第五單元英美報(bào)刊選讀

PAGEPAGE171UnitFiveCableNewsNetworkandTelecommunicationTextAHistoryasitHappensLinkingleadersasneverbefore,CNN1haschangedthewaytheworlddoesitsbusiness.ByWilliamA.HenryⅢOnthenightthatthebombsbegantofallonBaghdad,GilbertLavoie,presssecretarytoCanada’sPrimeMinister,BrianMulroney,telephonedhiscounterpartMarlinFitzwaterattheWhiteHouseinWashington.“Marlinsaid,‘Hi,whatareyoudoing?’”Lavoierecalls,andIsaid,“I’mdoingthesamethingyouare—watchingCNN.”Sowasvirtuallyeveryotherseniorofficialinvirtuallyeverygovernment.2Inthatrespect,atleast,thenightofJan.16,1991,wasactuallyratherordinary.FromRometoRiyadh,LondontoLagos,BeijingtoBuenosAires,CableNewsNetworkisonmoreorlesscontinuouslyinthesuitesofavastarrayofchiefsofstateandforeignministers.3Ithasbecomethecommonframeofreference4fortheworld’spowerelite.BorisYeltsinandMikhailGorbachev,GeorgeBushandSaddamHussein—theheadlinesparringpartnersoftheyearjustpast—areallalertwatchers.5Whatacomputermessagecanaccomplishwithinanoffice,CNNachievesaroundtheclock,aroundtheglobe;itgiveseveryonethesameinformation,thesamebasisfordiscussion,atthesamemoment.Thatchangeincommunicationhasinturnaffectedjurnalism,intelligencegathering,Onlyaglintofthoughttoitsfounder,TedTurner,adozenyearsago,CNNisnowtheworld’smostwidelyheedednewsorganization.7BritishForeignSecretaryDouglasHurdinsistsonstayingonlyathotelsthatcarrythenetwork.IraqiministersTariqAzizandNizarHamdoonwouldnotsomuchaslowerthevolumeofthenon-stopCNNinthebackgroundwhilegrantinginterviewstoJohnWallach,foreignaffairseditoroftheHearstnewspapersWashingtonbureau—noteven,Wallachsays,fortheNetwork’sHollywoodMinute.8Whenthenameofhiscountrywasinadvertentlyomittedfromanewsquiz9aboutnationsparticipationinNovember’sMiddleEastpeacetalks,Jordan’sKingHusseinwaswatchingandwassoirritatedthathehadpalaceofficialsimmediatelycallCNN’sAmmanofficetocomplain.Singaporestockbrokersprotestedtheirgovernment’spoliticallyinspiredbanonprivatesatellitedishes,arguingthataccesstoinstantaneouswarnewsonCNNwasvitalforanticipatingfluctuationsinworldfinancialmarkets.10TheterroristswhoheldTerryAndersonhostageinLebanonusedCNNasthevehicletoreleaseavideotapeofhisappealforhelp.11CNNcanbeseenattheE1KabirHotelinTripoli,favoredbyMuammarGaddafi’sassociates.ItcanalsobeseenattheVatican,whereArchbishop12JohnFoley,presidentofthePontificalCouncilforSocialCommunications,13risesby6a.m.towatchand“knowwhattoprayabout.”CNNhasbecomethefourthmostrespectedbrandnameintheU.S.,accordingtoarecentpollof2000people,rankedjustbehindtheDisneyparks,KodakandMercedes-BenzandaheadofRolex,Levi’sIBMandAT&T.14(ABC,NBCandCBSnetworks15werenotofferedbytheopinionseekers.)Asasourceofknowledgeinturbulenttimes,CNNmaybewithoutpeer.16“TedTurnerisprobablythepre-eminentpublisherinAmericatoday,maybeintheworld,”saysDonHewitt,foundingproducerof60MinutesonCBS.