The Quick And The Dead II
First, Mr. Jordan is a person of some importance. Not only is he CNN's chief news executive, but also, according to CNN's Web site, he chairs the editorial board, is a member of the executive committee and "provides strategic advice" to the senior management team. Clearly, Mr. Jordan has considerable say in what goes on at CNN headquarters in Atlanta. Of course, as big as he is, Mr. Jordan is entitled to his own opinions. However, what Mr. Jordan said at Davos wasn't a matter of personal beliefs; as a representative of CNN, the world's largest news network, he accused American troops of targeting journalists.Yes, he immediately backed off his initial comment, and has done so since. But let's put this in some perspective. According to several accounts of the discussion, only when challenged by panelist Barney Frank, a member of Congress, did Mr. Jordan retreat. A few years ago, Sen. Trent Lott retreated in a similar fashion after he made some unsettling and indefensible remarks at a birthday party for then-Sen. Strom Thurmond, and he still lost his Senate leadership position.
—The Washington Times, editorial, February 11
Of course, Trent Lott was, at the time, the Senate Majority Leader, wielding a significant amount of power along with prestige and honor. I don't know how much power Eason Jordan wields at CNN, but he does represent CNN and, in part, all of American media . . . it's irresponsible for a head of an American newsmedia organization to say "journalists are being targeted by the U.S. military" before an international panel . . .
—Mike Marchand, marchand chronicles, February 7
posted by Marsh @ 3:26 PM
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