I watch (and like) a lot of CNN news coverage and commentary--but was taken aback on July 4th (though not entirely surprised) by a regrettable on-air decision the network made. I have seen this occur before, on both CNN and MSNBC--when each network has covered certain live events, such as presidential speeches.
There have been occasions, on both networks, when the hosts, and their panels/guests, have kept talking, as a particular live event has approached--and because of this, the very beginning of the event has been missed.
On Thursday, Pamela Brown was hosting the network's early evening program; this was a little after 6 p.m. (Eastern time). In a corner of the screen, one saw speeches underway at The White House, as part of an event for active-duty military service members and their families, in commemoration of July 4th.
First, one saw the First Lady, Dr. Jill Biden, speaking; President Biden was standing to the side of, and behind, her. Pamela Brown said: "Dr. Jill Biden, the First Lady, is speaking. Are we going into, to listen to her? Okay. Sorry. My producer is talking to me in my ear..."
In that the First Lady is obviously a crucial figure concerning the question of whether President Biden will continue as a candidate for re-election, it seemed to me the network should have aired her comments (or, at least, some part of them).
The producer, evidently, conveyed to Ms. Brown that her studio interviews should continue. Then, in the corner of the screen, one saw that Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin was speaking. At this point, I wondered why the network did not simply switch to the event. Clearly, the President would be speaking soon.
Then Ms. Brown said: "All right, we have to go to a quick break. We're waiting for President Biden to speak there at the podium. We'll be right back."
The commercial began; it was for Easter Seals. And then, during the commercial, CNN's "Breaking News" animation and music appeared, and Ms. Brown said: "All right. President Biden is speaking now at the podium."
And so, one watched Mr. Biden's remarks--but his initial words had been missed.
According to the White House transcript of the event, this was the beginning of what the President said:
Happy Independence Day! (Applause.) At least the rain helped the humidity a little bit.
Jill and I, Secretary Austin, Mrs. Austin, we’re honored so many of your families are here on this special day. I re- — really mean it.
You represent only 1 percent — not quite 1 percent of the American population, but you keep 99 percent of the rest of the population safe. It’s you. You’re all volunteers. You do it.
According to the CNN "rush" transcript of its program, the airing of the President's remarks began here: "--of the American population, but you keep 99 percent of the rest of the population safe.
It’s you. You’re all volunteers. You do it."
This was an easily avoidable mistake on CNN's part, considering the significance, right now, of President Biden's public appearances, and his public remarks. I don't believe Ms. Brown was at fault, here. The decision, I am guessing, likely rested with either the program's producer, or director--or, maybe, with a CNN executive. Or perhaps the network has a policy of only airing the President's comments, at such events, as opposed to also including any prefatory speeches; if this is the case, then I think the policy should be relaxed.
It is moments like these when a network such as CNN should take a cue from C-SPAN: let a public event--or at least part of it, when appropriate--unfold on its own. On CNN (and on MSNBC, as well-- which was not covering the White House event that night; a special was airing at the time), hosts and guests do not need to be continuously talking--right up to the moment, say, when the President begins speaking. I would like to have heard, on July 4th, Dr. Biden's and Secretary Austin's remarks--though, at the very least, would have appreciated hearing even just some of the Secretary's comments, and then, immediately afterwards, the entirety of what the President said. But CNN made the unfortunate decision to have its host (and guests) continue talking--and then, to make matters worse, aired a commercial at just the wrong time. This decision did a disservice to CNN's viewers.
