On June 12th, 2005, the weekly program "CNN Presents" was scheduled to air a segment called
"Dead Wrong: Inside the Fight Over US Intelligence" relating to the War in Iraq.
However, when I tuned in to watch the program that evening, they were instead airing a piece about young athletes called "Whatever it Takes: Pursuing the Perfect 10".
The next day, I sent CNN an e-mail about the last-minute program change, asking for a reason for the change. They responded that "Dead Wrong" was now scheduled to air beginning on June 26th.
To date, the program still has not aired and they have not responded to further questions about it.
More, including my original e-mail and their response below...
From: Public Information
Date: Wednesday, June 15, 2005 7:38 PM
To: XXXXXXXX
RE: CNN Presents - kepi
"DEAD WRONG: Inside the Fight Over U.S. Intelligence" is currently scheduled to premiere on Sunday, June 26 at 8 p.m. ET
with replays on
Sunday, June 26 at 11 p.m.
Monday June 27 at 2 a.m.
Saturday, July 2 at 6 a.m, 3 p.m., 8 p.m., 11 p.m.
Sunday July 3 at 2 a.m.
All times ET.
Thanks for your interest and keep your browser pointed to http://cnn.com/.
Sincerely,
Public Information Staff - kepi
-----Original Message-----
From: XXXXXXXXXX
Sent: Monday, June 13, 2005 12:12 PM
To: cnnpresents@turner.com
Subject: CNN Presents
What happened on CNN Presents last night? My TV Guide showed that the show was to be "Dead Wrong: Inside the fight over US Intelligence" regarding Iraq, but when I tuned in you were showing "Whatever it takes: Pursuing the perfect 10" about young athletes...???
What happened? Did the Bush administration pressure you to pull the piece about Iraq?
Very curious timing with the Conyers hearings coming up this week about Bush and Co. misleading and manipulating intelligence!!
Please advise why the last minute change????
So, apparently my cable company's TV guide had been mistaken and the segment wasn't scheduled to air until the 26th...
Unfortunately, on June 26th the program again did not air, with them instead re-airing an old piece (I think it may have been the same one about young athletes but can't remember).
The next day, I sent them another e-mail about it.
From: XXXXXXXXXXX
Date: Monday, June 27, 2005 11:28 AM
To: Public Information
RE: CNN Presents - kepi
Okay. This is the second time that this program on Iraq has been scheduled
to air and not aired. Can you please explain???
To date I have not received any further response from CNN and the program never aired on any of the dates they said it would in their response to me.
However, this weekend "CNN Presents" is airing a DIFFERENT segment about Iraq called "Progress Report: War in Iraq" about the "efforts to acheive democracy and stability in Iraq".
That's quite a major difference from the original story!! "Dead Wrong: Inside the Fight Over US Intelligence" has somehow morphed into "Progress Report: War in Iraq"?? Or perhaps it is an entirely different piece?
Why did the original segment never air??
Was it "pulled" and edited into this "Progress Report", or perhaps "killed" altogether, due to pressure from the White House? It certainly wouldn't be the first time this administration has manipulated the media or tried to discourage someone from airing/printing something negative about them!
Is it merely a coincidence that the original air date for the story was June 12th and Congressman Conyers was holding his hearings on the 16th?
I think CNN has some explaining to do....
UPDATE!!!!
Unbelievable!
I forwarded this diary to CNN when I posted it and wouldn't you know, they just responded to me!! Wow, that was fast! I had been waiting for a response since June 27th, but I post this here and boom! A response in less than 20 minutes...
So it seems they're now going to air it on July 31 and the title has changed slightly to "Dead Wrong: Inside an Intelligence Meltdown", but the premise seems the same
No reason was given for the changes or why it never aired when it was supposed to. Hopefully they were digging deeper!
Here's their response:
"DEAD WRONG" - Inside an Intelligence Meltdown is currently scheduled for
Sunday, July 31 at 8 p.m., (premiere) 11 p.m. and 2 a.m.
Saturday, August 6 at 6 a.m., 3 p.m., 8 p.m., 11 p.m., 2 a.m.
All times ET.
Thanks for your interest and keep your browser pointed to http://www.cnn.com
Sincerely,
CNN Public Information - kepi
by Jimmy G on Sat Jul 23rd, 2005 at 16:29:23 PDT
Also.... My apologies to those who have commented here that I don't offer proof that the WH is involved in this "programming change", but if I had actual proof, I wouldn't have framed the title in the form of a question, I would have stated it as fact!
The way I see it there are two options for the delay/change of this program:
1. CNN pulled the piece back themselves, twice, for whatever reason (perhaps because of new developments relating to the story)?
or
2. CNN was pressured/threatened/persuaded not to run it or at least delay or edit it... and if so, who else but the WH would have the ability to influence them and a vested interest in how the story of the failure of intelligence in the run-up to the war in Iraq is told?
I don't know that the WH is involved, but it fits their MO...