President Obama gives CNN "exclusive" access
I admit it, I get edgy every time I see an email from a network or cable news division that boasts of President Barack Obama granting "exclusive" access to an anchor, correspondent or the news division itself.
It signals that the Obama administration is up to one its oldest and most masterful games of selectively granting access to try and get flattering coverage. I wrote about it when NBC's bowing anchorman Brian Williams was allowed into the White House for a highly-rated two-night special, and in advance of ABC's "town hall" meeting on healthcare at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
And now, comes this email from CNN with the headline: "Anderson Cooper 360 with Exclusive Access to President Obama."
I've been wondering when Team Obama was going to try to work its game on CNN. Et tu, Anderson?
Look, I am not pre-judging. And when the president of CBS News, say, grants me exclusive access, I am there in a heartbeat with a shine on my shoes and a smile on my face. That's part of being a journalist. But I am also there with all kinds of alarm bells going off in my head, telling me not to give this person a break because they are giving me access.
And part of my job now is to say,"Hey, Anderson and CNN, we'll be watching to make sure you're not taken for the kind of ride Williams and NBC News were taken for by one of the savviest teams of White House image makers this side of the crews that surrounded Ronald Reagan and John Kennedy." I think that kind of warning from a number of people contributed to ABC News not handing its airwaves over to Obama in the town hall meeting last month.
Here is the CNN press release, and I would put one out, too, if I was given the access. But note the "special" programming already planned as a result of the "exclusive" access. That's the kind of power to enrich -- ads can be sold within such "specials" -- that being in the White House allows. And let's not forget that when the final product airs and we are able to judge it.
As President Barack Obama makes a historic visit to Africa, CNN’s Anderson Cooper sits down with the President for an extensive interview and joins him exclusively as he visits Cape Coast Castle, Ghana, the site of an overcrowded dungeon where slaves were held before they were shipped west.Interview topics will include domestic and international issues as well as the President’s own close connection with Africa and the significance of his trip for African-Americans today. CNN’s chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta will join Cooper from Haiti, where he will report on the slave trade that continues to thrive in that country. The interview will air on Monday, July 13th and Tuesday, July 14th. Anderson Cooper 360° airs weeknights at 10pm ET on CNN.
On Saturday, July 18th and Sunday, July 19th CNN will air a special titled President Obama’s African Journey, anchored by Cooper, which will explore the President’s personal history in Africa, and First Lady Michelle Obama’s African lineage and how her ancestors came to the United States. In addition, Cooper will lead a discussion with African-American leaders about the significance of the President’s trip. The weekend special will air at 8 and 11pm ET. The special will also air on CNN International.
One last thought: I wonder when the Fox News channel gets its special access on a high-visibility trip like this.
Categories: Cable and Network News, TV and Politics
Comments
Why not kenya He exellent
Posted by: Geff | July 10, 2009 12:17 PM
Fox news do not need access, they barely show him on the channel. The only time you see the president on that channel is in a bad light. Who would they Sean Hannity, O'reilly or that other jerk they gave a show who use to be a on CNN none of them can stand him. If you could please give me one person that would be objective. I am african-american and I am glad the president is visting Africa and i know Anderson Cooper would know how to be objective can you say the same, all I hear from you is bashing the president. CNN covers all
sides black, white or any other race.
Posted by: Smiley | July 10, 2009 12:22 PM
Fox is being punished because they are doing their job and are making money at the same time.
In the Zerobama administration, both of those things are bad.
You should NOT be working and still be making money. That is the Obama way!
Posted by: John | July 10, 2009 2:34 PM
I hope Anderson Cooper can ask all the right questiions. This is a chance not to let President Obama run away with the media and use it for an agenda. The president has been going on a lot of world tours, I hope he is bringing back ideas on how to fix our problems. While I think these travels are important for foreign policy, I hope he also touches on the domestic problems here. I have a few questions that Anderson can ask the president, for example healthcare, which still has not been explained with any satisfaction, a second stimlus, sounds expensive, the economy is not thriving and the percentage rates for jobless American's is still rising. While it will be nice to hear about slave trade still going on in Haiti, I have some issues here too. Be a good jounalist Anderson and ask some tough questions. CNN has an exclusive pass for this one.
Posted by: Sherry T. | July 10, 2009 7:10 PM
Are these TV news commentators aware that Egypt is in Africa. The president gave an historic speedh in Cairo just weeks ago.
Posted by: Bob | July 11, 2009 2:22 AM
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Posted by: StewartIII | July 11, 2009 12:46 PM
Why dioesn'y Obama go to Somalia or the Sudan, etc, where his ancesters are killing each other.
A new survey says over half of the top 20 countries in the world where people are most under threat of genocide or mass killing are in Africa.
