Abstract

The Pajama Game

The article focuses on a CNN controversy that led to Eason Jordan's resignation from the network, and the power of blogs. Jordan, CNN's chief news executive, observed at an off-the-record meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos in late January that he believed the US military had aimed at journalists and killed twelve of them. Jordan sent a note to colleagues saying he quit to "prevent CNN from being unfairly tarnished by the controversy." This is silly. There's nothing wrong with a global news organization weathering "controversy." In fact, it's good for ratings. What CNN really feared was something it will not acknowledge: the influence and power of the right-wing blogs. Neither the sketchy quality of the available evidence nor Jordan's immediate clarification made a significant impression on right-wing bloggers, who initially demanded his scalp and then danced on his professional grave.