Quoted Text

CNN Host Calls for Crackdown on 'Bloggers' in Wake of Sherrod Incident: 'Something’s Going to Have to be Done Legally'
By Alana Goodman (Bio | Archive)
Fri, 07/23/2010 - 17:48 ET

Should there be a "gatekeeper" regulating internet bloggers? In the aftermath of the Shirley Sherrod incident, that's what CNN promoted on July 23.

Anchors Kyra Phillips and John Roberts discussed the "mixed blessing of the internet," and agreed that there should be a crackdown on anonymous bloggers who disparage others on the internet.

"There are so many great things that the internet does and has to offer, but at the same time, Kyra, as you know, there is this dark side," Roberts said. "Imagine what would have happened if we hadn't taken a look at what happened with Shirley Sherrod and plumbed the depths further and found out that what had been posted on the internet was not in fact reflective of what she said."
Story Continues Below Ad ↓

But Phillips replied that the mainstream media "can't always do that."

"There's going to have be a point in time where these people have to be held accountable," Phillips said. "How about all these bloggers that blog anonymously? They say rotten things about people and they're actually given credibility, which is crazy. They're a bunch of cowards, they're just people seeking attention."

Phillips demanded to know what Andrew Keen thought needed to be done. Keen, author of "The Cult of the Amateur: How Today's Internet is Killing Our Culture," who suggested that there needs to be an internet "gatekeeper," had been interviewed by Roberts and quoted in the segment.

"Well what Andrew talked about with me was this idea of a gatekeeper but there are huge first amendment rights that come into play here - freedom of speech and all that. And he said the people who need to be the gatekeepers are the media to check into these stories," said Roberts.

Phillips wanted to go even further, asking if "there's going to come a point where something's going to have to be done legally" about anonymous bloggers.

"There has to be some point where there's some accountability. And companies, especially in the media have to stop giving these anonymous bloggers credit," she said.

Roberts responded that anonymous blogging might benefit from "checks and balances."

"If you're in a place like Iran or North Korea or something like that, anonymous blogging is the only way you could ever get your point of view out without being searched down and thrown in jail or worse," said Roberts. "But when it comes to a society like ours, an open society, do there have to be some checks and balances, not national, but maybe website to website on who comments on things?"

CNN's two regulation-happy reporters, think the Sherrod situation can help bring attention to the "necessity" of blogging reform if she brings a defamation lawsuit against Andrew Breitbart.

Read more: http://newsbusters.org/blogs/a.....ng-s-g#ixzz0ubJeg45S

Yes, form a Gestapo made up of Black Panther, like Obama wants to do.

Who cares what the idiots running CNN propose? Their last viewer just switched to Fox News.

who cares about cnn...........

Live + Same Day Cable News Daily Ratings for July 29, 2009
P2+ Total Day
FNC – 1,279,000 viewers
CNN – 642,000 viewers
MSNBC –368,000 viewers
CNBC – 209,000 viewers
HLN – 2989,000 viewers

P2+ Prime Time
FNC – 2,496,000viewers
CNN— 990,000 viewers
MSNBC –785,000 viewers
CNBC – 277,000 viewers
HLN – 523,000viewers
25-54 Total Day
FNC –329,000 viewers
CNN –195,000 viewers
MSNBC –113,000 viewers
CNBC – 84,000 viewers
HLN- 127,000 viewers
25-54 Prime Time
FNC – 601,000 viewers
CNN – 302,000 viewers
MSNBC –246,000 viewers
CNBC – 133,000 viewers
HLN – 185,000 viewers
35-64 Total Day
FNC – 600,000 viewers
CNN – 295,000 viewers
MSNBC – 187,000 viewers
CNBC – 115,000 viewers
HLN – 169,000 viewers
35-64 Prime Time
FNC –1,085,000 viewers
CNN – 487,000 viewers
MSNBC –397,000 viewers
CNBC –209,000 viewers
HLN –298,000 viewers

Morning programs (6:00AM-9:00AM) P2+ (25-54) (35-64)
FOX & Friends- 867,000 viewers (290,000) (566,000)
American Morning- 415,000 viewers (143,000) (219,000)
Morning Joe-312,000 viewers (104,000) (197,000)
Squawk Box- 149,000 viewers (56,000) (96,000)
Morning Express w/ Meade- 209,000 viewers (121,000) (156,000)
5PM – P2+ (25-54) (35-64)
Glenn Beck– 2,136,000 viewers (524,000) (969,000)
Situation Room—802,000 viewers (206,000) (319,000)
Hardball w/ Chris Matthews—688,000 viewers (189,000) (308,000)
Fast Money—238,000 viewers (92,000) (135,000)
Prime News–264,000 viewers (121,000) (141,000)
6PM – P2+ (25-54) (35-64)
Special Report with Bret Baier– 1,799,000 viewers (395,000) (770,000)
Situation Room—830,000 viewers (224,000) (332,000)
Ed Show—586,000 viewers (168,000) (271,000)
Mad Money—209,000 viewers (73,000) (121,000)
Prime News — 208,000 viewers (81,000) (84,000)
7PM – P2+ (25-54) (35-64)
Fox Report w/Shep Smith–1,554,000 viewers (350,000) (737,000)
Lou Dobbs Tonight—688,000 viewers (191,000) (286,000)
Hardball w Chris Matthews— 661,000 viewers (190,000) (372,000)
Kudlow Report —158,000 viewers (64,000) (106,000)
Issues– 424,000 viewers (136,000) (240,000)
8PM – P2+ (25-54) (35-64)
The O’Reilly Factor– 3,467,000 viewers (805,000) (1,508,000)
Campbell Brown- 787,000 viewers (226,000) (335,000)
Countdown w/ K. Olbermann– 904,000 viewers (286,000) (455,000)
CNBC Reports- 142,000 viewers (a scratch w/ 37,000) (76,000)
Nancy Grace – 826,000 viewers (253,000) (425,000)
9 PM – P2+ (25-54) (35-64)
Hannity –2,258,000 viewers (544,000) (979,000)
Larry King Live—1,100,000 viewers (329,000) (547,000)
Rachel Maddow—886,000 viewers (273,000) (419,000)
Marijuana Inc–366,000 viewers (165,000) (179,000)
Issues- 463,000 viewers (163,000) (284,000)
10 PM P2+ (25-54) (35-64)
On the Record w/ Greta—1,762,000 viewers (454,000) (769,000)
Anderson Cooper 360—1,085,000 viewers (351,000) (580,000)
Countdown w/ K. Olbermann— 552,000 viewers (179,000) (317,000)
Ultimate Fighting: Fistful- 324,000 viewers (197,000) (153,000)
Nancy Grace –324,000 viewers (151,000) (212,000)
11 PM P2+ (25-54) (35-64)
The O’Reilly Factor —1,663,000 viewers (502,000) (837,000)
Anderson Cooper 360 —548,000 viewers (225,000) (329,000)
Rachel Maddow Show—429,000 viewers (172,000) (281,000)
Mad Money – 133,000 viewers (91,000) (80,000)
Showbiz Tonight– 376,000 viewers (144,000) (201,000)
-
For other days cable news ratings click here.
P2+ = viewers over the age of 2
(25-54) = Adults 25-54 viewing
(35-64) = Adults 35-64 viewing
Prime Time = 8-11pm
LIVE+SD: The number that watched a program either while it was broadcast OR watched via DVR on the same day [through 3AM the next day] the program was broadcast. For more information see Numbers 101.
Scratch = when a show’s audience fails to meet minimum Nielsen reporting levels. For more information go here.
http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/07/30/cable-news-ratings-for-wednesday-july-29-2009/23925