Campbell Brown interview…
The Washington Post’s Howard Kurtz has an interview with Campbell Brown…
Brown’s move raises two intriguing questions: Why are only two other women (Greta Van Susteren of Fox and Nancy Grace of Headline News) on the air as prime-time cable news hosts? And is it possible to succeed with an 8 p.m. show built on news and interviews — as Zahn tried to do — when up against the ultra-opinionated likes of Bill O’Reilly and Keith Olbermann?
Zahn was pushed to try several different formats, from politics to magazine-style reports. She concedes the constant changes hurt her ratings, but she also won plaudits for tackling such difficult subjects as race in America. Still, despite some gains with younger viewers, she sometimes slipped into third or even fourth place (behind Grace).
“Looking at the success of the opinion-driven shows, we tried to counterpunch as best we could, and we never sacrificed our objectivity or our quality,” Zahn says.
Brown now inherits a similar challenge. “It’s an incredibly difficult time slot,” she says. “I can’t obsess over that or I’ll make myself crazy. . . . I’m not Bill O’Reilly. I’m not Keith Olbermann. I’m not going to do opinion. That’s not who I am.”
Why does the term “grasping at straws” come to mind? No really if it’s not going to be opinion driven, then what the heck is it going to be?
Comment by Mary Snow — July 30, 2007 @ 10:12 am
“Why does the term “grasping at straws” come to mind? No really if it’s not going to be opinion driven, then what the heck is it going to be? ”
Gee..maybe straight hard news.Now that would be a rare thing on cable news these days!
Comment by myview — July 30, 2007 @ 11:08 am
The article states that the opinion-driven programs on at 8 p.m. are the ones drawing the viewers. Then Campbell goes on to say: “I’m not going to do opinion. That’s not who I am.”
So CNN knows how to succeed at 8 p.m., but for some reason they just won’t compete, as is evidenced by hiring someone who will not “jump into the ring” with her competition at that time. So it sounds like CNN is content with miserable ratings in that time slot.
Comment by Missy — July 30, 2007 @ 1:51 pm
Good for me as a viewer who hates opinion driven programs but bad for CNN as far as ratings go. I’m glad CNN isn’t following the flock in that time slot but do realize this means CB’s new program won’t be a ratings hit. Doesn’t mean it won’t be an excellent program though.
Comment by myview — July 30, 2007 @ 2:41 pm
I believe that on this board we have said all that can be said about this potential dud.
Comment by Cella — July 30, 2007 @ 2:44 pm
” believe that on this board we have said all that can be said about this potential dud.”
That won’t, however, prevent us from hashing and rehashing the topic several more times before she even sits down in front of a camera. Just saying.
Comment by Arthur — July 30, 2007 @ 2:50 pm