Differences in live coverage between CNN and the Broadcast Networks in the Persian Gulf War

Abstract

The crisis in the Persian Gulf presented a unique opportunity to assess differences in the coverage of live breaking news between the Cable News Network (CNN) and the broadcast networks. For the first time, CNN and the broadcast networks competed directly for audiences by presenting round the clock coverage of certain events. A content analysis revealed that CNN focused on the presentation of five events while the broadcast networks concentrated on putting events into an analytical framework. The article suggests that differences in available resources, organizational structure and news philosophy led CNN to provide an extraordinary different style of reporting than the broadcast networks.