PDA

View Full Version : CNN Executives party in Bahamas while employees get left out


Regis Philbin
Jan 26th, 2007, 10:36 PM
Sounds like a bunch of Enron executives...or even worse---"BIG OIL" executives...

http://www.nypost.com/seven/01262007/gossip/pagesix/pagesix.htm

SAD CNN SUITS FLEE TO TROPICS

January 26, 2007 -- YOU may not believe its self-important slogan, "The Most Trusted Name in News" - but CNN is definitely the most tanned name in news.

Nearly 100 honchos at the ratings-challenged cable network jetted off to the Bahamas for some fun in the sun this week - much to the chagrin of other CNN rank and file who were left behind. TV gossip site FTVLive.com reports that among those hitting the beaches at the exclusive Atlantis resort on Paradise Island are Jim Walton, president of CNN Worldwide, and Jon Klein, president of CNN/U.S.

But the timing couldn't be worse. As the CNN elite splashed in the blue-green sea and relaxed in 84-degree sunshine, the network suffered a jolting third-place finish among cable-news channels in its coverage of President Bush's State of the Union address. While Fox News was way out in front in the crucial age 25-54 demographic with 1.17 million viewers, the usually last-place MSNBC was second in the category with 751,000 viewers, followed by CNN's 668,000.

The FTVLive site says that while "CNN suits are partying it up," network lackeys back home are "trying to keep a lid" on the tropical trip. "CNN claims that they exceeded their financial budgets so instead of putting it back into the company and giving some much deserved raises, they decided to break their arms by patting themselves on the back," the Web site said.

"[There are] a lot of unhappy people in Atlanta, especially those who didn't get to go on the trip," the site reports. "Sadly, we also hear that there will be people who won't be getting raises this year due to 'cutbacks.' Well, except for Anderson Cooper - he's the golden child." Cooper just signed a new contract for $4 million a year.

Rooms at the Atlantis for a week range from $3,200 to $10,185, and the tasting menu at the Nobu outpost there goes for $150 per person. Messages left at the rooms of Walton and Klein were not returned.

A CNN mouthpiece wouldn't comment to Page Six on the trip, how much it cost or any unrest among the troops, instead crowing: "We're coming off a phenomenally successful year, both in terms of ratings and profit growth, and senior management is hatching plans for continued success."

DoubleEdgeSword
Jan 27th, 2007, 05:09 AM
Why is this is the Political Forum?

LesterX
Jan 27th, 2007, 09:00 AM
Perhaps because when Drudge and Rush Limbaugh are your primary "news" sources, it becomes increasingly difficult to distinguish between inconsequential gossip and political discussion.

Regis Philbin
Jan 29th, 2007, 02:01 AM
It's not "inconsequential" when conservatives do this kind of stuff. I thought that the socially conscious people at CNN would be more concerned about the financial welfare of their employees than taking a trip to the Bahamas. How about improving the healthcare plan???

db44
Jan 29th, 2007, 06:23 AM
It's not about parties, it's about the state of the companies. CNN is in no danger of going bankrupt. Further, to my knowledge (and knowing people who have/do work for them), it treats its employees pretty well.

Enron on the other hand, as you used them specifically. Partied even as it was heading into bankruptcy, and as it was screwing its employees by telling them not to take their money out of their 401K accounts because that would essentially in turn hurt the party fund.

Please tell me you do see a difference here.

I hardly take "Page Six" as a credible source anyway. You are using a Rupert gossip column from perhaps the most slanted paper in the world that's attacking the company's biggest cable rival as a source?

I don't know about the raises due to cutbacks, but I do know media in general is in a tremendous funk, starting last year. Time Inc. about a week ago cut around 1,500 jobs, including some editorial staff. I've had a raise delayed once, but did get it.

As for Anderson Cooper, it shows how little you really understand. Unlike big exeuctive who do barely anything to better the company, in some ways Cooper is the company (certainly one of the top faces there). I suppose the company is supposed to just let him go? Then why don't you post about the cushy packages CEOs get, when they aren't as recognizable phyiscally or on merit as the likes of Cooper?

For that last sentence, I don't consider Cooper a top reporter, I use the term about merits more in that some CEOs are worthless except for their inflated packages they give themselves.

Richard Tafoya
Jan 30th, 2007, 01:31 PM
Most major companies have corporate retreats and conferences. Is it news when Disney does it? When Well Fargo does it? Costco? News Corp? Quizno's? Radio Shack?

Here's some insight into some of the many executive shindigs that News Corp puts together for their execs each year:
http://www.bizbash.com/newyork/content/editorial/e7041.php