----CNN----
No Story? No Problem! That's What Editors Are For!
You know I've wanted to write this for weeks months now, but as usual I lagged....but I get so aggravated whenever I think about how much of a spin job CNN did when they interviewed a well known sports star, I felt I had to write about it. So this spin of the week is how blatantly CNN takes it upon themselves to create their own stories.
So let's pretend that you're stopped on the street by reporters for your local news and they are doing a piece on how the public feels about drunk driving and the reporter asks you,
"So, do you think that drunk driving is OK?" and you answer
"Absolutely not" then they ask you if you think that they should raise the drinking age and you say,
"Well, I'm not really sure how I feel about that".
So later, you're watching the news to see your interview and you hear the reporter say,
"Well we asked everyday citizens about whether or not they thought drunk driving is ok, and here is what one person had to say: and then they'd show you saying,
"Well, I'm not really sure how I feel about that".
Um, WTF? You'd be a tad outraged wouldn't you? Apparently your definitive answer of 'Absolutely not' wasn't newsworthy enough for them. Well, local news usually sucks anyway and who really watches it for things other than the local weather. But what if a major media outlet, like say, CNN, did the exact same thing...but more blatantly and to a well known person. Sounds outrageous right? Well, CNN did just that when they did a piece on steroids and sports and interviewed WWE wrestler John Cena. Here is the ACTUAL interview, EDIT/SPIN FREE:
The transcript of this 2 1/2 minute interview can be read here,
but here is the definitive answer to the question asked:
CNN reporter: drug use...have you ever used steroids?
JOHN CENA: Absolutely not. And this is something that um...
But here is what CNN actually aired for the world to see:
CNN Voiceover: John Cena is a WWE superstar now recovering from an injury in the ring. He doesn't like being asked if he's used steroids.He doesn't like being asked about steroids? Really CNN? Really? Cause I didn't get that, not even a little bit.
JOHN CENA: This is a crazy question and it's something that um...it's tough to answer just because of the way society is now, the way people conceive things because performance enhancing drugs have got the spotlight and it's a hot thing to talk about...
I can't tell you that I haven't but you'll never be able to prove that I have.
And I'm pretty sure that his answer to that question couldn't have been more clear but that wouldn't really make for a titillating piece now would it?
Sooooo....I guess when you spend money to interview a well known superstar to get a 'story' and you don't get one, don't worry, thanks to editing you can get any answer you want.
I'm actually really surprised this wasn't more publicized and it worry's me because the news media pulling stories from out of their asses is not new, and I'm assuming the full interview wasn't supposed to be leaked, but it was, and the spin is so blatant that I'm actually surprised there aren't any law suits pending.
There's enough outrageous things being said and done in this world that having to use editing to get a story interesting enough to put on air is pathetic and for an outlet like CNN, who claims to be the most trusted name in news, to so blatantly make up garbage to report on is scary and disturbing. Not only because of this particular interview, but because this particular interview happened to be leaked and happened to be with a well known interviewee who if anyone was going to have 'people' to bring it to the public's attention, it would be them so imagine how many other interviews they've aired, with lesser known people, that are outright lies and the work of a total spin job. So sad CNN.....so sad.
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