Press Releases: 11/30/12

MSNBC (1)

MSNBC PRESENTS “MISSING JOHNNY,” A DOCUMENTARY CHRONICLING THE 30 YEAR SEARCH FOR JOHNNY GOSCH, THE FIRST MISSING CHILD TO APPEAR ON A MILK CARTON ON DECEMBER 16TH AT 9PM ET

NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 30, 2012 –MSNBC’s dynamic news documentary series Maximum Drama continues to present thought-provoking stories with the premiere of “Missing Johnny,” an examination of the infamous thirty-year-old cold case of missing child Johnny Gosch –the first missing child to appear on a milk carton- on Sunday, December 16th at 9 pm ET. “Missing Johnny” focuses on the heartbreaking story of Johnny’s mother, Noreen Gosch, and her relentless quest to find the truth about her missing son.

“Missing Johnny,” chronicles the endless intrigue and conspiracy theories surrounding the eyewitness sightings, physical evidence and case-turning discoveries which span across three decades. The documentary intertwines original interviews of all the main characters with archival news footage, home video and film material spanning 30 years. Interviews include the last adult to see Johnny, the West Des Moines police captain and a convicted child molester who says he took part in Johnny’s abduction.

The Hazards of Live TV: #25,181

According to emailers things got a little screwy on CNBC earlier today when Brian Sullivan interviewed John McAffee via phone and  McAffee dropped more than a few Bombs which Sullivan subsequently apologized for. I really don’t understand why McAffee is getting any air time on CNBC for. He’s a fugitive but he’s not a business story.

Free for All: 11/30/12

What’s on your mind?

Press Releases: 11/29/12

Bloomberg (1)

Josh Rucci Joins Bloomberg as Global Head of Content Sales

New York, NY, Nov. 29, 2012 – Bloomberg today announced that Josh Rucci, former senior executive at Getty Images, has joined Bloomberg Media Group as global head of content sales. In the newly formed position, Rucci is responsible for sales of news, photos, video and other products to newspapers, magazines, broadcasters and online publishers around the world. Bloomberg’s diverse content includes business, finance, politics, technology, luxury and other key verticals. Rucci is based in London and reports to Susan Vobejda, general manager of Bloomberg Media Licensing and Distribution.

“We are pleased to welcome Josh at this important time for Bloomberg, as we continue to sign important new deals with publishers and clients,” said Vobejda. “Josh’s expertise and strong history in content sales make him an ideal fit as we expand our media licensing and distribution deals globally.”

Reading Jeff Zucker and Phil Kent’s Tea Leaves…

There’s a lot of tea leaves to look at from today’s teleconference with Jeff Zucker and Phil Kent so let’s get at it…

Teal Leaf #1:

Zucker, who succeeds outgoing CNN chief Jim Walton starting in January, said while much about CNN needs to change, the network is already packed with talent and has already made promising moves – like tapping “Supersize Me” producer and star Morgan Spurlock and cranky globe-trotting TV chef Anthony Bourdain for new programming next year.

“News is not just about politics and war,” Zucker said. “The definition of news is broader than perhaps has been historically thought about here.”

Those out there, myself included, who were looking for a sign that CNN’s news brand will stay intact or at the very least as robust as it has been, are reading the above quote in abject horror. The inference here is that CNN wants to keep its news brand but move the goalposts regarding what constitutes news. This is a similar tactic to how MSNBC has “repositioned” itself under Zucker and Phil Griffin. In that network’s case, it translated into gutting news in favor of talking head political analysis. The MSNBC that everyone points to as a success story for Zucker ignores the reality that Jeff Zucker essentially killed MSNBC, as it existed, and created a new network bearing the same name with a different charter. I don’t think either Kent or Zucker want to take CNN in that direction to that degree but I do believe they want to alter the discussion about what constitutes news in order to give them more leeway in publicly justifying the programming that’s going to be airing on CNN with increasing frequency in the future.

This point was driven home by Tea Leaf #2…

Zucker: Write Ups…

The New York Times’ Brian Stelter and Bill Carter have reaction to the Zucker news…

Walter Isaacson, who ran CNN from 2001 to 2003, preceding Mr. Walton, said Mr. Zucker was a smart choice because “CNN has great journalists, but what it has needed is an imaginative programmer who knows how to build good shows.”

