Jonah Patel
CNN has been at the centre of several controversies regarding its political coverage, with allegations of bias from both sides of the aisle. In 2016, supporters of Bernie Sanders protested outside CNN's Los Angeles bureau, accusing the network of intentionally blacking out Sanders' presidential campaign in favour of giving more airtime to candidates such as Hillary Clinton. CNN has also been accused of treating politics like a sport and manufacturing drama through debates. The network has undergone a dramatic overhaul in recent years, with former president Jeff Zucker replaced by Chris Licht in 2022, and faces an ongoing challenge to win back viewers.
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What You'll Learn
CNN's coverage of the 2016 US presidential elections
On April 3, 2016, hundreds of Sanders supporters protested outside CNN's Los Angeles bureau, claiming that major media networks had intentionally blacked out Sanders' campaign in favour of giving more airtime to other candidates. This protest, known as Occupy CNN, highlighted the issue of media bias and the perception that certain candidates were being favoured over others.
In addition to the allegations of bias, CNN was also criticised for treating politics like a sport and using debates to manufacture drama. The network's coverage of the elections was not just limited to the candidates but also extended to their policies, personal character, and lives. For example, Hillary Clinton received significant negative attention over her "'basket of deplorables' comment," where she labelled half of Trump's supporters as deplorable. The media also focused on the issue of gender, with Clinton accused of "playing the women's card" and trying to appeal to voters by invoking her gender.
The 2016 US presidential elections were also notable for the role of WikiLeaks, which published emails showing that CNN contributor Donna Brazile had passed questions for a CNN-sponsored debate to the Clinton campaign. This incident led to Brazile's resignation from CNN and further fuelled allegations of bias and unfairness in the network's election coverage.
Overall, CNN's coverage of the 2016 US presidential elections was a highly contested issue that sparked debates about media bias, the influence of media on public opinion, and the role of journalists in political campaigns. The network's approach to covering the elections became a topic of discussion and scrutiny, reflecting the complex nature of political reporting and the challenges faced by news organisations in providing unbiased and balanced coverage.
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Allegations of party bias
CNN has often faced allegations of partisan bias. The New York Times has described the development of a partisan lean during the tenure of former CEO Jeff Zucker. In 2017, Vox described CNN as "treating politics like a sport" and stated that the network under Zucker manufactured drama through debates. Zucker's criticism of Trump during his presidency also led to a decline in ratings, with the network losing 90% of its viewers between January 2021 and 2022.
Research conducted by the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics, and Public Policy at Harvard University and the Project for Excellence in Journalism found that during the first five months of the 2007 presidential primaries, CNN tended to cast Republican candidates in a negative light by a margin of three-to-one. The study revealed that 41% of the stories were clearly negative, 14% were positive, and 46% were neutral. McCain, one of the main candidates, received the worst coverage, with 63% of stories about him being negative.
In 2009, a Pew Research Center Poll showed that Democrats were much more likely than Republicans to rate the network favorably, while Republicans were more likely to view CNN unfavorably. A 2019 survey by the same organization found that among Americans who named CNN as their main source for political and election news, 79% identified as Democrats. This partisan divide in news sources was further highlighted by a 2020 Pew Research Center study, which showed that 24% of Republicans and 23% of Democrats got their political news from CNN in the past week. Despite this, Republicans expressed deeper distrust in CNN, with 39% of those who got news from the network saying they distrusted it, compared to only 4% of Democrats.
CNN has also faced criticism for its coverage of the 2016 presidential elections. Supporters of Bernie Sanders protested outside CNN's Los Angeles bureau, claiming that the network intentionally gave less airtime to Sanders while favoring candidates like Hillary Clinton. WikiLeaks further fueled these allegations by publishing emails from John Podesta, which showed CNN contributor Donna Brazile passing questions for a CNN-sponsored debate to the Clinton campaign.
In recent years, CNN has made efforts to win back viewers and address allegations of bias. The network has interviewed more GOP guests and undergone a dramatic overhaul, which included the departure of Zucker and the addition of HBO's 'Real Time with Bill Maher' to its primetime lineup. However, these changes have been overshadowed by controversies surrounding the revamp of its morning show and the removal of anchor Don Lemon over 'sexist remarks'.
