Some free advice for CNN

I've always wondered if the Old Media would get a wakeup call when their bottom line is threatened by the rejection of their biases.

The new top man at CNN seems to grasp that his network's failing ratings are directly connected to content issues and has made a dramatic and controversial bid to reach out to disaffected viewers and news sources.

Walter Isaacson, formerly managing editor of Time magazine, has been huddling with Republican leaders in the House and Senate, seeking advice on how to attract more right-leaning viewers to CNN.

"I was trying to reach out to a lot of Republicans who feel that CNN has not been as open covering Republicans, and I wanted to hear their concerns," he told Roll Call last week.

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While it's good to see CNN squirming, I have to tell you that Issacson is barking up the wrong tree if he thinks the Republicans have any answers for him.

The problem with establishment media bias is not a simple Republican-Democrat or conservative-liberal or right-left issue. It's far more complicated than that – as the success of WorldNetDaily illustrates.

CNN is often referred to as the Clinton News Network or the Communist News Network, not because it is too tough on Republicans. It is because it is not tough enough on government in general.

As I have said many times before – and will repeat many times in the future – the central role of a free press in a free society is to serve as a watchdog on government. CNN fails to meet this test as a news organization. CNN is a good example of a news organization that seems to believe its central role is to disseminate information on behalf of government – not just the U.S. government, but governments of all stripes worldwide.

Have you ever watched CNN's "WorldWatch" program? It is an abomination – a collection of broadcasts from nations around the world, including those from official and semi-official networks. In other words, CNN's idea of reporting the news is to be a kind of mouthpiece for governments – no matter how authoritarian, no matter how illegitimate, no matter how totalitarian. It's propaganda, pure and simple.

I would advise Isaacson to consider the bigger picture. It's not about placating Republicans and conservatives. In fact, from my point of view, Republicans in government need at least as much scrutiny as Democrats. It's not an issue of party labels. It's not even strictly an ideological matter. It's a question of who's going to keep an eye on government.

CNN isn't doing that. The New York Times isn't doing it. And no one else in the establishment Old Media world is, either.

Isaacson and CNN should think about that. And, instead of asking Denny Hastert and Trent Lott about how the network can do a better job, they ought to be looking at the WorldNetDaily model. They ought to emulate our style of reporting – which means exposing the fraud, waste, corruption and abuse no matter whose shift it occurs on, no matter who the perpetrator is, no matter which party is responsible.

That is a formula the public would respect.

It means being more than "fair and balanced," as CNN's major competitor, Fox News Channel, boasts. It means digging. It means investigating. It means changing the culture of the newsroom to be more responsible and aggressive. It means being a genuine watchdog on government – serving the interests of people.

Not only would this approach hit a home run with viewers, it is also a respectable, ethical and professional position to take in the journalism world.

I've got to tell you there is something unseemly about watching Isaacson cozy up to some of the most powerful people in the country seeking advice and favor. That's not proper. That's not appropriate. That's not journalistically responsible.

Instead, what CNN should be doing is burning down politicians of all persuasions with equal gusto – showing no favoritism, being an equal opportunity offender.

That's not advice they're likely to hear from Denny Hastert or Trent Lott. But it's the right thing to do.

If Isaacson and CNN want any more free advice, they know where to reach me.