes earlier than that would normally air. The next hour would be her International Desk. I don't see any sense in having Quest co-anchor from London with Wolf and Anderson, so Hala steps up in the QMB hour as well. Piers Morgan Tonight replay would normally be airing in the 3pm (E) hour and Atlanta would usually cut in with the anchor on duty if a major news story broke - chances are that would be Hala. I guess what I'm trying to say (in more words than I probably needed) is that there are few options at the moment, especially with Finn out in the field. Jim could still be hanging around the newsroom, but he's already anchored. That shouldn't preclude him from rejoining coverage, but it would seem a little messy to bring him back all of a sudden. Jonathan Mann should be about for Political Mann - but I'd be guessing he'd be prepping and recording that for when CNNI drops out of rolling Egypt coverage over the weekend. Michael Holmes is a possibility, but he could be locked in for anchoring later on (as was the case on Thursday). All in all, I think it makes sense for Hala to step in during these hours. That's just how I see it anyway.

[ginnyfan]

Honestly I think it was suiting to have Hala and Anderson anchoring when the news broke since they were there on the ground too and are in a group of CNN people who will now always be attached to this story.

[excel99]

Isha co-anchored coverage between 9am (E) - 11am (E), Jim co-anchored coverage between 11a (E) - 11:45a (E). With the exception of the 9am hour (which is WBT on CNNI), both worked the hours they usually would have - Jim got an extra 15 minutes.

Isha doesn't do the Friday iDesk since she got the AC360 Bulletin's - the press release for that said she did iDesk Mon-Thu. So she must have been brought in specially. The 10amET iDesk Friday doesn't have a fixed anchor now I don't think

Piers Morgan Tonight replay would normally be airing in the 3pm (E) hour and Atlanta would usually cut in with the anchor on duty if a major news story broke

While Atlanta have done the WR's in that slot when they were planned in advance, hasn't Becky cut into PMT for breaking news before? I guess London would handle any urgent interruptions into PMT normally - would give the Atlanta team a few hours off when the London control room will be manned anyway

But returning to the original point, I'm not surprised CNN/US wanted top talent anchoring - it's the way they do big events. And I think they actually rate Hala and appreicate the insight she can bring. And to be fair, she has been in Egypt for part of the protests, Jim hasn't

Jim will always be able to say he was the anchor on air at the historic moment, and he has bee heavily involved in the joint coverage the past two weeks. And it's not just Jim that got sidelined today

[Newsroom Gnome]

A couple of things:

- "Top talent" is an awful term. You only hear that from viewers externally. Well, maybe from a couple of on air talents when referring to themselves, but they'd be the exception.   CNNI is a different game to the domestic network in that respect.

- Isha is normally still in the newsroom on a Friday for a few hours. There would be no need to call Isha in specially for on air as Jim would probably have gone upstairs with Randi if Isha had not been in.

- Atlanta will always handle breaking news unless the studio is tied up with CNN en Espanol recording for their air or International using it for a pre-record. London will break in on those occassions and has in the past. They can't do it all the time as the London studio is often in use during Piers Morgan, normally a pre-record for CTW. Breaking news is usually always produced from Atlanta during our dayside hours as well, so it's a lot easier for us to break in. Atlanta is never more than a few minutes (at most) from being ready to go live no matter what time of the day. As noted, logistics, logistics, logistics.

- Jim starts at work really early. He wasn't scheduled to anchor more than 90 minutes with Suzanne before Hala was to relieve him. I don't know when the decision to simulcast with domestic was made, but The Brief was going to run as scheduled on international until around 9:30 eastern, but I digress. Once Wolf picked up coverage it would have been awkward for Jim to handoff to Hala during this rolling period. Please note that there is a significant difference to rolling coverage of protests and the president stepping down. The latter situation is a lot more critical in terms of coverage and the network wants to have a team that can go for hours if need be. It would have been ideal for Wolf and Hala to kick off coverage at the top of the hour, but these decisions are made on the fly and will always be subject to differing opinions in hindsight.

- As also noted, Anderson and Hala were in Egypt covering the story on the ground. Anderson and Wolf were always pinned to anchor coverage should the president step down. Those plans were made a few days ago. Hala probably was tapped to help out too, but I'm only taking a guess with that. At the end of the day, it's all about stable team fronting the coverage. Events move so fast that it can be confusing for viewers to keep up with, so there's no need to add more confusion by swapping and changing anchors.

- I don't know if it's been announced yet (I've finished for the day and out) but Fionnuala Sweeney will be on the ground in Egypt.

[excel99]

Thanks for your detailed reply. Always good to hear from someone who knows exacly what is going on

Edited by excel99, 11 February 2011 - 11:44 PM.

[excel99]

Live Situation Room on Saturday at 6pmET

[Morpium]

Isha doesn't do the Friday iDesk since she got the AC360 Bulletin's - the press release for that said she did iDesk Mon-Thu. So she must have been brought in specially. The 10amET iDesk Friday doesn't have a fixed anchor now I don't think

I forgot about that deal. I don't watch the early International Desk regularly, but I'm presuming Jonathan or Hala host it on a Friday?

- Atlanta will always handle breaking news unless the studio is tied up with CNN en Espanol recording for their air or International using it for a pre-record. London will break in on those occassions and has in the past.

I don't know if this is correct, but doesn't CNNe do a daily recording session in CNNI's Atlanta studio for something? I've heard of a couple of times when CNNI has had to use the flash set in the newsroom for unexpected coverage, only to find the autocue has been in Spanish! I recall Rosemary once tweeting about that happening to her during a live hit as well.

***

I was just about to leave home as the Situation Room was starting, but did I hear correctly that Michael Holmes was co-anchoring with Wolf?

[ginnyfan]

Yes, he is and from the CNNI set, just like yesterday with John King.

Also Jonathan does Isha IDesk on Fridays.

[Morpium]

CNN International is now using CNN Domestic's sting animation and music for Egypt coverage. [Edit: They're using the music Domestic uses for the animation and the alternate World Report theme for playoffs]

I just watched some of my recording of Wolf's and Michael's Situation Room and was quite happy with what I saw. The broadcast seemed to work well with both anchors taking on interviews and steering the coverage. Very impressed that the two networks can combine so effortlessly (visual styles aside) to make for some great viewing.

Edited by Morpium, 12 February 2011 - 08:33 AM.

[newser]

Thank god for Fionnuala!

As soon as someone in Atlanta noticed a bunch of soldiers running near Tahrir square, he/she without any information or visible confirmation immediately concluded that there are "clashes in Cairo" and that's the info we got on lower thirds.

Finn was at the scene and said it doesn't look confrontational to her, she wouldn't like to speculate and that she would like to be the last person to raise the temperature. It turned out there weren't any clashes. Apparently, three guys were detained for fooling around.

Why the rush, why jumping the gun again?

Kudos to Finn for keeping it calm.