CNN Ad Humiliates Star Anchor Paula Zahn

Posted on January 15, 2002

CNN committed the first major journalism faux pas of 2002 when it ran a tasteless and insulting promotion for respected anchorwoman Paula Zahn that labeled her as "sexy" and "provocative". ``Where can you find a morning news anchor who's provocative, super-smart, oh yeah, and just a little sexy?'' asked the narrator. "CNN, Yeah, CNN," is the answer in the ridiculous advertisement promoting its morning news anchor.

The advertisement which ran over the weekend of January 5th and 6th also featured the sound of a zipper which was heard shortly before the word "Sexy" appeared on the screen in red letters. Compounding its error, CNN immediately blamed the disaster on an unnamed female employee in its publicity department, according to the Associated Press. Matt Drudge of The Drudge Report reported that an insider at CNN was "not surprised" and referred to the "People-magazine effect" which is taking over the newsroom. Fox News, Paula Zahn's previous employer, told Reuters that the CNN promotion was a ``sign of desperation.''

CNN has now pulled the promo and CNN Chairman and CEO Walter Isaacson expressed anger at the running of the ad.

"It was a major blunder by our promo department," Isaacson said in a statement. "The ad was never seen or approved by anyone outside the promo department. I was outraged, and so was Paula Zahn, who has spent more than 20 years proving her credibility day in and day out on the air."

A video of the ad can be found on YouTube.