Network Shenanigans

CNN GIVES CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR 'PRIVATE' DRESS DOWN

CNN news chief Jim Walton had a "private converation" with reporter Christiane Amanpour after she accused her own network of being "intimidated" in its coverage of the Iraqi war.

Amanpour, a guest on last week's "Topic A with Tina Brown" on CNBC, set off shockwaves in the TV world over the weekend when she said she thought her employer, CNN, was "muzzled" in its war coverage by a combination of the White House and its competitive position with the higher-rated Fox News Channel.

"I think the press was muzzled, and I think the press self-muzzled," she said. "I'm sorry to say that, but certainly television and, perhaps, to a certain extent, my station, was intimidated by the administration and its foot soldiers at Fox News...."

A Fox News spokeswonman said: "It's better to be viewed as a foot soldier for Bush than spokeswoman for al-Qaeda."

Ouch!

Spokeswoman for Al Qaeda? Not that implausible when we remember that other CNN correspondent reporting from the CNN Baghdad bureau (and I don't mean Peter Arnett).

- posted by total @ 9/16/2003 12:06:00 PM .