Phil Griffin, the president of MSNBC, said that if anyone could “bring CNN back,” Mr. Zucker could. Referring to Roger Ailes, the Fox News chairman, Mr. Griffin said: “Ailes on one side, Zucker on the other: Game on.”

As does USA Today’s Gary Levin…

“You can look at CNN’s problem in two ways,” says Andrew Tyndall, a TV-news analyst who runs The Tyndall Report. “Either it’s lost its way as a TV channel that doesn’t know how to attract audiences, or it’s lost its way as a journalistic enterprise. In the minds of Time Warner, by hiring Zucker they’re saying it’s a television problem, not a journalism problem.”

And Tyndall contends that CNN’s attempts to solve its woes by “defining itself negatively — ‘we’re not like them’ — is diminishing and bland.” The question, he says, is, “How can you have a strong personality and gravitas at the same time without being ideological?”

And the AP’s David Bauder…

Roger Ailes, top executive at Fox News, offered a welcome to Zucker on Thursday.

“I have known Jeff for a quarter of a century and he is one of the most experienced executives in the business,” Ailes said. “He is a talented producer with solid strategic skills and I’m sure he’ll make a difference at CNN. I wish Jeff the best.”

Tom Johnson, president of CNN during the 1990s, called Zucker’s hiring a “splendid choice.”

“I would hope it would be a return to CNN where news trumps all programming so CNN gets back to its basics of being a breaking news network,” Johnson said.

Bauder also touches on a topic on my mind…

There was no word on the futures of Ken Jautz and Mark Whitaker, who have been running the flagship network on a day-to-day basis since Walton’s departure.

One would think Whitaker is safe; the reasoning being his prior stint at NBC News. Jautz, on the other hand, I’m less certain about due to his lack of success after taking over from Jon Klein.

The Jeff Zucker Press Call…

Out of all the Jeff Zucker to CNN articles I’ve read, the one I will bestow must read status on is the Washington Post’s Lisa de Moraes who gives a behind the curtain look at the press call that happened earlier today. I love de Moraes’ tone…

Both Zucker and Kent talked about improving the consistency of CNN shows, both in front of the camera and behind.

“CNN does not have an identity problem…we’ve had some execution problems, not only in primetime but in other dayparts as well,” Kent said.

“Jeff’s mission is to get every one of our platforms…to execute as well as possible.”

An LA Times reporter on the conference call asked if he’d just said he was going to be executing people in primetime.

Another member of the press on the call asked Zucker to settle the question the reporters were having at that very same moment on Twitter, as to whether Zucker will commute between his home in Manhattan and CNN’s operations in Atlanta by flying first class on commercial planes, or on a private jet.

Jeff Zucker: CNN Worldwide President

The press release…

Jeff Zucker Named President of CNN Worldwide

Jeff Zucker will join CNN Worldwide as president of the multi-platform global news enterprise, it was announced today by Phil Kent, chairman and CEO of CNN parent company Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. In January 2013, Zucker will assume executive oversight of a portfolio of 23 branded news and information businesses that includes CNN/U.S., CNN International, CNN.com and HLN and reaches more than 2 billion people in some 200 countries around the world. Zucker will report to Kent and will be based at CNN in New

Zucker started his 25-year career with NBC as a researcher for NBC Sports’ coverage of the 1988 Summer Olympic Games and rose to president and chief executive officer of NBC Universal. He was named executive producer of Today in January 1992; under his eight-year leadership, the program was the most-watched morning news show and the most profitable program on television. Zucker went on to executive-produce NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw and the network’s coverage of the Persian Gulf War, the 1993 and 1997 presidential inaugurations and the 2000 elections. He was promoted to president of NBC Entertainment, president of the NBC Entertainment, News & Cable group and president and CEO of the NBC Universal Television Group. Currently, Zucker is executive producer of the syndicated daytime show Katie.

“Jeff’s experience as a news executive is unmatched for its breadth and success,” said Kent. “He built and sustained the number-one brand in morning news, and under his watch NBC’s signature news programming set a standard for quality and professionalism. As a programmer, a brand-builder and a leader, he will bring energy and new thinking to CNN. I couldn’t be happier to welcome him or more excited about what he’ll accomplish here.”

Free for All: 11/29/12

What’s on your mind?