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CNN's relationship with the Trump administration
CNN has often been accused of partisan bias. In 2007, the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard University and the Project for Excellence in Journalism found that CNN's coverage of the presidential primaries cast Republican candidates in a negative light by a margin of three-to-one. However, a 2009 Pew Research Center Poll showed that Democrats were much more likely than Republicans to rate the network favourably.
In 2016, supporters of Bernie Sanders protested outside CNN's Los Angeles bureau, accusing the network of intentionally blacking out Sanders' presidential campaign in favour of giving more airtime to candidates like Hillary Clinton. In the same year, WikiLeaks published emails from John Podesta which showed CNN contributor Donna Brazile passing the questions for a CNN-sponsored debate to the Clinton campaign.
In 2017, CNN reported on the existence of classified documents that said Russia had compromising personal and financial information about then President-elect Donald Trump. Trump responded by referring to CNN as "fake news" and refused to take a question from CNN reporter Jim Acosta. The following year, CNN was blocked from a White House press gaggle.
CNN has continued to report on the Trump administration, including on the administration's efforts to deport migrants, its controversial remarks about Gaza, its targeting of pro-Palestinian activists, and its proposal for a natural resources agreement with Ukraine. The network has also covered the Trump administration's domestic policies and actions, such as its efforts to dismantle the US Department of Education and its push for changes to election policies.
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CNN's coverage of the Syrian crisis
CNN has often been accused of contributing to political campaigns by providing biased coverage. For instance, in 2016, Bernie Sanders supporters protested outside CNN's Los Angeles bureau, alleging that the network had intentionally blacked out Sanders' presidential campaign in favour of giving more airtime to candidates such as Hillary Clinton. CNN has also been accused of treating politics like a sport and manufacturing drama through debates.
The concept of the "CNN Effect" has been used to explain the influence of real-time television reporting and social media imagery on decision-makers during humanitarian crises. During the Syrian crisis, the proliferation of social media and its widespread pickup by mainstream media further highlighted the suffering and violence in the country. This, in turn, put pressure on policymakers to respond. However, it's important to note that while media coverage can influence public opinion and shape government responses, it doesn't always drive strategy.
CNN has covered various aspects of the Syrian crisis, including the execution of civilians by government forces and the communal killings that spiralled out of control after the ousting of former President Bashar al-Assad. They have also reported on the attacks by Assad loyalists against Syria's new government forces and the resulting casualties on both sides. In one instance, a Syrian civilian, Rasha Sadeq, told CNN that her family members, who were not pro-Assad, had been killed by armed groups loyal to the new government.
Overall, CNN's coverage of the Syrian crisis has contributed to the public's awareness of the situation and put pressure on policymakers to respond. However, the network, along with other media organisations, has faced challenges in accessing and reporting from the country due to security concerns and visa restrictions.
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CNN's interview strategy
CNN has often been accused of contributing to political campaigns through its coverage of elections and candidates. The network has been accused of favouring certain candidates and parties over others, and of manufacturing drama through its use of debates.
In 2007, research conducted by the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard University and the Project for Excellence in Journalism found that CNN's coverage of the 2008 presidential primaries was disproportionately negative towards Republican candidates. The study showed that 41% of stories about Republican candidates were clearly negative, while only 14% were positive. In contrast, coverage of Democratic candidates was more positive than negative, largely due to favourable coverage of Barack Obama.
During the 2016 United States presidential elections, supporters of Bernie Sanders protested outside CNN's Los Angeles bureau, accusing the network of intentionally blacking out Sanders' campaign in favour of giving more airtime to candidates such as Hillary Clinton. WikiLeaks also published emails showing that CNN contributor Donna Brazile had passed questions for a CNN-sponsored debate to the Clinton campaign.
CNN has also faced criticism from President Donald Trump, who referred to the network as "fake news" and barred correspondent Jim Acosta from the White House after a confrontation. These incidents prompted a decline in ratings, with the network losing 90% of its viewers between January 2021 and 2022.
In recent years, CNN has made efforts to win back viewers and present a more balanced image. This has included interviewing more Republican candidates and adding a segment from HBO's 'Real Time with Bill Maher' to its primetime lineup. However, these changes have been overshadowed by controversies surrounding the revamp of its morning show and the behaviour of anchor Don Lemon, who was taken off-air over 'sexist remarks'.
