Hypocrite: CNN President Jeff Zucker Calls Fox News ‘State-Run TV’
CNN President Jeff Zucker bashed Fox News at the “Citizen by CNN Forum” Thursday, telling host Brian Stelter that the network is “state-run TV” that’s “morphed into conspiracy TV.”
“Citizen by CNN” is a “civic engagement platform” designed to “discuss issues that matter, the motivations to vote and the importance of being informed and engaged in the political process,” according to the network. Its 2019 conference Thursday in New York City featured numerous reporters, lawmakers and more.
Zucker, who took over as President of CNN Worldwide in January 2013, was one of the speakers at the event. Zucker briefly talked about Fox News after Stelter asked what former Fox News anchor Shepard Smith’s departure meant for the network. Smith abruptly left Fox Oct. 11, walking away from a reported $15 million a year contract according to Forbes.
“Listen, I’ve said before, it’s akin to state-run TV, I think it’s morphed into conspiracy TV, and its not a place where somebody like Shep Smith could work…I don’t think it’s a journalistic organization,” Zucker said.
“Are there a handful of really good journalists in that organization? Sure,” CNN’s president continued. “Is there one or two really good anchors at that organization? Sure. But that doesn’t make it a news organization. And it doesn’t make it a journalistic enterprise.”
Matt Dornic, Vice President of CNN Communications, noted that the network stands by Zucker’s comment.
“The comments are the comments,” Dornic told the Daily Caller News Foundation. “Rather, the comment is the comment.”
Zucker and Stelter also noted that they disagree on the characterization of Fox News, with Zucker acknowledging that Stelter views the outlet as a news organization.
“They’re responsible for a lot of the problems in this country by having instituted a tremendous amount of conspiracies in this country, and, you know, that’s why I think the way you and others characterize that organization as, you know, having a news side and an opinion side is completely erroneous,” Zucker added.
Fox News did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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The actual truth is that PBS is Leftist “State Run TV” controlled by the Deep Bureaucratic State. All their news programs repeat Leftist talking points and if you examine their “documentories” you will note they most resemble very slick infomertials. Over the last 20 or 30 years I have learned to do my own “fact-checking” of those very entertaining and convincing documentaries and found them to be remarkably one-sided.
Media has become a communist Dem driven Circus
Tom, As we seem to share the same thoughts, I can only say “great minds work alike (lol) Seriously, there isn’t a network that is 100% fair as everyone, everyone has an opinion that slants their reporting.
although FOX “appears” more diligent in checking fact, they also use bombastic headline “grabbers”& run clips of other networks. Although there may be a ‘slight’ disclaimer, the clip airs, re-enforcing its message.
Of course Sheppard Smith is gone, leaving them with one less, but not void of leftist anchors that are less obvious about their political leanings. And they have Mike Wallace that argues with any an all Trump Administration guests. Dana Perino had Martha McCalluam* on her show and said “Martha, your a Democrat, what do you think about…..
While I appreciate their effort I do not accept as gospel most of what I hear. To form an intelligent opinion one must have more than a single source and “be bothered” to check for themselves.
Joe Fridays words still ring true….JUST THE FACTS, MAM, JUST THE FACTS….