CNN President On The Fonts Rita Needs
Earlier this week, Public Eye looked at the fine line broadcast journalists walk when covering stories that could be dangerous to the public -- like hurricanes. When does news coverage go over the line and become hype, alarmist or crass ratings plays? When does lack of coverage become a disservice? Over the years, for example, CBS News, along with the other networks, has occasionally been accused of overkill in covering storms that eventually petered out.
In that light, an e-mail that Jonathan Klein, the president of CNN/US sent to several staffers about the graphics to be used during coverage of Hurricane Rita may be of interest.
Klein wrote:
In that light, an e-mail that Jonathan Klein, the president of CNN/US sent to several staffers about the graphics to be used during coverage of Hurricane Rita may be of interest.
(CNN)
Klein wrote:
The term CATEGORY 4=viewership. (Everbody knows the cateogires [sic] after Katrina)
We need to put it on the screen all the time (in addition to radar).
Before it becomes cat 4. PREDICTION: RITA CATEGORY 4.
Could replace the generic "Hurricane Rita" lower-third banner. Or better still we could flash the status top left where we put "New Video" in the same large font.
Mike, can your guys design something arresting? Wil and David, pls figure out something for tonight in the meantime.
Ex-NBA ref Tim Donaghy 