CNN Founder Ted Turner dies at 87.

[lauren@mastodon.laurenweinstein.org]

CNN Founder Ted Turner dies at 87. Peace. Nobody believed him when he said cable news would work.

[katrinakatrinka@infosec.exchange]

@lauren
If "work" = make him rich, then yes.

If "work" = relate relevant, timely, accurate information people need, then no. It's repetitive, opinionated, and emotion-fueled to drive constant viewership.

[lauren@mastodon.laurenweinstein.org]

@katrinakatrinka Did you even SEE CNN in its early years? Sounds like NO.

[klausfiend@mstdn.ca]

@lauren I didn't even know he was still alive.

[katrinakatrinka@infosec.exchange]

@lauren
Yes. Before the Desert Shield/Desert Storm, it was failing. War is what got it attention. They grew rich on the worst of human actions.

[lauren@mastodon.laurenweinstein.org]

@katrinakatrinka That's ridiculous. They grew "rich" -- to the extent they did -- providing 24/7 news in a reasonably evenhanded way compared to the 24/7 alternatives. News is almost always focused on the dark side of humanity. That's what news is largely about. You want rainbows -- try Nickelodeon.

[katrinakatrinka@infosec.exchange]

@lauren
..."compared to the 24/7 alternatives".

Um, what? There were no 24/7 alternatives when it started.

I'm thinking we're having generational perspective differences. Especially with that "Nick News" reference.

I'm GenX. I was aged out when Nick News became a thing. I remember when cable started. I remember before Fox was a broadcast network.

From my perspective CNN opened the door to more and more sensational news to get us to the point we are now.
https://variety.com/1991/more/news/cnn-reigns-in-desert-storm-99128411/