Advertising for CNN Heroes…

MediaPost’s Wayne Friedman writes about the advertising for CNN Heroes…

“CNN Heroes is a tentpole programming event for CNN,” stated Greg D’Alba, president, CNN and Turner Digital Ad Sales. “It culminates with the December broadcast, but really lives year-round, giving our advertising partners, especially those that wish to spotlight particular cause-related campaigns, the perfect platform to connect with an emotionally-engaged audience at a relevant time.”

Some of the sponsors’ existing cause-related efforts will be featured in their creative messaging that will run during the show.

For example, Johnson & Johnson will again feature its “Nurses Heal” creative promoting their Campaign for Nursing’s Future foundation. Subaru will run creative that spotlights its “Share The Love” event that donates $250 to the owner’s choice of five charities for every new Subaru bought or leased through the promotional period of Nov. 21, 2012 to Jan.2, 2013.

November Numbers: CNN

CNN is noting its November ratings…

CNN RATINGS – End of November 2012

HIGHLIGHTS:

CNN had substantial growth in November increasing +59% in total day/total viewers (652k vs. 409k) and +98% in total day/demo 25-54 (241k vs. 122k) vs. a year ago. In weekday primetime, delivery increased by even more robust margins –+72% in total viewers (1.254m vs. 729k) and +131% in the key demo 25-54 (494k vs. 214k). This represents CNN’s best monthly performance in total day in over a year among both total viewers and in the key demo 25-54 and in M-F prime among 25-54.

Starting Point with Soledad O’Brien had its best month since launching in January, growing double digits from a year ago. In total viewers the morning program was up +36% (393k vs. 290k) and increased 44% in the key demo 25-54 (164k vs. 114k).

Erin Burnett Outfront also had its strongest month since launch (October 2011) in both total viewers and in the key demo. The show had the most growth in total viewers compared to the competition, increasing +52% (774k vs. 510k) and also increased +81% in the key demo (254k vs. 140k).

November Numbers: MSNBC…

MSNBC is noting its November ratings…

MSNBC PRIME RANKS AMONG TOP 10 CABLE NETS IN NOVEMBER 2012

MSNBC Has Best Total Day Performance in Nearly Ten Years

“Hardball with Chris Matthews” at 5 p.m. Has Best Month in the Show’s 12 Year History

NEW YORK – November 28, 2012 –MSNBC had another record-breaking ratings month in November, posting significant year-over-year gains and hitting all-time highs for programs including “Hardball with Chris Matthews,” “PoliticsNation,” “The Ed Show” and “Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell,” according to data from Nielsen. “Morning Joe” and “The Rachel Maddow Show” had their best A25-54 delivery since November 2008.

“Martin Bashir” at 4 p.m. and “The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell” at 10 p.m. posted the best total viewer delivery in the history of MSNBC in those time periods.

For the second month in a row, MSNBC Weekday Primetime (M-F 8-11 p.m.) ranked among the Top Ten cable networks in total viewers (#10, #8 with kids networks excluded). MSNBC also had the biggest year-over-year gain among any cable network in the top 30 for the month. In November, MSNBC was the #2 cable news network in weekday primetime averaging 525,000 A25-54 and 1.6 million total viewers. Compared to Nov. 2011, MSNBC Weekday Prime was up 131% with A25-54 and 82% among total viewers. MSNBC ranked #1 among African American P2+ for the 34 th consecutive month.

Megyn Kelly ‘Freaked’ by New Fox News Alert

FNC changed its Fox News Alert and apparently it caught Megyn Kelly off gaurd…

The Hazards of Live TV: #25,180

I wouldn’t categorize this Hazard as a joke like TVNewser did. I would call it a slip up. And pfft on MSNBC for editing it out for a re-air.

He said/He said…

The Daily Beast’s Howard Kurtz writes about the FNC/Tom Ricks flap…

Was Ricks being deliberately provocative? Perhaps he was, for controversy sells books. And maybe his criticism was overstated. But the fact remains that he was invited as a guest, was asked about the Libya attack, and responded in a way that made Fox’s relentless coverage of the controversy part of the story. And that was deemed unacceptable.

Michael Clemente, Fox’s executive vice president, told me that Ricks’s conduct “felt like a stunt…That was just bush league, especially for a veteran reporter.” Ricks wasn’t answering the anchor’s question, says Clemente, and Scott, feeling “offended,” decided that “I’m not going to give this guy any more airtime.”

What’s more, Clemente says, Ricks “apologized” to a Fox staffer on the way out.