Posted by: TruthHearts | July 11, 2009 3:14 PM
The thing about CNN is this. They keep pushing Anderson Cooper to do all these 'specials' or 'Planet in Peril' or 'Heroes' or the MTV thing but no one watches. Very few people even watch his show when they aren't doing MJ to death. So if viewers don't want to watch specials or regular programming with Anderson Cooper, why is he the one always chosen to do the special programs? It just doesn't make sense. They should put a correspondent that can pull in numbers, like Soledad or Larry King or Don Lemon.
Posted by: Ratings Watcher | July 12, 2009 1:11 PM
I kind of agree with ratings watcher. I like Anderson Cooper's personality, he seems easy going, but every time I have turned him on and tried to watch I just can't stick with it, he is charming, but he seems to lack pursuation or something . I end up falling asleep or switching channels. Sorry Anderson, you need to get a little more worked up I guess.
Posted by: Sherry T. | July 12, 2009 2:00 PM
Since when was Don Lemon a big ratings draw for CNN? Whether people like it or not, CNN wants Anderson to be the "face" of the network and he's in the prime spot at 10pm with no indication that a change is imminent, so he gets some of the big assignments. But so do Wolf Blitzer and Larry King. This article raises some troubling points worth consideration, but I have no problem with Anderson Cooper being the CNNer selected to do the interview and CNN must not be all that concerned about Anderson's ratings since they continue to use him.
Posted by: Bailey | July 12, 2009 3:25 PM
Since when was Don Lemon a big ratings draw? Whether people like it or not, CNN wants Anderson as its "face" which is why he's in the 10 pm slot and gets many of their big assignments, but so do Wolf Blitzer and Larry King. This article raises a lot of troubling points that are worthy of examination, but I don't have a problem with CNN using Anderson so often, he's a good reporter--if they were concerned about the ratings he gets, he wouldn't be there and so far there's no indication that they're going to be making any changes as far as he goes.
Posted by: Bailey | July 12, 2009 4:20 PM
I am glad Anderson was the one chosen for this interview. I enjoy his interview style and I'm sure he'll do a good job. He's tough but fair. He's probably CNN's best. He has great knowledge of international affairs, which I have always thought was his strong point. Besides he got his start as a journalist in Africa. He likes the continent and knows alot about it.
Posted by: CNN watcher | July 12, 2009 6:19 PM
Oh yeah, I forgot about Wolf Blitzer, he is a very good foreign correspondent and very interesting to watch. His coverage of Israel is very good. He seems to cover the middle east stories. I haven't seen him as much lately, where has he been?
Posted by: Sherry T. | July 12, 2009 7:46 PM
"but I don't have a problem with CNN using Anderson so often, he's a good reporter--if they were concerned about the ratings he gets, he wouldn't be there and so far there's no indication that they're going to be making any changes as far as he goes."
That's the point I was trying to make his ratings don't back up them using him so much. Why? Why is he the 'face' when he can't bring the ratings? Don Lemon gets pretty good ratings for Sat/Sun nights and he's black like Obama, there may have been a better interview if it was 2 people who's background were similar. I see you didn't have a problem with Soledad, she's amazing and does all those specials that do awesome in ratings. Wolf is the head political guy at CNN and Obama is the prez head political guy for the country.
Maybe they SHOULD be more concerned about his ratings or maybe there is something else behind why Anderson is always chosen.
Posted by: Ratings Watcher | July 13, 2009 7:31 AM
I agree with ratings watcher that they may use certain people that way if they are popular, I am not sure. I like Anderson Cooper, he just uses an advocacy approach to journalism and I can't seem to exactly figure out where he stands on some issues. I think he is rooting for all the good causes. I am not sure exactly why I can't stick with the program when he is on and someone like Wolf Blitzer seems to get my attention. I could be a generational thing. Anderson Cooper is great at the kind of journalism he uses!
Posted by: Sherry T. | July 13, 2009 10:03 AM
i heard this morn on early readio show that certain (exclusive) news writers were invited to the WH for july 4 celebration and were told they were not to tell anyone about the invitation or what went on during the festivities. what does this mean beside someone blabbing??? is this an "exclusive in reverse"
Posted by: anne | July 13, 2009 11:06 AM
Anderson Cooper, good job! I was actually able to stay awake. I was a little disappointed that Anderson did not ask more questions about the current issuesof economy and health care in the beginning of the interview, but this was a documentary on Africa. I was really glad to see that President Obama engaged his girls so much in the trip, relating to them the importance of treating others with respect and sharing with them the issues involving slave trading etc. It was a good documentary. I want to take my girls to Italy someday and trace the history of their family, ties to family are very important. Their grandfather speaks Italian so we have learned some of the language.
HAve a great day!!
Posted by: Sherry Tellitocci | July 14, 2009 8:15 AM