CNN News Group president Jim Walton’s comments this morning were very interesting. “We’re not trying to get fans,” he said — which struck me as a resounding split between CNN and FNC, which features a “Fox Fan” section of its Web site.
“When you look at what we do on the air, we’d like you to think of it more as your friend. A good friend will tell you the truth…As we continue, all of us, to do what we do in these very volatile times, the pursuit of the truth is the simple most important thing any of us can do.”
His full remarks are after the jump…
RUSH TRANSCRIPT
“Today is indeed CNN’s 25th birthday, and it was wonderful yesterday to see the program and see world leaders brought together to discuss important issues.
CNN can do that, and 25 years ago, that was just a dream. But now CNN has the stature in the world to bring these people together.
It was interesting for me to listen yesterday to some of the discussions. It was implied in the discussion by some that CNN possibly had not done enough to challenge the U.S. government on the war in Iraq.
I found that very interesting. We’re in a situation now where what CNN says matters. CNN is held to a very high standard, and the interesting part of that conversation for me was that there are critics in this country who have referred to CNN as the anti-American channel.
And our critics outside of this channel refer to us as the pro-America channel, which led me to the conclusion that we’re doing our jobs. And for all of us, as we go into difficult situations…please keep that in mind, that we’re not trying to get fans of us. But when you look at what we do on the air, we’d like you to think of it more as your friend. A good friend will tell you the truth…As we continue, all of us, to do what we do in these very volatile times, the pursuit of the truth is the simple most important thing any of us can do.