Ricks denies this, saying he told the staffer—who accused him of being rude—that he “might have been a bit snappish” because he was tired from his book tour. “This was in no way an apology,” Ricks told me, “but rather an explanation of why I jumped a bit when the anchor began the segment with the assertion that pressure on the White House was building—which it most clearly was not.”

As for the interview itself, “I was not picking a fight with Fox. I was answering their questions.”

Bull. Ricks absolutely was picking a fight with FNC the same way that John Ziegler tried to pick a fight with Contessa Brewer and got booted off MSNBC. If you attack a network you are appearing on with that kind of rhetoric, you should expect to get yanked off the air. One could still make the point Ricks was trying to make without resorting to the language Ricks was using…language which left FNC with no choice but to drop him like a hot potato.

The only question I have is whether Ricks has a documented history of taking jabs at FNC. If he has, then FNC’s bookers share some of the blame for bringing him on knowing what could happen.

Free for All: 11/28/12

What’s on your mind?

Pondering Jeff Zucker…

Variety’s Andrew Wallenstein pens a smart piece on Jeff Zucker. I disagree with parts of it but Wallenstein raises some interesting points nobody else has raised…

CNN needs what Zucker was able to do at NBC’s “Today” at an earlier stage in his career: to shake up established practices and find a new groove. Rare is the executive who has significant experience across both news and entertainment, along with a healthy respect for how digital is transforming both. Zucker fits that profile to a T.

The radical rethink of established practices Zucker has to undertake at CNN is not unlike what Disney called on Rich Ross to attempt at Walt Disney Studios, and we all know how that turned out. But the moral of that story isn’t that you don’t attempt change because it is too tough to pull off. The lesson is that it takes someone who’s already proven he knows how to attempt a bold turnaround to succeed when there’s such a high degree of difficulty.

Imagine the hooting and hollering that would occur if CNN dared to migrate the kind of unscripted programming it will be trying on weekends with Anthony Bourdain and Morgan Spurlock to time periods more accustomed to traditional news. It’s going to take someone like Zucker to make that happen.

And therein lies an interesting wrinkle in the Zucker comeback story: He’ll be knocking on the doors of the same talent agencies he alienated in the past in search of other talent to reignite CNN. But that won’t be a problem. He may make a lot of people in this town see red, but his money is still green.

If anything, his failures at NBCU are an asset in that Zucker has something to prove. He knows there are naysayers who want him to fail. And he probably craves an opportunity for redemption, something his current lower-profile gig as exec producer of Katie Couric’s syndie talkshow wasn’t going to deliver.

Press Releases: 11/27/12

Bloomberg (1)

BLOOMBERG TV’S “STREET SMART” PRESENTS: THE FISCAL CLIFF SUMMIT

-Airing Wednesday, November 28th at 4pm ET-

Every part of the economy is bracing for the fiscal cliff, now just a month away. Tomorrow at 4pm ET/1pm PT, Bloomberg Television sits down with four preeminent voices for their perspectives on how the economic, defense and financial industries are preparing.

Guests include:

· Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers
· Former U.S. Army General Wesley Clark
· Kynikos Associates President and Founder Jim Chanos
· Cantor Fitzgerald CEO Howard Lutnick

“The Fiscal Cliff Summit,” a one-hour “Street Smart” special report, will be hosted by Trish Regan in New York.

Preview video here.

The program will repeat tomorrow at 8pm ET, Thursday at 9pm ET and multiple times over the weekend. To find Bloomberg Television in your area, visit http://bloomberg.viewerlink.tv/. Follow Bloomberg TV on Twitter at @BloombergTV.

CNN is Dead, Long Live CNN…

The New York Times’ Brian Stelter moves the needle on the replacement for Jim Walton story…

Several news executives close to Mr. Zucker said this week that they believed he had been chosen to run CNN, and they expected the appointment to be announced soon. People close to the Time Warner chief executive, Jeffrey L. Bewkes, also identified Mr. Zucker. A Time Warner spokesman declined to comment.

Stelter then offers up this…

In considering candidates to run one of the world’s best-known, but beleaguered, news organizations, Mr. Bewkes and his deputy Phil Kent have also been considering their own legacies. They are cautious about not undermining CNN’s journalistic heart and soul, even as they strive to resuscitate the channel’s prime-time lineup, according to people who have met with them about the search. That means the channel’s programming will remain nonpartisan in nature.