Despite these challenges, CNN CEO David Zaslav has insisted that the network is moving in the 'right direction' and is committed to presenting a diverse range of voices and viewpoints.
CNN has been accused of contributing to political campaigns through its interview strategies and selection of guests. The network has made efforts to present a balanced image and include a diverse range of voices, but has also faced criticism for manufacturing drama and favouring certain candidates or parties.
One of the main strategies that CNN has employed to contribute to political campaigns is the use of debates. In 2017, Vox described CNN as "treat [ing] politics like a sport", suggesting that the network uses debates to manufacture drama and create conflict. This approach can influence public perception of candidates and shape the narrative of a campaign.
CNN has also been accused of providing disproportionate airtime to certain candidates, thereby influencing their exposure and reach. During the 2016 presidential elections, supporters of Bernie Sanders protested outside CNN's offices, claiming that the network had intentionally blacked out Sanders' campaign in favour of giving more airtime to Hillary Clinton.
In addition to the quantity of airtime, the tone and nature of interviews can also contribute to political campaigns. The network has been accused of casting a negative light on certain candidates or parties, as evidenced by the 2007 study that found disproportionately negative coverage of Republican candidates.
To counter these criticisms and present a more balanced image, CNN has recently made efforts to interview a wider range of guests, including more than 70 GOP candidates in a single month. This strategy is designed to showcase a diverse range of voices and viewpoints, thereby appealing to a broader audience and presenting a more inclusive image.
However, these efforts have been overshadowed by controversies surrounding the behaviour of certain anchors, such as Don Lemon, who has been accused of making sexist remarks about GOP candidate Nikki Haley and clashing with White House correspondent Kaitlan Colins on air.
Overall, CNN's interview strategy has been a key factor in shaping the network's contribution to political campaigns. By selecting certain guests, manufacturing drama through debates, and presenting disproportionate coverage, the network has influenced public perception and shaped the narrative of campaigns. While CNN has made recent efforts to present a more balanced and inclusive image, it continues to face challenges and controversies that impact its reputation and viewership.
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Frequently asked questions
CNN has been accused of contributing to political campaigns by providing biased coverage of candidates. For example, in 2007, CNN was accused of providing disproportionately negative coverage of Republican candidates. CNN has also been accused of favouring certain Democratic candidates over others. In 2016, supporters of Bernie Sanders protested outside CNN's Los Angeles bureau, claiming that CNN had intentionally given less airtime to Sanders and more airtime to candidates such as Hillary Clinton.
CNN has been accused of having a liberal bias. In a 2019 Pew Research survey, 79% of Americans who named CNN as their main source for political and election news identified as Democrats. A 2024 Pew Research survey found that CNN was among the more commonly used sources among Republicans, with 24% saying they got political news from CNN in the past week, although 39% of those Republicans said they distrust CNN.
In 2023, CNN's parent company WarnerMedia released a memo stating that certain figures at the company, including former president Jeff Zucker, had "violated its official journalism standards and practices". Zucker was replaced by Chris Licht in 2022, and since then the network has undergone a dramatic overhaul, including firing longtime anchor Brina Stelter and adding HBO's 'Real Time with Bill Maher' to its primetime lineup. CNN CEO David Zaslav has insisted that the network is moving in the "right direction" and is focused on building an asset that is "worthy of that great global brand".
CNN has been involved in several political controversies, including:
- In 2016, WikiLeaks published emails showing that CNN contributor Donna Brazile passed the questions for a CNN-sponsored debate to the Clinton campaign.
- In 2017, CNN reported on the existence of classified documents that said Russia had compromising personal and financial information about then President-elect Donald Trump. Trump referred to CNN as "fake news" and refused to take a question from CNN reporter Jim Acosta, who was later barred from the White House.
- During the 2015 Baltimore riots, CNN Newsroom host Brooke Baldwin suggested that veterans were responsible for the unrest.
- In 2023, CNN anchor Don Lemon was taken off-air over 'sexist remarks' in which he claimed politician Nikki Haley "wasn't in her prime".
