CNN’s Jeff Zucker Blames NBC Marketing for Megyn Kelly-Alex Jones Backlash
“If you’re going to do this story, the taunt needs to be you holding up a picture of dead kids from Sandy Hook and telling, ‘How dare you?'” says cable news network president
CNN Worldwide president Jeff Zucker says “Info Wars” host Alex Jones is decidedly newsworthy.
Zucker dropped his take on the matter on Thursday amid widespread criticism surrounding Megyn Kelly’s upcoming NBC interview with Jones. The CNN boss said he thinks NBC, the network, is to blame for the backlash.
“I think the issue here is the way that [NBC] has thus far introduced it,” Zucker said. “If you’re going to do this story, the taunt needs to be you holding up a picture of dead kids from Sandy Hook and telling, ‘How dare you?'”
Zucker spoke to reporters on Thursday morning during a breakfast in Fresh York to feast the fourth anniversary to the CNN’s morning display “Fresh Day.” The CNN boss pointed to a photo of Kelly and Jones in a car together that has circulated on Twitter to promote the interview. Zucker called the marketing decision “unfortunate” and doesn’t think anyone should judge the interview until they actually see it.
“They’ve done themselves no favors,” Zucker said of NBC, where he worked from one thousand nine hundred eighty six until 2010.
“Fresh Day” co-anchors Chris Cuomo and Alisyn Camerota were also on forearm at the breakfast, and Camerota admitted she is interested in how Jones can justify his “sickening philosophies” if Kelly holds him accountable.
Camerota said the “finish responsibility” is on the interviewer treat the situation like prosecutor when dealing with someone like Jones and “indeed hold his feet to the fire.”
When Kelly previewed an upcoming interview with Jones last Sunday night, critics instantaneously voiced concern that NBC is providing the conspiracy theorist a platform. During the 97-second preview, Jones calls the attacks of Sept. Eleven an “inwards job,” questions the legitimacy of the shootings at Sandy Hook and says, “30 years ago, they began creating animal-human hybrids. Isn’t that the big story Megyn Kelly should be doing?”
Camerota and Zucker agreed with their boss that the marketing and promotional photos of Kelly appearing chummy with Jones haven’t done the network any favors. She said the taunt that ran last Sunday didn’t indicate whether or not Kelly was planning on holding Jones accountable for his claims.
The “Fresh Day” co-anchor said that if she were interviewing Jones, she would call out the fact that his attorney called his on-air persona an act during a latest court hearing.
“You’re acting,” Camerota said she would react if Jones made an shocking claim.
Cuomo said he has no problem with NBC providing Jones a platform as long as Kelly treat the interview decently. He suggested that Jones has a big fan base and the situation would be much worse if a journalist desired to elevate someone without a following to make them relevant.
“When you’re dealing with someone like Alex Jones… the President of the United States has lauded him and supported his efforts, a least in part, the relevance is built in,” Cuomo said.
Cuomo said that if CNN were receiving the “fever” that Kelly and NBC have received for a controversial interview, the very first step to combat the negative attention would be to simply release the transcript of the interview – which NBC has not done.
13 Most-Watched Fox News Shows Since Tucker Carlson Substituted Bill O’Reilly (Photos)
Bill O’Reilly predominated the cable news industry for almost two decades, completing No. One in all of cable news for sixteen straight years. But his unexpected exit resulted in a programming shakeup at Fox News Channel.
Fox News fired O’Reilly back in April amid sexual harassment allegations and “Tucker Carlson Tonight” was shifted from nine p.m. ET to eight p.m. ET to substitute “The O’Reilly Factor,” while other shows were also moved as a result. Check out the thirteen most-watched programs (in switch sides order) on Fox News among total viewers since the fresh lineup debuted on April 24.
13. “Shepard Smith Reporting”
12. “Happening Now”
11. “America’s News HQ”
Ten. “Your World with Neil Cavuto”
7. “America’s Newsroom”
6. “The Fox News Specialists”
Four. “Special Report”
1. “Tucker Carlson Tonight”
From Martha MacCallum to “The Specialists,” the network was coerced to wiggle things up
Bill O’Reilly predominated the cable news industry for almost two decades, ending No. One in all of cable news for sixteen straight years. But his unexpected exit resulted in a programming shakeup at Fox News Channel.
No comments