“They want someone who has programming and management and cable expertise; someone who can be credible to the staff and to the business community,” one person said. “They know that this is a pretty tall order.”

Well, then why Zucker? Stelter then makes an argument…

Mr. Zucker could check off all those boxes. As a young NBC News producer, he helped start what became a 16-year winning streak for the “Today” show. He had mixed results as he moved up the rungs of NBC, but he can point to cable programming successes even as the NBC broadcast network struggled.

The problem I have with this line of reasoning, as I’ve mentioned before, is that Zucker’s cable news track record shows a history of brand dilution in order to boost ratings with a “whatever gets eyeballs” approach. For MSNBC that meant gutting news almost completely and airing non-sequitur crime docs. For The Weather Channel it meant more reality TV and movies. CNBC lost its primetime identity of live programming in favor of boring tape.

For Zucker to succeed at CNN and keep CNN true to its roots and not succumb to “undermining CNN’s journalistic heart and soul” it means Zucker would have to adapt himself to the CNN legacy and not do what he did to NBCU’s cable news properties. Can he do that? Sure. Will he do that? I’m highly skeptical. Until I see it actually happen…until I see Zucker build on CNN’s strengths without destroying its news brand, I will continue to believe that a Zucker led CNN Worldwide could very well mean the death of the network as it has been known for 30 plus years. For CNN’s sake I hope I’m wrong…

Dressing The Part…or not…

The Washington Post’s Katherine Boyle pens a lengthy article on female anchor fashion that covers quite a wide area…

For decades, the suit jacket transformed women into workers. With jackets required for entrance at male-dominated clubs and boardrooms, women bundled up their breasts to blend into a professional culture that predated their arrival. But in recent years, even as men continued to assume corporate uniforms of suits and ties, newswomen — one of the last vestiges of female suit wearers — have resoundingly dismissed them from their closets. They now flank themselves in bright sleeveless sheath dresses and stiletto heels, renouncing the once hard-and-fast edicts of television news: no bare legs, no long hair, no feminine distractions from the news. The revision of the female anchor’s dress code happened swiftly and broadly on network and cable television. And if newswomen are the most visible barometers of workplace fashion, the women’s suit may one day go the way of the petticoat.

“Ten years ago, professional dress meant a Talbots suit for women,” said Dave Smith, president of SmithGeiger, a market research firm that consults with news networks. “What’s appropriate for female talent on television has evolved because of familiarity. The audience has equal regard for female and male anchors. It’s given women far more liberty to be feminine.”

It’s also gotten out of hand…especially on cable news. This topic is one I had been mulling over doing a story on for a while now. If, ten years ago, the female cable news wardrobe situation skewed too heavily towards a cookie cutter suit sameness, now things have gone too far in the other direction. Now we see an over abundance of bare shoulders which itself has become the ‘new suit’ in terms of its ubiquity and boring sameness. Five years ago you could make a drinking game where you took a shot if someone wears a sleeveless dress and not get hammered. You try that now and you’ll be comatose by mid-day.

Sleeveless-mania is so out of control now it has broken though traditional seasonal patterns. The summer dress and its cousins would traditionally pop up in mid spring and hang around into the early fall when more winter style clothing like turtlenecks and boots would start appearing. No longer. Now the sleeveless or short sleeved dress appears year round.

Including right now. It’s 33 degrees in New York City today. All you NYC female anchors wearing sleeveless or semi-sleeveless dresses this week I have just one question for you, “Are you nuts?!? IT’S 33 DEGREES OUTSIDE! Why are you dressing for weather that doesn’t exist within a thousand miles of you?!?!”

We viewers aren’t stupid. We know when someone is trying too hard in the fashion department wearing clothing they wouldn’t normally wear this time of year. I was actually planning on waiting for the first big NYC snowstorm and then video capture every cable news talent that wore a sleeveless or semi-sleeveless dress and post them on the blog and call them out for it. I may still do that.

We need some sanity returned to cable news fashion. Dress sensibly. Dress for the occasion. Dress for the season. Dress for the weather. Don’t dress like you have no idea what occasion, season, or weather there is.

Free for All: 11/26/12

What’s on your mind?

