“CNN blew it”, former CNN anchor Daryn Kagan tweeted today.
She’s referring to the network parting ways with its senior editor of Middle East affairs, Octavia Nasr, after Nasr tweeted that she was “sad to hear of the passing of Sayyed Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah..One of Hezbollah’s giants I respect a lot.”
“I’m not here to defend Nasr’s tweet,” Kagan expounded on her blog today, “But I promise you everyone [at CNN] has views. The sooner you own that, celebrate it even, CNN just might be back on its way to success.”
Kagan continues:
Yet, fire her? Really?…Was not Anderson Cooper lauded for blasting officials during Hurricane Katrina coverage? How long did Lou Dobbs last proudly expressing his opinions on the air? How long have top executives remained in place despite rapidly declining ratings?…
As to you, dear Octavia — I promise you, there is a great chapter waiting for you after CNN.
• More: Former CNN correspondent and anchor Miles O’Brien also weighed in today, tweeting that Nasr “is a great person and fine journalist. Her clarification should suffice.”