Coming up next on CNN . . . a wire service

[2muchcoffeeman]

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003878626

NEW YORK CNN is courting newspapers -- and possibly competing with The Associated Press -- with a new wire service the cable network plans to launch soon, with plans for an all-expenses-paid, three-day summit in December to show off its news gathering capabilities.

In a letter to numerous newspaper editors, CNN is boasting its new CNN Wire will "provide stories of interest to your newspaper and online readers -- breaking news, national, international, business, politics, consumer, medical, and more. We are talking to a variety of newspapers and newspaper groups, large and small, about this project."

The letter, sent last week from Joe Middelburg, CNN Newsource Sales' vice president of sales & affiliate relations, adds: "Like most major news organizations, CNN has its own internal wire service to provide original reporting on world news. With a worldwide staff of 3,800 people, 22 international bureaus, soon to be 15 domestic bureaus (including Seattle), 900 North American TV broadcast affiliates, a Web site, and a radio network, we are able to maintain a strong flow of up-to-the-minute stories. We now believe we have the base to offer this service to other news organizations."

Another shot across AP's bow.

 

[Guerrillascribe]

Um, have you looked at CNN's Web site? It is already 90 percent AP-related material, from text to video. Of course with this wave of MoJos they're touting that could definitely change.

Still, CNN has that brand cachet in the states and that may well prove a strong selling point on their part.

 

[poindexter]

http://www.ireport.com/index.jspa

 

[trifectarich]

This is a joke, right? Because I'm laughing like hell over the thought that CNN could compete with any legitimate news-gathering organization.