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American Morning
Walter Isaacson: New Boss at CNN
Aired July 09, 2001 - 11:20 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, it is an interesting day for us here at CNN. As we reported earlier, a new boss, a new man taking over, Walter Isaacson. And it just turns out he stopped by the set. So guess what? Instant interview. I guess you're...
WALTER ISAACSON, CHAIRMAN, CNN NEWS GROUP: Daryn drags me onto the set. I was coming to visit the newsroom to see what it's like. But it's great to say hello to you and it's great to say hello to all the viewers we have.
KAGAN: I'm gracious.
ISAACSON: So thanks for letting me on the set, Daryn.
KAGAN: Well, you control the buttons these days, so it is good to have you on.
ISAACSON: I know.
KAGAN: Now, you are taking over CNN at an interesting time. First of all, we're just coming out of the merger with AOL and also there's been quite a bit of media about the competition with other news channels, and this is going to be an interesting time for you to take over.
ISAACSON: Well, you know, there's one simple mission that CNN has and we all have to remember, and that's great journalism. Tell wonderful stories, be credible, get it accurate, get it right, be the most reliable, trusted news source in the world. That's what CNN is and it's had great momentum recently. All sorts of good things have been happening at CNN recently. So I feel very lucky. My sense of timing may be good because I'm coming on as, you can feel the momentum growing at CNN.
KAGAN: Will you feel the pressure, though, to look at what the other news channels are doing and frankly, and, I mean we're not speaking on school, but the critics say that CNN is trying to be something, that it's kind of lost its mission and that it's...
ISAACSON: Yes, you know, I worry when people...
KAGAN: And that we're trying to copy other people and that we're losing our original mission. How do you get CNN to stay focused on that? ISAACSON: Yes. I think that there was a worry that we lost focus on what was our mission and we were looking around sort of saying, hey, let's, you know, worry about the competition too much. CNN has a core mission, and I want to reinforce that. And it's a simple one but it's a crucial one in this new information age, which is do some great journalism, great reporting.
Don't try to engage in, you know, sort of the '80s and '90s was a time of pontification and people yelling and screaming and talk radio and all that sort of thing. We just have to get good reporting, good stories, you know, great analysis on the air and not lose our sense of what it is that has made for 20 years CNN so great.
KAGAN: You certainly understand about good reporting and good journalism, your history with "TIME" magazine. But you're a print guy.
ISAACSON: Yes.
KAGAN: So how do you take a print guy and put him in charge of a television network?
ISAACSON: Well, first of all, I've got you.
KAGAN: Remember that!
ISAACSON: And many other people who know a whole lot about television and I'm going to rely on it. Secondly, I believe that journalism, good journalism, good storytelling, good reporting crosses all boundaries. We're going to be doing it online. We're going to be doing it in print in this company. We're going to be doing it in television.
But, you know, I think we have a great team here at CNN. You've got Phil Kent, Eason Jordan, Sid Bedingfield, people like you. I really trust that team to help make the great television as I help us keep focused on great journalism.
KAGAN: Well, very good. We will look forward to you bringing your skills and your great experience.
ISAACSON: Hey, Daryn, thanks for letting me crash your set here. It's fun.
KAGAN: Any time. You are welcome.
ISAACSON: It's fun coming around the news room.
KAGAN: And aboard CNN and to Hotlanta, as we like to call it.
ISAACSON: Oh, I love Atlanta. I love it.
KAGAN: As, like we call it around here. Walter Isaacson, welcome.
ISAACSON: Thank you, Daryn. KAGAN: Thank you.
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