CNN and headlines

[HenrikOlsen]

It's Jon Stewart and yes, it's a sad comment on the whole situation when the best reporting is on Comedy Central.

[Gillianren]

I don't know if it still is, but their slogan used to be "More Americans get their news from Comedy Central than probably should." Only Daily Show viewers are awfully informed about the world--and probably mostly wouldn't watch any news at all otherwise.

[Fazor]

I quit watching the Daily Show years ago, but not because I quit liking it. Jon's a genius, and one of my favorite television personalities. I just quit watching "late night" tv. Tara never liked it either, and I'm typically only watching tv if she's watching it too.

[Gillianren]

I quit watching the Daily Show years ago, but not because I quit liking it. Jon's a genius, and one of my favorite television personalities. I just quit watching "late night" tv. Tara never liked it either, and I'm typically only watching tv if she's watching it too.

They play it about six times a day and it's on the website! They're trying to meet you halfway, man!

I've often thought, incidentally, that some of the celebrity guests they get are just there to appease Jon, because he'd really like to have Doris Kearns Goodwin or someone even more obscure and intellectual, but the executives seem to think we'd stop watching if he did that all the time.

[Fazor]

They play it about six times a day and it's on the website! They're trying to meet you halfway, man!

Yeah, but I'm oldschool Daily Show going way back. I mean, Kilborn back. I remember thinking how bad the show would suck when Jon took over, and I gladly admit that I was very wrong.

Anyway, when I quit following it, they only played it about twice a day. One was when I was still at work, the other was 10 or 11. Pre DVR days too.

[HenrikOlsen]

Pre-last election I found it interesting to watch when Jon had John McCain on as a guest, as it was obvious that even though their politics differ widely, at the same time they respected each other as persons which made for discussions that was way more interesting than the antagonistic shout matches you normally see.

[Gillianren]

Pre-last election I found it interesting to watch when Jon had John McCain on as a guest, as it was obvious that even though their politics differ widely, at the same time they respected each other as persons which made for discussions that was way more interesting than the antagonistic shout matches you normally see.

It's one of the things I really respect about that show, actually. He has had guests of all political stripes, and it seems as though the angrier Jon gets, the more he works at pulling up actual facts to dispute the point. I've taken to using "rolled 212 on him" to mean "showed evidence that he was wrong" or even "used his own words to show evidence he was wrong." Most of the time, when he does yell, it's because someone with whom he agrees, or usually agrees, has done or said something stupid.

[Swift]

I think Jon Stewart and the Daily Show is just about the best thing on TV. The only thing that comes close in quality, but a very different kind of show, is CBS's Sunday Morning.

[ABR.]

Fazor, you're not the only one who remembers Craig Kilborn had the Daily Show before Jon Stewart. Five questions, anyone?

Yes, there is a lot of silliness and the occasional puerile joke, but Jon is a bright and well-read guy. I love the interviews with the history and psychology experts because he really shines. Of course, not all his interviews can be with pin-ups like Doris Kearns Goodwin!

I think his staff does an outstanding job of filtering the news and keeping tabs on changing messages from politicians and the media. I have this image of them strapped to chairs in darkened rooms filled with TV screens with their eyes pinned open like Alex from Clockwork Orange -- I appreciate what they do, but wouldn't want that job at all.

[Gillianren]

I think Jon Stewart and the Daily Show is just about the best thing on TV. The only thing that comes close in quality, but a very different kind of show, is CBS's Sunday Morning.

I used to watch that all the time when I was growing up. And still got up early on Sunday mornings.

[Jim]

I think Jon Stewart and the Daily Show is just about the best thing on TV. The only thing that comes close in quality, but a very different kind of show, is CBS's Sunday Morning.

Two of my favorites, though I usually watch Stewart the next day (ahem). "Sunday Morning" does some very solid feature reporting and the last segment is my "calming moment." Stewart and staff do an excellent job of finding the absurdities in the news and parodying them brilliantly; the interview segments are often very enlightening.

I also like "Colbert Report" and "This Week with... Whoever," not so much for the interviews as the Roundtable, In Memorium, and the Sunday Funnies.

[NEOWatcher]

CNN's treatment of thier headlines is almost past the point of complaining. Either they are completely sensationalized, change them at will to make you think there's a new story, or indicate they haven't even comprehended the story they linked to.
But; I saw this, and had to comment.

"for sell"?

What are cows doing in a police car?
(the actual story said "with" instead of "in)

BTW: it's going to be interesting to see the show Jon Stewart does with the port-o-potty story. The headline there isn't much better.
D.C. toilet shortage is Keeping Fear Alive
Fear?

[Fazor]

I think I said it in another thread -- I contemplated talking about it at least -- but I don't know what to call those. Usually the stories have their own 'Headlines' and those are just the link-text. But, since they are the lines that are getting the attention to read the linked stories, I still think they're headlines. Just different headlines than the author's headline on the actual article.

Regardless. there are constantly disagreements between pluralization, gender agreement, word order; unclear, badly worded, or just false statements, and blatant sensationalism. All these problems exist in the actual headlines as well, but to no where near the extent. It's clear that they just have their web-page editor post the links, but don't actually have a copy-editor for web content. And it's not just CNN. But that's the page I scan every day for headlines, so I see them there most often.

[Solfe]

I have just introduced my wife to Stephen Colbert without any background. For the first 30 seconds or so, she took him at face value and then she got it. Classic moment at my house.

[NEOWatcher]

It's enough we have celebrity worship, but this headline is completely overblown:
Justin Bieber crashes his Ferrari

An LAPD official says Bieber was driving through Studio City when the driver of a Honda Civic crashed into his Ferrari, which he says sustained some minor damage. [...] "It was so minor, so we didn't file a report."

That's a "crash"?
That's hardly a "brush".

[Fazor]

And can you really say The Beebs crashed his Ferrari if someone else hit him? That's kinda like saying "House gets in way of falling tree."

[Solfe]

"That tree jumped right out in front of me." As I understand it, that happens to many young drivers.

[Swift]

I didn't know he was old enough to drive.

[AGN Fuel]

He got lessons from some of Rebecca Black's friends.

[NEOWatcher]

I didn't know he was old enough to drive.

Only chronologically.

[Swift]

Only chronologically.

I was only talking chronologically. He looks like he is about 15 years old.

[TheOncomingStorm]

He got lessons from some of Rebecca Black's friends.

Only on fridays.

[NEOWatcher]

It's bad enough for CNN to take someones word for a story through their un-confirmed iReports.
It's another when they don't know the definition of words in thier headline.

(title as it appears on CNN's main page)
Amateur rocket blasts into orbit

On September 30th an amateur rocket built by Derek Deville blasted into near space in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada. Accelerating to over Mach 3 during its 92 second rise into the sky

[Fazor]

CNN's "iReport" feature is a joke. One of their other headlines today is " 'Occupy' protestors hippies? iReporters say no.' "

Without getting into any of the political parts of that, the point is the "news" "headline" is basically "Group of people called name? Said group says nuh-uh!"

[NEOWatcher]

Without getting into any of the political parts of that, the point is the "news" "headline" is basically "Group of people called name? Said group says nuh-uh!"

Doesn't that apply to about 90% of any headline anyway?

What good is a headline if it doesn't imply some confrontation?

[NEOWatcher]

I don't understand how they can read a headline and re-print it completely wrong.

CNN headline: Vehicle gets 850 mi per gallon
Actual headline and sub-headline

Vehicle Of Future? 850 Miles Per Tank
'Treycycle' Promises 50 Miles Per Gallon

On a side note, considering I get at least 40mpg highway on my own non-hybrid non-subcompact car, I'm not that impressed that a 3 wheeler gets 50. Especially since mine cost less in the first place.

[Solfe]

I don't understand how they can read a headline and re-print it completely wrong.

CNN headline: Vehicle gets 850 mi per gallon
Actual headline and sub-headline


On a side note, considering I get at least 40mpg highway on my own non-hybrid non-subcompact car, I'm not that impressed that a 3 wheeler gets 50. Especially since mine cost less in the first place.

Yes, but that trike has an awesome paint job and what appears to be twin auto cannons on the sides.

[HenrikOlsen]

On a side note, considering I get at least 40mpg highway on my own non-hybrid non-subcompact car, I'm not that impressed that a 3 wheeler gets 50. Especially since mine cost less in the first place.

But does your car do 0 to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds?

[NEOWatcher]

But does your car do 0 to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds?

No; but does the trike get 50mpg if the driver does that?
Even if I can't, that doesn't mean that it should impress me. Especially when they are making the economy the main topic of discussion.

[Fazor]

No; but does the trike get 50mpg if the driver does that?
Even if I can't, that doesn't mean that it should impress me. Especially when they are making the economy the main topic of discussion.

. . . for the modest gain in MPG over other 'smart' cars, it doesn't appear to offer anything in the way of comfort, safety, or convenience. It's a neat thing for people who want a neat vehicle. I don't see it changing the way the rest of us commute.