News Broadcasting
Pew ranks CNN US as top news source for Hurricane Katrina
MUMBAI: Television, and cable news channels in particular are the main sources of news for most Americans during a crisis. That was again the case for Hurricane Katrina. In a survey the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press revealed CNN to be the number one source in the US for news about Hurricane Katrina. The results are based on a national survey of 1,000 Americans conducted by Pew on 6 and 7 September 2005.
The survey, conducted in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, found that of those surveyed, 31 per cent cited CNN as one of their main sources for news about Hurricane Katrina, more than any other branded news source. The Fox News Channel and MSNBC also saw sizable, though smaller, audience gains from Katrina. Cable television – CNN in particular – made the greatest gains in audience and was the leading news source during coverage of Hurricane Katrina, up 13 percentage points in viewership in June.
Americans who reported CNN as one of their primary sources of news were more likely to have made a donation to help those affected by the hurricane than Americans who cited the Fox News Channel, the broadcast networks or newspapers as a main source for Hurricane Katrina news. As occurred after 9/11 and during the start of the war in Iraq, the proportion of Americans who cited cable news channels as a main source of news grew dramatically.
In this instance, CNN made the greatest gains. In June, 18 per cent of Americans cited CNN as a source of most of their news about national and international issues. Following Katrina,
Television’s larger audience came at the expense of newspapers, the internet and radio. While still a primary source of information for many Americans on the disaster, all three are cited less frequently in this situation than under normal circumstances. Overall, two-thirds give news organizations excellent (28 per cent) or good (37 per cent) ratings for their coverage of the impact of Katrina. This is considerably more favourable than the public’s ratings a year ago for press coverage of the presidential election campaign. Current evaluations of coverage are in line with views of other major recent events, though considerably lower than the overwhelmingly positive media ratings following 9/11 (56 per cent excellent, 33 per cent good).
All in all, most (62 per cent ) said that the amount of coverage given to Katrina’s aftermath is appropriate, while less than a quarter (21 per cent ) said that there has been too much. There is a considerable partisan divide on this, however Republicans are more likely than Democrats to say there has been too much coverage of the impact of Katrina (27 per cent vs 15 per cent).
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 to host Fury in the Gulf conclave on West Asia crisis
Three-hour summit to unpack geopolitical fallout and impact on India
MUMBAI: CNN-News18 is set to host a special three-hour broadcast, Fury in the Gulf – War Conclave, on April 7, aiming to decode the escalating West Asia crisis and its far-reaching implications for India.
Scheduled from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, the conclave comes at a time when tensions between Iran and the United States are reshaping global geopolitics and triggering economic uncertainty. With India’s deep energy ties, trade links and large diaspora in the Gulf, the developments carry significant domestic relevance.
Built around the theme ‘Conflict, Consequences, and The Future,’ the programme will feature six curated sessions combining one-on-one interviews and panel discussions. The focus is to cut through the clutter and offer viewers a clearer understanding of the fast-evolving situation.
Key sessions include ‘Diplomacy in Times of War’ featuring Shashi Tharoor, and ‘World After the Iran Conflict’ with voices such as Ram Madhav, Reuven Azar, representatives from the European Union and the Iranian Deputy Envoy. Another session titled ‘Another Dunkirk?’ will bring together K. J. S. Dhillon and Jitin Prasada among others.
CNN-News18 editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar said, “In times of war, clarity becomes the most powerful tool. Fury in the Gulf – War Conclave brings together credible voices to address the questions and confusion that arise amid an overwhelming influx of information.”
He added that the initiative is aimed at delivering “facts, perspective, and insight” at a time when misinformation can easily cloud public understanding.
Echoing the sentiment, CNN-News18 CEO– English and business news Smriti Mehra said the conflict marks a defining global moment, with consequences that extend well beyond the region. She noted that the conclave seeks to present the crisis with “depth, nuance and responsibility” so audiences can better grasp its real-world impact.
As geopolitical tensions continue to dominate headlines, the conclave positions itself as an attempt to bring order to the noise, offering viewers a structured, insight-led look at a complex and rapidly shifting global situation.
