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CNN's Yellin: Network Execs Killed Critical White House Stories
On Wednesday night, CNN's Jessica Yellin talked to Anderson Cooper about Scott McClellan's tell-all memoir and agreed with the former press secretary that White House reporters "dropped the ball" during the run-up to war.
But Yellin went much further, revealing that news executives--presumably at ABC News, where she'd worked from July 2003 to August 2007--actively pushed her not do hard-hitting pieces on the Bush administration.
"The press corps was under enormous pressure from corporate executives, frankly, to make sure that this was a war presented in way that was consistent with the patriotic fever in the nation and the president's high approval ratings," Yellin said.
"And my own experience at the White House was that the higher the president's approval ratings, the more pressure I had from news executives--and I was not at this network at the time--but the more pressure I had from news executives to put on positive stories about the president, I think over time...."
But then a shocked Cooper jumped in, asking, "You had pressure from news executives to put on positive stories about the president?"
"Not in that exact.... They wouldn't say it in that way, but they would edit my pieces," Yellin said. "They would push me in different directions. They would turn down stories that were more critical, and try to put on pieces that were more positive. Yes, that was my experience."
© 2008 Politico.com
6 Comments so far
Show AllAmericans must become aware of media as the distorter of truth. I haven't believed a word that the news outlets have carried since I realized they were not being truthful with the American people. They exist to form public opinion.
Shouldn't she have been yellin about this a long time ago?
I have stated this same position in past "responses", and it either met with ridicule, distain, or a total lack of understanding.
BUT
If Ms. Yellin, or the NBC execs had had sons and daughters or "SIGNIFICANT" others at risk in the war zone via "mandatory military service"------That is, MANDATORY SERVICE for EVERYONES LITTLE PRIDE AND JOY-------
There would be no war zone for the US.
It really is that simple.
You can't stop corruption in the "Talking Monkey Troop" (humans)----but you can at least spread the risk of the consequences, therefore if not eliminating the corruption, it may stay very small in comparison.
But then again: I am just one of millions who has ALL OF THE ANSWERS.
AND THE WORLD CONTINUES TO IGNORE MY BRILLIANCE.
CNN has totally gone to the bow wows. You got a wimp like Anderson Cooper, a rabid xenophobic Judy Miller/John Bolton loving Lou Dobbs, Glenn Butthead Beck and that cross burning redneck Nancy Grace on theior sister station, a Zionist like Wolf Blitzer and a quack like Sanjay Gupta. With CNN who the hell needs Fox.
Seems the major requirement for T.V. women "readers" about fires, murders is good cleavage and empty head. Males only need empty head.
Thank you Jessica Yellin for telling the truth.
If you notice, her comments were live and extemporaneous and did not have to pass CNN executives' scrutiny. Cooper expressed fake surprise at her remarks, thus towing the corporate line.
It will be interesting to see whether Yellin is asked about it again, either by CNN or other media. My guess is no.