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The Cable News Network, usually referred to as CNN, is a cable television network founded in 1980 by Ted Turner.[Me and Ted ... Reese Schonfeld Bio][Charles Bierbauer, CNN senior Washington correspondent, discusses his 19-year career at CNN.] It is a division of the Turner Broadcasting System, owned by Time Warner. CNN introduced the concept of 24-hour television news coverage, and celebrated its 25th anniversary on June 1, 2005.

In terms of cumulative (Cume) Nielsen ratings, CNN rates as America's #1 cable news network, however, it is surpassed by Fox News in long-term viewers (Nielsen's Points ratings). CNN broadcasts primarily from its headquarters at the CNN Center in Atlanta, and from studios in New York City and Washington, DC. As of December 2004, it is available in 88.2 million U.S. households and more than 890,000 U.S. hotel rooms. Globally, the network has combined branded networks and services that are available to more than 1.5 billion people in over 212 countries and territories.

History

CNN's coverage of the September 11, 2001 attacks
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CNN's coverage of the September 11, 2001 attacks

CNN's Iraq war coverage
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CNN's Iraq war coverage

Since CNN's launch on June 1, 1980, the network has expanded its reach to a number of cable and satellite television networks (such as CNN Headline News), 12 web sites, two private place-based networks (such as CNN Airport Network), and two radio networks. The network has 42 bureaus around the world and more than 900 affiliates worldwide. CNN has launched many regional and foreign-language networks around the world. CNN debuted its news website CNN.com (then referred to as CNN Interactive) on August 30, 1995.

A television movie, Live from Baghdad, was later made about the network's coverage of the war. Coverage of this and other conflicts and crises of the early 1990s (including, perhaps most famously, the Battle of Mogadishu) led to the coining of the term "the CNN effect", which testified to the perceived impact its pioneering real time, 24 hour news coverage had in influencing the decision-making processes of the American government.

CNN is still, however, second in world rankings when it comes to international news coverage, getting just over half of the audience the BBC does, perhaps due to its relative youth compared to the oldest largest news and broadcasting institution in the world. The BBC, known for its impartiality and unbiased reporting, differs from CNN International which uses local reporters in many of its news-gathering centers, although they cover stories from an international (some would still say U. S.) perspective.

On September 11, 2001, CNN was the first network to break news of what would prove to be the September 11 attacks. Anchor Carol Lin was on the air at that time. Sean Murtagh, CNN vice-president for finance & administration, was the first network employee to get on the air.

CNN launched two specialty news channels for the American market which would later close amid competitive pressure: CNNSI shut down in 2002, and CNNfn shut down after nine years on the air in December 2004.

Jim Walton is the president of CNN Worldwide. The current President of CNN/U.S. is Jonathan Klein. He was appointed in November 2004.

Trivia

The most famous station ID is a five-second musical jingle with James Earl Jones's simple but classic line, "This is CNN." Jones' voice can still be heard today in updated station IDs.

The most widely-used slogan at time of writing is "The Most Trusted Name In News" as compared to Fox News' slogan "The Most Powerful Name In News".

On March 21, 2006, the Gallup polling company dropped CNN as its outlet for electronic distribution, due in part to CNN's lower ratings.[Gallup Polling Drops CNN After 'Low Ratings'], Drudge Report

CNN has also been parodied. (See Groland and CNNNN.) Many movies outside of the Turner Broadcasting Network also mention CNN in their storylines. In the video game Desert Strike, CNN is parodied by calling the news station, EANN, with the EA standing for the video game company's name, Electronic Arts.

Current shows

Former shows

Specialized channels

Personalities

Present

Past

  • Maria Hinojosa - (Now with "Now" on PBS)
  • John Holliman - (deceased)
  • Jan Hopkins
  • Jim Huber
  • Al Hunt
  • Jesse Jackson
  • Myron Kandel
  • Donna Kelley - (CNN Morning News, Newsday)
  • Michael Kinsley
  • Bob Kurtz - (First sports anchor, now a minister)
  • Sachi Koto - (left in 2005)
  • Lawrence Kudlow - (Now with CNBC)
  • Greg Lamont - (Now with KULR-8 Billings Montana)
  • Bob Losure - (Headline News anchor - www.boblosure.com)
  • Tumi Makgabo
  • Mary Matalin
  • Colleen McEdwards
  • Deborah Marchini - (CNN BusinessMorning, BusinessDay, CNNFN)
  • Miguel Marquez (Now with ABC News)

Bureaus

Note: Boldface indicates that they are CNN's original bureaus, meaning they have been in operation since the network's founding.

Bureaus within the United States

Bureaus outside the United States

Controversies and allegations of bias

Main article: CNN controversies and allegations of bias
Despite its achievements in pioneering the first 24-hour news channel, CNN has found itself at the center of controversies regarding its perceived biases as well as its handling of foreign affairs.

Similar networks

The CNN format has been replicated by other television news services (year of launch in parentheses):

See also

References

External links

 


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