The Bob Beckel Hall of Shame…

Since FNC seems to want to keep walking Hazard Bob Beckel on the air, I think it only fair to remind everyone just how much a Hazard Beckel has been for the network…

Feb 2010 – Flips the bird on Hannity…

July 2011 – Beckel’s first of many profanity bombs on The Five…

Sept 2011 – Bombs Away…

Oct 2011 – Bombs Away Again…

Apr 2012 – Where’s he Bleep?…

Aug 2012 – So many Bombs, so little time…

Nov 2012 – No Bombs…just offensive commentary…

Beckel has stolen the crown of “Biggest Foul Mouthed Loose Cannon” away from serial offender Chris Matthews; something I didn’t think was possible. Thanks to Beckel, The Five has yanked the crown of “Show Most Deserving of a Permanent Seven Second Delay” away from Morning Joe. You can understand why Matthews and Morning Joe are still around…they’re key to MSNBC’s success. But Beckel is small fry. He’s an interchangeable cog for FNC. And the network has never punished him ever for being such a negative attention magnet and his inability to change his ways. FNC can’t keep sticking its head in the sand and hope things change. They won’t.

Free For All: Black Friday Edition

Today’s Free For All is specially discounted 50% off if you buy two on layaway. So, what’s on your mind?

BOOOM!

Ouch…

Gobble This…

So it’s like a Thanksgiving tradition at the Spud family. Thanksgiving comes around and Spud’s family has to battle the plumbing. I kid you not. Over the decades there have been numerous events with the septic tank and/or the house plumbing. Spud’s parents don’t have the septic tank any more (thank God!) but the house acting up is still a semi annual Thanksgiving tradition. Once it was Spud’s father who did battle with the house with a wrench, a snake, lots of swearing, and a shower to clean off the stinky mess. I inherited the position as chief plumber about a decade ago. I know, I know…”Why don’t you call a plubmer?” It’s THANKSGIVING!!!! You can’t get a plumber to come around for four days. You want to wait around four days with a backed up sink?

This year is no exception. Usually the problem is cured within an hour after a wrench, a snake, lots of swearing, and a shower to clean off the stinky mess take place. But this year the house has come prepared for battle. The plug is in a new location in a pipe between the sink piping and the main drain pipe under the floor. Not easy to get at, especially when Spud’s mom is busy working on the Turkey. In fact the House has won this round tonight. Dish washing will have to be done downstairs in a smaller sink tonight. Well I guess I can use the exercise.

Happy Thanksgiving…

Bob Beckel Apologizes (YET AGAIN) for (LATEST) Embarrassment…

(via J$)

Bob Beckel read a dictated from management apology at gunpoint apologizes for being the embarrassment to FNC that he is yesterday’s gaffe…

MSNBC in Obama’s Second Term…

The Huffington Post’s Michael Calderone writes about MSNBC and its Progressive brand and what happens in a second Obama administration…

Griffin acknowledges that his hosts are more likely to agree with Obama on policy matters than with Republicans, but rejects comparisons to Fox News.

“This channel has never been the voice of Obama. Ever,” Griffin told The Huffington Post. “People want to talk about Fox. Fox is the voice of the Republican Party.”

Clearly, there are differences, such as Fox News giving significant airtime to contributors like political consultant Dick Morris, who acknowledged after the election that he had tailored his analysis to cheer up Republicans, and Karl Rove, perhaps the most powerful Republican operative. And although MSNBC hosts were upset by Obama’s initial debate debacle, they didn’t sugarcoat the performance.

“We hire smart people with a progressive sensibility,” Griffin said. “I tell them to go think for themselves. We don’t have talking points.”

Free for All: 11/21/12

What’s on your mind?

Press Releases: 11/21/12

CNN (1)

CNN scoops three Foreign Press Association Media Awards

London, 21st November 2012: Last night, the combined efforts of CNN Digital and CNN International saw the network triumph at the Foreign Press Association Media Awards, winning three categories. CNN won the Print & Web Feature, Arts & Culture, and Story of the Year by a Full Member of the FPA awards.

The CNN documentary World’s Untold Stories: Secrets of the Belfast Project won News Story of the Year by a full FPA member. The judges described the documentary as “absolute dynamite, a terrific story and a fine piece of journalism”.

The Arts & Culture award was given to Leonardo – The Lost Painting, a documentary that explored the story behind the recent discovery of a Leonardo da Vinci painting. Judges praised the “love and lingering interest” that had gone into the piece, describing it as “a very well done cultural story”.

The Twinkie Defense?

Seriously? A bus bombing in Israel and FOX is doing a segment on do-it-yourself twinkies?

- Carol Costello this morning on Facebook.