What we're reading this week...
By Elizabeth Cherneff, CNN
We’ve got a busy show planned for Sunday with our ‘Reliable Sources’ guest host, David Folkenflik of NPR. We’ll discuss coverage and reaction following the not guilty verdict in the Zimmerman trial, but until then, here are some other stories that caught our eye this week:
‘Online series ‘House of Cards’ makes Emmy history; ‘American Horror Story’ leads with 17 nods’
Television critics and fans were abuzz over this year’s Primetime Emmy nominations, but it was Netflix that made Emmy history Thursday with a drama series nomination for ‘House of Cards.’ The popular DC-set series earned 9 nominations total, marking the first time an online-based series has been nominated alongside cable and network programming. With ‘House of Cards’ actors Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright earning nominations, along with ‘Arrested Development’ actor Jason Bateman, Netflix has proven to be a competitive outlet for original /web-based programming over the past year.
“The Rise of the Demolisticle”
“40 signs you can publish any old crap nowadays as long as it’s well-targeted.” That’s the premise behind ‘demolisticles,’ a phrase coined by Reuters editor Chadwick Matlin. The term is also the subject of a recent piece written by Slate’s Will Oremus. Using Buzzfeed pieces like ’23 Signs You Did Mock Trial’ and ’21 Signs You’re Dating a Designer,’ as examples, Oremus highlights the website’s business strategy as a driving factor behind stories that go viral, arguing that they ‘need only be carefully tailored to appeal to one very specific demographic.’
‘SyFy launches Twitter contest to name ‘Sharknado’ sequel’
On the heels of SyFy’s made-for-tv smash hit ‘Sharknado,’ the network announced this week that a sequel is indeed planned for 2014. In an effort to keep the social media momentum going, SyFy is encouraging fans to tweet their #Sharknado title suggestions, saying the network will choose the sequel title from the online submissions. According to the network, the film, which premiered Thursday July 11th, garnered 5,000 tweets per minute at its peak.
“Inside look at the internal strife over Al Jazeera America”
Al Jazeera America is set to launch next month, but the brand and vision for the US-based network is resulting in some tensions behind the scenes. In a recent piece, The Guardian’s Glenn Greenwald speaks with AJAM’s deputy news editorial director Paul Eedle about concerns and complaints from both inside and outside the network regarding the channel’s overall vision. On the topic of whether the network will take a more mainstream approach, Eedle said the channel’s message would be “give us a try and make up your own mind.” The network has set a launch date for ‘before the end of August.’
Tune in Sunday at 11a EDT.
About "Reliable Sources"
Now more than ever, the press is a part of every story it covers. And CNN's "Reliable Sources" is one of television's only regular programs to examine how journalists do their jobs and how the media affect the stories they cover.
Subscribe on iTunes | Instagram
Tune in every Sunday at 11am Eastern time!
About the host
Brian Stelter is the host of "Reliable Sources" and the senior media correspondent for CNN Worldwide. Before he joined CNN in November 2013, Stelter was a media reporter for The New York Times. He is the author of the New York Times best-seller "Top of the Morning."
Here's his biography. You can read his stories on this blog and at CNNMoney.com/Media/.
@cnnreliable on Twitter
I don't at all feel today's comment on Helen Thomas and her Israel comments was in the appropriate style of Reliable Sources. What is the Reliable Source for saying her comment that "Israel should get the Hell out of Palestine" was offensive? I was very happy to hear someone speak 'Truth to Power.' The British should never have given over that land to the Jewish people. We've had years and years of conflict as a consequence and, despite the current hopes (and many, many past failed hopes) for a settlement, we may have many more. Had the commentator said, 'offensive to me' or 'offensive to some' it would have been in keeping with Reliable Sources. To give the impression that it was offensive to all or even most was inappropriate.. What is Politically Correct is not always in keeping with what is True!