Analysis

‘CNN’s Dobbs Problem’ Ad Set to Hit CNN Airwaves: Media Matters Announces Ad Campaign Calling for Accountability From ‘The Most Trusted Name in News’


Washington, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)– Media Matters for America today announced the launch of a television ad campaign calling for CNN to credibly address its Lou Dobbs problem. The ad, set to air this week on Dobbs’ CNN program as well as on Fox News and MSNBC, demonstrates how CNN has repeatedly allowed Dobbs to promote racially-charged conspiracy theories about President Obama’s birth certificate on his prime-time television show. CNN President Jonathan Klein has defended Dobbs’ coverage, calling it “legitimate.”

Watch “CNN’s Dobbs Problem”: www.DobbsConspiracy.com.

BACKGROUND

Media Matters bought a week of ad time on CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News in Washington, D.C., New York, and Atlanta. The progressive media watchdog has not ruled out increasing the ad buy to other networks or markets in the coming days. As Washington Post Co. blogger Greg Sargent reported, “Media Matters has specifically purchased time to air the ad during Dobbs’ show — putting CNN in the position of either running the spot or nixing it and making this a bigger story.”

The ad, which will air beginning Tuesday, August 4, calls out CNN for continuing to allow Dobbs’ to promote racially charged conspiracy theories about the validity of President Obama’s birth certificate. The script is as follows:

TITLE: CNN’s Dobbs Problem — 30 Sec.

On-screen text: CNN Has a Lou Dobbs Problem

Voice Over: CNN’s Lou Dobbs has been promoting the false, right-wing conspiracy that President Obama hasn’t produced a valid U.S. birth certificate.

Video: Images of Lou Dobbs repeating the phrase “birth certificate” from his extensive promotion of the issue on his CNN show.

Voice Over: CNN President Jon Klein said Dobbs’ obsession was “legitimate.”

Video: Dobbs saying “birth certificate” even more, building in intensity.

Video: Dobbs, without sound, gesturing as he further discusses Obama’s birth certificate.

Voice Over: It’s time for “The Most Trusted Name in News” to live up to its slogan. Let CNN know there’s nothing “legitimate” about racially charged paranoia.

On-screen text: Take action at MediaMatters.org

On-screen text: Paid for by Media Matters for America. www.MediaMatters.org

Upon learning of the ad campaign, Dobbs took to the airwaves, calling Media Matters “a rabid, left-wing operation.”

For more information on the controversy surrounding Dobbs and CNN, please visit:

www.DobbsConspiracy.com

Media Matters for America is a Web-based, not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) progressive research and information center dedicated to comprehensively monitoring, analyzing, and correcting conservative misinformation in the U.S. media.


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