“Whentherewasadisaster,itusedtobethatpeoplewenttochurchandallheldhands.Thentelevisioncamealong,andtherewasthiswonderfulfeelingthatwhileyouwerewatchingWalterCronkite,17millionsofotherAmericansweresharingtheemotionalexperiencewithyou.NowtheminuteanythinghappenstheyallruntoCNNandthink,‘Thewholeworldissharingthisexperiencewithme.’”FormostoftheGulfWar,CNNwastheprimesourceofnews,informationandup-to-the-minutepoliticalintelligencefortheU.S.government.18PresidentBushisknowntohavesaidtootherworldleaders,“IlearnmorefromCNNthanIdofromtheCIA.”Thatisapparentlynotajoke.SecretaryofStateJamesBakerandSecretaryofDefenseDickCheneyturnedtoCNNtofindoutwhatwashappeningindiplomacyorcombatbecauseitsspeedandaccuracyinnewsgatheringoutstrippedtheworkoftheNationalMilitaryIntelligenceCenter19andtheCIA.Thoseagenciesremainedgearedtocyclingpaperworkupthroughchainsofcommandatapaceoftentooslowduringafast-breakingcrisis.20PresidentKenndeyhadsixdaystoponderwhattodobeforehewentpublicabouttheCubanmissilecrisis.21DuringtheGulfWar,WhiteHouserarelyhadsixhourstorespondandsometimesleftitdidnothavesixminutes.Inthefaceofthisurgentneedtoknow,wheneverCIADirectorWilliamWebsterreceivedwordviaintelligencesatellitethatanIraqiScudmissile22hadbeenlaunched,hewouldtellNationalSecurityAdviserBrentScowcroft,“TurnonCNNtoseewhereitlands.”P(pán)erhapsCNN’sbiggestimpacthasbeenondiplomacy.There,too,thestatelymarchofpaperviaprotocolhasbeensupplantedbyspontaneityandpragmatism.23Thepublicpressconferencehasoutstrippedtheprivateletter.Nolongeristheperformancejustforshow,whiletherealdealisdonebehindcloseddoors.CNN’sreachmakesitakindofworldwidepartyline,allowingleaderstoconductasortofconferencecallheardnotonlybytheprincipalsbutalsobytheirconstituentsacrosstheplanet.24SaysRichardHaass,aNationalSecurityCouncilaide25toPresidentBush:“Youenduphearingstatementsforthefirsttime,notindiplomaticnotes26,butbecauseyouseeaForeignMinisterontheTVscreen.Bytelevision,IreallymeantCNN.Ithasturnedouttobeaveryimportantinformationsource.”WhenU.S.troopsinvadedPanamainDecember1989,theSovietForeignMinisterreaditscondemnationtoaCNNcrewbeforepassingitthroughdiplomaticchannels.27DuringthebuilduptotheGulfWar,TurkishPresidentTurgutOzalwaswatchingaCNNtelecastofapressconferenceandheardareporteraskBushifOzalwouldcutoffanoilpipelineintoIraq.BushsaidhewasabouttoaskOzalthatveryquestion.Momentslater,whenthetelephonerang,OzalwasabletotellBushthathewasexpectingthecall.ThefinaleffortatapeacefulsettlementoftheGulfWarepitomizedthetransitionfromtheolddiplomacytothenew.28SecretaryofStateBakermetforsixhourswithIraqiForeignMinisterAzizbutcouldnotpersuadehimtoacceptamanilaenvelope29containingaprivateletterfromBushtoSaddamHussein.Asthemeetingended,bothsidesreadiedpressconferencesblamingeachother.AzizletitbeknownhewouldwaitforBushtoappear,thushavingthelastword.WhiteHousepresssecretaryMarlinFitzwaterquicklytelephonedCNNcorrespondentCharlesBierbauer.TellyourbossesinAtlantaandyourmanwithAzizinGeneva,saidFitzwater,thatAzizisgoingtohavetospeakfirst“ifwehavetowaituntilChristmas.”Bushwon.SaysFitzwater:“Thewholethingtookaboutfiveminutestosettle.CNNwasthemidwifeonbothends.”CNNhasalsobecomeakindofglobalspotlight,forcingdespoticgovernmentstodotheirbloodydeeds,iftheydare,beforeawatchingworld.30Sometimestheydarenot,especiallywhenCNNcanreachevenarelativelyfewcitizenswithintheoppressedlandandserveasabeaconoffreedom.DuringthefailedSovietcoup31inAugust,askeystatenewsorganswerebeingtakenoverbysupportersofcoupleaders,RussianPresidentBorisYeltsinshowedhimselfinpublicatopatanktorallyacrowdnearbyandafarlargeronethroughouthisnation.HeknewthatCNNmightstillbeseenbyabout100000Muscovitesandthousandsofresidentsinothercities,atinypercentageofthepopulationbutenoughtospreadwordofmouththatthebattleforfreedomwasnotlost.TheimageofadefiantYeltsinsentthesamesignaltotherestoftheworldandheightenedpressureonPresidentBushtodenouncethecoup.32Historianswilldebatehowmuchimpactthistelevisedimageryhadontheoutcome.ButitisnoteworthythatadiplomatrepresentingoneofthenewlyindependentBalticrepublics33Inallthesecases,manyofthesamegut-wrenching34imagescouldbeseenonothernetworks.ButCNNwasapttocarrythemfirstaroundtheworldandcertainlytoairthemmorefrequentlyandatgreaterlength.Moreover,theveryexistenceofCNNhascompelledrivals,insideandoutsidetheU.S.,topursuemoreinternationalnewsandairmoreofitlive.35AmongthemostavidwatchersofCNN,althoughtheydon’talwaysliketoadmititareotherjournalists.InalmosteverymajorU.S.newsroomandinmanyelsewhereintheworld,thechannelisperpetuallyonandsomeoneiswatchingoratleastglancingoverfrequently.Onceuponatime,newspapersbrokethenewstothepublic.ThenTVtookoverthatrole,andeversince,newspapershavetriedtoredefinethemselvesbybecomingmoreanalytical.Now,evenmostTVreporterstrytopridethemselvesondoingastoryanalyticallyandindepth;36itisaforegoneconclusion37thatCNNwilldothestoryfirst.Atmanyeventsitcovers,fromsummits38tocelebratedtrials,39CNNitselfbecomesamajornewssource.DuringtheArab-IsraelipeaceconferenceinMadridlastNovember,whereaccesswasseverelylimited,nearlyallofthe4,600journalistshadtofollowtheproceedingsonCNN.40Acommontemptationistoskipotherreportingandjustrehashwhatshowsuponthescreen.SometimeseventhemostseriousreportersareforcedtorelyonCNN’sbetteraccess.AsretiredU.S.AirForceGeneralMichaelDuganquippedabouthisworkasmilitaryanalystforCBS,“WhatCBSdidduringthegulfwarwaswatchCNN.”ThesamemightbesaidofmostotherbroadcastandprintnewsTheappealofCNNhasinspiredwould-beimitators.Japan’sNHK42networkexploredcreatingaglobalchannelbutgaveupwhenitprojectedthecostsat$800millionayear.TheBritishBroadcastingCorp.43plungedaheadintotheAsianmarketinajointventurewithHongKong’srichestbusinessman,LiKashing.44Theirsatellitechannelofnewsandsoftfeatures,45oneoffiveonthenascentSTAR-TVsystem,46isreaching38Asiannationsthatnumberhalftheworld’spopulation.Butonlyabouthalfamillionhouseholdsactuallyownsatellites,47whileanindeterminatenumberofothersgetsomepartoftheservicethroughbroadcastchannels.TheprogrammingisalreadypopularinIndiaandotherregionsformerlyapartoftheBritishEmpire,anditisscheduledtobeofferedlaterinAfricaandevenonCNN’shometurf48inNorthAmerica;italreadycompeteswithCNNonasmallscaleinEurope.BBCofficialssaytheirnewentryintotheglobal-villagesweepstakesoffersmoreanalysis,moreauthoritativeopinionandabroaderworldview.49CNNcountersthatittoohasaninternationaloutlook,thatitsreportingresourcesaremoreextensiveandthatworldaudiencesarekeenlyinterestedintheU.S.,ineveryaspectfrompoliticstopopularculture.Anotherpotentialcompetitoristhestill-evolvingEuropeanBroadcastingUnion’s50newschanneltakingprogramsfrom10membernation—albeit51WithintheU.S.,sofartheBigThreenetworkshavestruggledtokeepupwithCNN’snewsgathering.52ButformeranchormanCronkiteisfretful:“WhatIfearisthatintheirstraitenedeconomicconditions,thenetworkswillfindCNNanexcusetoshucksomeoftheirownresponsibilities.53Icanconceivethatasthesituationgrowsworse,thenetworksmaysay,‘ThepublicisbeingservedbyCNN.Wedon’thavetobethere.’”Thatmayalreadybetrue.Forthe1992U.S.presidentialnominatingconventions,onlyCNNhascommittedtogavel-to-gavelcoverage.54“CNNhasputatremendousstrainontheprintpress,”saysThomsWinship,editoremeritusofTheBostonGlobeandaformerpresidentoftheAmericanSocietyofNewspaperEditors.55“Duringthepastfiveyears,print56hasbeenclobbered57bytelevisionandhasgenerallyfailedtorespondbyemphasizingtheanalyticandinvestigativestoriesthatTVcannotdosowell,”JimHoagland,atwo-timePulitzerprizewinner58forhisinternationalcoverage59inTheWashingtonPost,60says,“TheeffectofCNNshouldbetopersuadenewspapersthatthestenographicmodeofreportingisobsolete,arealdinosaur.61Thesimplenewsaccountofaneventthatmuchofourandiencehasalreadywitnessedisnolongersufficient.We’vegottoshifttoamoreanalyticalmodeorfindthestorythatTVcouldn’tordidn’tcover.”TheplightofnewspapersinavideoagehasrarelybeenmorevividthanduringtheearlydaysoftheGulfWarandtheSovietleadershipcrisis.62Forsomesocialtheorists,CNNhasbecomefarmorethananewsmedium.ItisconsideredprimeevidencefortheevolutionofMcLuhan’sborderlessworld.63Ascorporationsbecomemultinationalandfreetradetranscendstariffs,64asEuropedevelopsasinglecurrencyandotherregionsbuildspheresofeconomiccooperation,aspopcultureandairtravelandmigrationand,yes,televisionmaketheworldpsychologicallysmaller,thesetheoristscontendthattheconceptofnationalismrecedes.SaysJoshuaMeyrowitz,professorofcommunicationattheUniversityofNewHampshire:“Manyofthethingsthatdefinenationalsovereigntyarefading.Nationalsovereigntywasn’tbasedonlyonpowerandbarbedwire,itwasbasedalsooninformationcontrol.NoteveryonelikesCNNorratesitsinfluencesopositively.U.S.conservativeshavecomplainedforyearsaboutitstolerantattitudetowarderstwhilecommunistleadershipsandotherdictatorships,whichtheyseeasacynicalploytoassistthenetworkindoingbusinessinthosecountriesorasaboosttoTurner’spersonalambitionsasaworldpeacemaker.66ThesecriticswereappalledwhenTurnerhimselfgeniallyinterviewedFidelCastro.67TheywereoutragedwhenCNNleftreporterPeterArnettinplaceinBaghdadthroughouttheGulfWartoconveytheIraqipointofview.SomeBusinessexecutivesalsoperceiveardentenvironmentalism68atCNNasanotherattitudeencouraged,ifnotimposed,bytheecology-minded69Turner.MoreliberalobserversalsoquestionCNN’sdetachment.TheWashingtonPostcolumnist70Hoaglanddescribesthenetworkasresponsibleandfairbutadds,“Itseemstomethattheyareprobablymoresensitivetohost-governmentreactionthanmostjournalisticorganizationswouldbebecauseoftheirapproachoftryingtobeeverywhere.71Anditseemstomethattheyleanoverbackward72tocarrywhatIthinkofoftenasnon-newsfromcountrieswheretheyclearlywanttobeinthatmarket.”Forexample,hecitesreportsoneconmicdevelopmentfromCentralEuropethatlooklikevideopressreleases73aboutnewfactories.ScholarsfrequentlybelittleCNNforitsunscholarlyhasteandsupposedshallowness.Inplaceofslowlymulledresearchfromexpertssteepedintheirfield,CNNdeliversrawnews.74Itfeaturesliveevents,bulletinsandstudiosfulloftalkingheadsoftenwithscantanalysis.75CNNcameintobeingjustastheBigThreeAmericannetworksweremovingawayfromtheirtraditionofin-houseexperts,76andthenewnetworksetthepace.CNNanchorsareapttobemoretrainedinthemechanicsoftelevisionthaninthenuancesofthemanysubjectstheydiscuss.Thereportingranksnumbermostlyworkadaygeneralists.77CNNnonethelessdoesagoodjobonbusiness,technology,entertainmentandsportsandcapablycoverstheWhiteHouseandU.S.politics.Itcanshowgreatsensitivityindealingwithracialandmulticulturalconflictandisattunedtotheconcernsofwomenandgays.78Butitsintellectualthinnessisevidentinthewayitcoversforeignaffairs—withthesametiredemphasisonrevolutions,wars,faminesanddisastersfoundinthetraditionalhalf-hournightlynetworknewsshow,despitehavingtheairtime79togiveamoreroundedpicture.Anemphasisoneventsratherthananalysismay,however,beafactorinCNN’sbroadappeal,80arguesG.ClevelandWilhoit,professorofjournalismatIndianaUniversityandassociatedirectoroftheuniversity-wideInstituteforAdvancedStudy.Sayshe:“Ideologicalcriticsofthemedia,leftandright,agreeononethingthatthepressistooarrogant,tooreadytotellpeoplewhattothink.81Byitsverystructure,CNNispopulist.82Itprovidestherawmaterialsofthestoryandlesttheviewersformtheirownopinions.”TheideathatCNNoughttobemoreanalyticandinstructiveisnotuniversallyheldamonggovernmentandbusinessleaderseither.83Manylikethenetworkjustasitis.SirBernardInghamusedtobethecombative,presssecretarytoformerBritishPrimeMinisterMargaretThatcher,herselfsobigafanofCNNthatthenetworkhasmadespecialarrangementsforhertogetitatheroffice.SaysIngham:“Idon’tthinkwewantanalysis.Whatwewantisreportingofthefacts.Peoplecanformtheirownjudgments.Therearetoodammanyjournalistsanalyzingthenews84.AgreatdealofthecriticismofCNNfromoutsidetheU.S.seemstoberootedingeneralresentmentofU.S.powerandinfluence.85ThenetworkisoftenlabeledasthelatestexampleofU.S.culturalimperialism.LongtimeFrenchTVnewscorrespondentChristineOckrentcallsCNN“aU.S.channelwithaglobalvocation.butwhichseestheworldthroughanAmericanprism,”86Sheisdismissive87ofitsmostwidelydiscussedexperiment,theweeklyWorldReport,whichairsuneditedstoriestakenfromTVchannelsaroundtheworld.SaysOckrent:“AskingSerbiantelevisionforitsreadingofthesituationisnotprovidingworldnewsbutmerelytheSerbianversion.WhenCNN’sfootage88isnothomemadeintheU.S.,itishomemadeinsomeothercountry.That’snotbeinginternational.”Brazil’sForeignMinister,FranciscoRezek,argues,however,thatCNN’sbiasistowardvaluestheworldoughttoemulate.“ThenetworkismarkedlyNorthAmerican,”hecontends.“Butwhileauniversalstage,atrulyglobalnetwork,wouldbebetter,theAmericanstageisthenextbestthing.89Thereisnonationthatissovaried,thathassuchamixtureofculturesandbeliefsandthatrepresentsthetwomostimportantlessonsofthiscentury—pluralistdemocracyandopen,competitiveeconomies.CNNhelpsstrengthendemocracy.”CNNofficialsreadilyacknowledgethatdespitehavingaround-the-clockschedule,thenetworkdoesnotexploremosttopicsdeeply.Apartfromitsfrequentlylivelyandsometimesinformativetalkshows,90itremainsaheadlineservicewithahighpercentageofrepetitionandoverlap.OneofitstwoU.S.cablechannels,HeadlineNews,offersanendlesslyrepeatinghalf-hourloopofupdatednews,sports,economicsandentertainmentbulletins.91Theother,theoriginalCNN,mixesnewshourswithothermass-appealpublic-affairsformats,Itdoesnotaspire,inanyhourofits24aday,tothehighbrow.PartofthereasonCNNhassurviveditspasteconomictravailsisTurner’sgo-for-brokenervelessness.92Partishavingbeen,asTurnersays,intherightplaceattherighttime.Partisthecorporatewillingnesstogamble.WhenCNNexecutiveEd(“NoRelation”)93TurnerwasinterviewedbyownerTed,thetrickiestquestionwas“Ed,areyouadreamer?”Atnearlyanyothercompany,thecorrectanswerwouldbeno.AtCNN,itisyes.ButperhapsthelargestfactorinCNN’sprosperityis,paradoxically,soundbusinessmanagement.94Thenetworkdemonstratedtoitsfatrivals95thatnewscouldbedeliveredmuchmorecheaply.CNN’ssalarieswerelowerbutitspeoplewerehungrierandharderworking.Itdidnotgettrappedintomake-workunionrules.96Itpioneeredthepracticeofcrosstraining,97inThemostexpensivethingCNNdoesisthemostnecessarytoitssurvival:broadcastingliveandatlengthfromremotelocations.98SaysLondonbureauchiefDavidFeingold:“Thewholeideaofjournalismistobeawitness.”Thenetworkpioneeredtheuseofcostlysatelliteuplinks—packagesoftechnologythatcanbedisassembledintosuitcase-sizecomponentsweighinglessthan45kgeachandcapableofbeingcheckedasluggageontoanordinarypassengerjet.99Thetrickisnottoletthetechnologicalcapacitydominatetheeditor’snewsjudgment,nottodoastorysimplybecauseonecan.ExplainsParisbureauchiefPeterHumi:“PeopleexpectCNNtohavelivecoverage.100Withtoday’stechnology,liveiseasiertodo,andit’ssexy.101Ouraimistogetawayfrombeingaknee-jerk102channelandputinlittlethoughtandjudgment.”InthestyleoftheeminentlyquotableandconfessionalTedTurner,thefree-wheelingandfranklytoldadventuresofCNNhaveyieldedentertainingbooks.103NewlyamongthemisSevenDaysThatShooktheWorld,astoryoftheSovietcoup104thathitthestands105inDecember,fromCNN’scorporatesibling106TurnerPublishing,107withphotosbytheSovietagencyTassandanintroductionbyHedrickSmith.AnotherrecentbookisthedisjointedbutrichlyanecdotalLivefromBaghdad,writtenbyRobertWiener,producerofCNN’swartimecoveragefromIraq.Wiener’sfinalwordsare“Tobroadcast,forthefirsttimeinhistory,livepicturestotheentireworldofawarinprogressfrombehindenemylines.Murrowwouldhavelovedit!”Indeed,EdwardR.Murrow,himselfawartimebroadcasterfromLondonrooftops,wouldhave.Andsodidthewholewatchingworld.Thesenseofsharedexperienceisthevitalstartingplaceforbuildingaconsensusoneverymatterofglobalconcern,fromnucleardisarmamenttoenvironmentalcleanup,fromhungertohealthcare.109WhatCNNviewershaveseeninthepastyearistheawakeningofavillageconsciousness,asensethathumanbeingsareallconnectedandallinittogether,whereverontheplanetheymaybe.HowelsetoexplainKenyanswholinedupsix-deepinfrontofelectronicsstorestowatchfootageofawartheyhadnosoldiersfightingin?110ThefullpotentialofthemediumthattelevisionaryTedTurnerbetthehouseonisjustbeginningtoberealized.111Whatweareseeingisnotjusttheglobalizationoftelevisionbutalsothroughtelevisiontheglobalizationoftheglobe.TimeJanuary6,1992BACKGROUND1.Agenerationago,socialtheoristMarshallMcluhanproclaimedtheadventofa“globalvillage”,asortofborderlessworldinwhichcommunicationsmediawouldtranscendtheboundariesofnations.“Oursisabrand-newworldofallatonceness,”hewrote.