Viewers Long for Opinion Over News
INTERVIEW ON THE PRICE OF BUSINESS SHOW, MEDIA PARTNER OF THIS SITE.
Recently Kevin Price, Host of the nationally syndicated Price of Business Show, interviewed filmmaker Warren D. Robinson (image below).
Late last year it was widely reported that CNN, under its new boss, would be taking a turn back to the center of the news business. The Network fired several well known partisan correspondents and reassigned others all in an attempt to “regain the trust” of its viewing audience. Unfortunately, the changes have eroded CNN’s audience the opposite of their intentions. “CNN’s new programming strategies have been an absolute disaster.” Says entertainment executive, producer and attorney Warren D. Robinson, “They’ve made some bold changes but none of it is paying off. In fact their ratings are lower now than before. Just last month they hit their lowest ratings in more than 9 years!” CNN isn’t alone, Nexstar’s nascent cable news channel NewsNation, which also prides itself as being neutral, is also struggling to attract viewers. “Audiences have made it clear they want opinion with their news.” Says Robinson, “It’s no coincidence the biggest names in cable news are opinion based.” Though this is the trend Robinson doesn’t believe this is necessarily a good thing. “The waters between news and opinion are already extremely muddled,” he says, “I’m afraid we’ve reached the point or soon will where many won’t be able to tell the difference.”
According to a statement, “Entertainment executive and producer, Warren D. Robinson believes that when organizations are willing to have open and honest conversations about race and their own bias they can commit to meaningful change. We have seen this recently in the form of Hollywood award shows, particularly, the Grammys and the Academy Awards (Oscars). The Recording Academy and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences have both taken concrete steps to diversify their ranks and address inherit biases in their voting processes. As a result we have the most diverse crop of award winners/nominees, respectively, we’ve ever seen. Contrast that with the scandal and production shutdown currently at CBS’s The Talk, which resulted because a co-host was unable to properly engage in a conversation about race, address her own bias and commit to doing better. ‘The key part to every conversation’ Warren says, ‘starts with listening. Listening and hearing are different and if you are unable to listen then you are unable to have a conversation.’
“Warren D. Robinson, is an avid and accomplished entertainment executive, motivational speaker, host, life coach and award winning producer who created the wildly popular series, Buried by the Bernards, which is currently streaming on Netflix.
“Warren has served as an entertainment consultant, manager and producer, facilitating, appearing and negotiating high powered deals on behalf of his clients in front of such companies as: Warner Brothers, BET, CNN, Freemantle, Best Buy, TV ONE, Netflix, Lifetime, Fox News, WE TV, E!, NBC Universal, Viacom and more. In addition, Warren’s entertainment prowess includes coordinating, partnering and/or producing events for: legendary actress Pam Grier, Taraji P Henson, Gabrielle Union, Vivica A Fox, Soul singer Eddie Levert (of the O’Jays), Comedian Mike Epps, Angie Stone, Flavor Flav, the Indianapolis Colts, Donna Joyner-Richardson, Stephanie Mills, Erykah Badu and Tom Joyner among others. Warren graduated from Indiana University (B.A.-Political Science) and Howard University School Of Law (J.D.).”
Learn more about Warren D. Robinson and his work here.
Check out more national and international news stories here.
LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW IN ITS ENTIRETY HERE
About Author
