In an interview with Eric Deggans, CNN/U.S. prez Jon Klein defends his network’s coverage of Anna Nicole Smith, “saying the outlet focused intensely on Smith’s death when it was breaking news, and eased up in the days afterward. Viewers saw this approach Thursday afternoon, when the disposition of Smith’s body was announced and CNN moved on to stories about politics and world events while MSNBC and Fox offered Smith-centered interviews and speculation.”
Klein says: “Tabloid is a matter of tone, not a matter of subject. My watchword here is to not waste the audience’s time… When there’s big breaking news, you jump on top of it… But we don’t have to live for the immediate ratings bump.”
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