“‘time’hasceased,‘space’hasvanished,wenowlivein…asimultaneoushappening.”Ittookanothervisionary,andthebandofdreamersandopportunistshegatheredaroundhim,todemonstratethatMcLuhanwasright.In1991,oneofthemosteventfulyearsofthiscentury,theworldwitnessedthedramaticimpactonthoseeventsoflivetelevisionbysatellite.Theverydefinationofnewswasrewrittenfromsomethingthathashappenedtosomethingthatishappeningattheverymomentyouarehearingofit.Awarinvolvingthefiercestairbombardmentinhistoryunfoldedinrealtimebeforethecameras.Toaconsiderabledegree,especiallyinMoscow,momentousthingshappenedpreciselybecausetheywerebeingseenastheyhappened.Theseshotsheardandseen,aroundtheworldappearedundertheaegisofthefirstglobalTVnewscompany,CableNewsNetwork.ContrarytothedictumofformerU.S.HouseSpeakerTipO’Neillthat“allpoliticsislocal,”CNNdemonstratedthatpoliticscanbeplanetary,thatordinarypeoplecantakeadeepinterestineventsremotefromthemineverywayandcanrespondtoreportageinglobalratherthanpurelynationalisticterms.BackinCNN’sinfancy,whenhewasdismissedascrackbrainedandsoontobebankrupt,TedTurnersensedthewonderstocome.“Iamtherightmanintherightplaceattherighttime”hesaid,“Notmealone,butallthepeoplewhothinktheworldcanbebroughttogetherbytelecommunications.”Theyearsandfactshavedemontratedhowemphaticallyhewasright.Forinfluencingthedynamicofeventsandturningviewersin150countriesintoinstantwitnessofhistory,RobertEdwardTurnerⅢisTime’sManoftheyearfor1991.2.Turner’sfatherEdTurnerbecameamillionaireinthebillboardbusinessafterhisfamilylostitscottonfarmintheDepression.Turner’sfirsttestasabusinessmancamewhenhediscoveredthathisfatherdespondentbecauseofhisbillboardfirm’smountingdebts,hadsolditsbig,newlyacquiredAtlantadivisionjustbeforekillinghimself.TheyoungTurnerdideverythinghecouldtonullifythecontractandwinbackthebusiness.Turnerprovedfarmoreadepteventhanhisfatheratthebillboardbusiness.Soasthemoneyrolledin,heturnedtosailingandbroadcastinginpursuitofhisfather’selusivebenediction.By1982,whenhewas43,hestartedthecablesystemviasatelliteandthepioneering24-hourCableNewsNetwork.In1986Turner’sacquisitionofMGM/UA’sfilmlibraryfor$1.4billionburiedhimsodeeplyindebtthathehadtobebailedoutbyaconsortiumofcableoperatorsthatinvested$565.5millioninthecompanyinexchangeforminorityownership.TurnerremainedChairman,buthewasforcedtogivecableoperatorssevenseatsonthe15-memberboardandvetopoweroveranydecisionthatwouldcostthecompanymorethan$2million.Thatmeans:tomakeanymajormoveTedTurnerneedsgreenlightfromtitanMaloneandtheguysfromTimeInc.andWarnerCommunications(nowTimeWarner).Stillhis11networks—includingCNN,HeadlineNews,CartoonNetworkandTNT—areamongthecableindustry’smostsuccessful.3.Foryears,Turnerwasdoinghisbesttoimitatehisfather.HedrankandearnedearlynotorietyforshowingupattheAmerica’sCuppressconferencekneewalkingdrunk.HewassuchadeterminedwomanizerthathemadecleartohissecondwifeJanebeforetheirmarriagein1964thathehadnointentionofbecomingmonogamous.Asaskipper,Turneroccasionallystruckcrewmemberswhomademistakes.HeabruptlyendedhisPlayboymagazineinterviewwithPeterTurnerhasalwaysbeenanenvironmentalist.Forthepastsixyears,Turnerhasmadeapubliccareerofsavingtheplanet.In1985hefoundedtheBetterWorldSociety,whichwasmeanttoeducatepeopleaboutpollution,hungerandthearmsracebyproducingdocumentaries.In1986,topromoteworldpeace,hestagedtheGoodwillGamesinMoscow,onwhichhelost$26million,andstagedthemagainlastyearinSeattle,losinganadditional$44million.4.TurnermetJ.J.Ebaughin1980.Shewaspossiblythefirstwomanhetrulyloved.Towyearsafterthemarriagethecouplesplitup.BythetimehestarteddatingFondainearly1990Turnerwassoreformedthatthefirstthinghetoldtheactresswhenhetookheroutwas,“Iwantyouto