During a visit to Atlanta last week, I had a chance to visit with people from my CNN days. The news is not good. Network morale was already low when Christiane Amanpour annouced she was leaving to anchor a Sunday morning ABC news show. People who worked with her had nothing but kind words to say about the experience and Christiane’s professionalism. My ten-year tenure as CNN’s Senior Corespondent overlapped her rise as one of television’s best international reporters. But except for passing in the hallways, we were not acquainted. Nonetheless, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out that the granddaddy of television’s 24-hour news networks can ill-afford to lose high-profile personalities. Its ratings have hit a low point.

On most days, I keep CNN on my home screen throughout the daytime hours with the volume muted and the captions on. I’m reasonably certain that if news of major significance breaks, the network will be the first to report it. Periodically, some piece of video or a fragment of captioned narration will catch my attention and I will watch for a few minutes. My prayer is that big stories don’t break in the time period occupied by Rick Sanchez. I can take only so much torture.

Driving to and from Atlanta, I experienced the opposite of my daily routine. I listened to CNN on XM Radio without the benefit of pictures. It re-enforced my opinion that the network has too few correspondents and too many pundits. Sunday, in particular, was painful. In addition to commentators representing all parts of the political spectrum, there was the usual parade of Congressmen—all with repetitive remarks that I could almost lip sync. In between, Washington reporters interviewed each other. And even worse, was the scorecard. Health reform had enough votes. No, no, it was still short. Back and forth and all around.

Where were the real people? I sure as hell would not call the Tea Party protesters a cross-section of real people—especially after the idiots that shouted epithets at African-American Representatives and spat on a black Congressman. I don’t blame this on Tea Party. It was a moronic minority of racists, who reverted to the kind of crap that ended forty years ago. Really disheartening was seeing a Republican Congressman defend these idiots by blaming the Democrats for the racist comments. I wonder who elects low-life characters like him.

Fortunately, CNN displayed a bit of restraint in its coverage of the protests. But not much. As usual, context was missing from CNN’s coverage. There were charges and counter-charges throughout the day. Each side was given equal time—unchallenged by reporters. Indeed, the network made only a minimal effort to check-out information it passed along. There is a reason for the oversight. CNN no longer has the will to dispatch correspondents across the country to dig into multiple dimensions of stories as important as health care. The reporting is usually anecdotal—a profile of one person in one town with one problem that is complicated by lack of health coverage. The stories are often chose based on the drama they will provide.

A veteran CNN producer told me that the network now measures stories in terms of entertainment value instead of news value. Positive viewer reaction means a segment will air multiple times, regardless of its importance. Action video like fist fights, car chases, etc. are insured a long life in the 24 hour cycle. Granted, there are stories in newscasts that cover significant issues. Many, however, are superficial.

Every TV network and local station has pretty much the same priorities as CNN in selecting what stories to feature. The term “viewer friendly” has haunted television journalism ever since the first so-called news doctor appeared on the scene in the 1970’s. Their advice was keep substantive stories short and entertaining. Otherwise, viewers would change channels, which is probably true. Consequently, viewers are to blame for the state of contemporary TV news—not the news executives themselves. Television gives viewers what they want to see instead of what they need to know. Ratings are far more important than substance in the profit-drive media conglomerates that control networks and stations nowadays.

Though not completely innocent by any means, CNN is a slightly less inclined to sell its soul. Any perceived legitimacy remains linked to the bottom line. Despite low ratings, CNN is still the most profitable of the cable news networks—mainly because of corporate components that include Headline News and CNN International. 

Thanks to worst elements of the Tea Party and people like Tea Party idol, Glenn Beck, there may be some light shining beneath the toilet bowl in which CNN resides. The passage of health care reform removes a protest issue that has rallied many Tea Party demonstrators. Added to the comments of a few protesters who disgusted a lot of folks,  the group’s sympathizers may diminish in number. As I’ve said before, I understand the reasons for the demonstrations. Fear and uncertainty in a troubled economy has always brought out the worst in people.

It will be fascinating to see what happens if the Obama Administration is successful in restoring an era of prosperity. Progress in the seven months between now and the November elections will make voters forget all about the health reform issue. As a nation, we have a short attention span. The thickness of billfolds dictates the outcome of elections.

To quote the great philosopher, James Carville, “It’s the economy stupid.”