Well there are two words you don't see in the same sentence that often, "CNN and "WWE."
Last week, CNN aired a special investigative special about pro wrestling titled Death Grip. At one point during the show, wrestling star John Cena is interviewed. The WWE claims the interview was edited, and now they've posted the proof on their site. Not only were CNN's cameras rolling during the interview, but so were the WWE's, from a different angle. The interviewer asks Cena if he's ever used steroids, and he answers "absolutely not," but in the CNN version that immediate denial isn't heard. All you hear is the rest of Cena's answer, which makes his answer sound vague. The Baltimore Sun has a good take on the controversy.
No word from CNN yet.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-12-2007 @ 3:47PM
ZEK said...
This supports my long-standing suspicions about what "news" has become nowadays...entertainment first, facts (maybe) later.
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11-12-2007 @ 4:00PM
SJ said...
I used to watch CNN International when I lived abroad. After I moved to the US I was surprised by how awful it was here.
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11-12-2007 @ 4:04PM
bruce said...
CNN has to compete with Fox News. Clearly, Americas prefer their news to give false facts and impressions. So CNN is editing the news to provide falsities so as to compete in the marketplace. Not their faut. Let the free market decide how accurate our news should be... right?
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11-12-2007 @ 4:12PM
BStu said...
They are catching flak on liberal blogs for editing a statement from Nancy Pelosi so it seems she's saying that the Congress hasn't done anything when what she actually said was that Congress hasn't done anything to end the war in Iraq.
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/horsesmouth/2007/11/presto_cnn_edit.php
It turned a mea culpa on the lack of results concerning the Iraq War into an admission of a total lack of accomplishments. I find it nothing short of bizarre that CNN has pulled this same editing trick on a wrestling champ and the Speaker of the House in the same week. Are they too dehydrated in Atlanta or something?
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11-12-2007 @ 4:12PM
Hollywood Ron said...
CNN, like all journalistic organizations, edits statements to support whatever preconceived notion the organization has on an issue. CNN was doing it before Fox News, and will continue to do it regardless. Everyone has an agenda.
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11-12-2007 @ 4:14PM
Jon said...
Actually, CNN edited the show for a weekend rerun to include Cena's initial answer.
This really was pretty sloppy of CNN.
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11-13-2007 @ 1:55AM
mike said...
http://edition.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form6a.html?2
That's the link to complain about their slimey editing.
My message to them:
Just like to say that you're slimey editing on John Cena's response to whether or not he used steroids is unacceptable and downright degrading to your integrity.
Surely there's enough holes in the wrestling wellness policy, and surely there's enough people to tag without having to resort to tactics like that.
You guys really should be ashamed of your work, as I was embarassed for you.
Guess that's why I go elsewhere for my news, Just can't trust what you guys put out.
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11-12-2007 @ 5:42PM
MCW said...
I thought the documentary was a joke. It had nothing to do with wrestling, and it was just CNN's agenda to talk about steroids for an hour. Why Vince agreed to let them interview himself and John Cena is beyond me. But I'm sure glad he just gave CNN a swift kick in the teeth. That is excellent.
My respect for John Cena just went up a notch as well.
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11-12-2007 @ 5:49PM
Lenny said...
Bruce, that has got to be one of the most idiotic comments ever.
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11-12-2007 @ 6:43PM
VP said...
Shame on CNN. I watched both versions of the video and the impression you get them from is totally different. If i was Cena, unless i get a public apology from the head of CNN they would be looking at lawsuit from me.
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11-13-2007 @ 12:27AM
Jim said...
Shame on CNN!
To even do a story about pro wrestling is indefensible.
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11-13-2007 @ 4:45AM
Will said...
Bruce, that's a really unfair statement to generalize all Americans that way. I've never watched Fox News in my life, can't stand Rush Limbaugh (you didn't mention him but I thought I'd throw that in), and don't really liked being deceived when hearing the news, or in this case, something that was supposed to be news-worthy. This coming to light certainly lowers my opinion of CNN, but it wasn't that high to being with. My main gripe about CNN is not really about them editing a story to be misleading. The truth in these matters ends to come out rather quickly, this isn't 1938 where Orson Welles can fool the whole country for an extended period of time (if you're too young to know what I'm talking about, look it up. It's a fascinating story.) Most people these days get their news and info from a variety of sources and a lot of younger people tend to rely on the internet almost exclusively. No, my real problem with CNN is that they repeat the same stories over and over again throughout the day and unless it's a breaking story, where new details are coming in often, it gets really old after about an hour. When I was in the hospital a few years back, beridden and with limited channels, the cable news channels (and MSNBC isn't exempt from this either) just about drove me crazy. Reading made me sleepy, so unless I was trying to sleep, tv was it. Anyway, I'm amazed that CNN would try to pull this off.It's just plain dumb. I wonder if anyone will lose a job due to the backlash.
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