Via Jeremy Zawodny’s linkblog I discovered this piece at arstechnica reporting that CNN has cancelled Crossfire, the ‘debate’ show that Jon Stewart very publicly dissed a couple of months back. Of particular note are these comments from Jonathan Klein, new President of CNN:
Mr. Klein specifically cited the criticism that the comedian Jon Stewart leveled at “Crossfire” when he was a guest on the program during the presidential campaign. Mr. Stewart said that ranting partisan political shows on cable were “hurting America.” Mr. Klein said last night, “I agree wholeheartedly with Jon Stewart’s overall premise.” He said he believed that especially after the terror attacks on 9/11, viewers are interested in information, not opinion.
That wasn’t how I’d interpreted Jon Stewart’s comments on Crossfire, and from the general response that appearance received I don’t think that’s how many people saw it. It seemed that Stewart was criticising the partisan nature of the opinions on the show, the fact that its presenters were more interested in scoring intellectual points against one another than debating for any more lofty purpose. No news network is able to offer ‘information’ in a pure sense, but they can be honest about their biases and constructive in their debate.