For a decade and a half, CNN was peerless and ambitious, and it understood its place in the world. At least, it thought it did—until Fox News burst onto television screens. Could CNN save itself by becoming conservative or by going tabloid? And how would CNN and Fox respond when September 11 made the news more important than ever?
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Season 10 of Slow Burn was written and reported by Josh Levin. It was executive produced by Lizzie Jacobs.
Slow Burn is produced by Sophie Summergrad, Joel Meyer, and Rosie Belson with help from Patrick Fort, Jacob Fenston, and Julia Russo.
Derek John is Slate’s executive producer of narrative podcasts.
This season was edited by Susan Matthews and Hillary Frey.
Merritt Jacob is our senior technical director. Mix and sound design by Joe Plourde.
Our theme music was composed by Alexis Cuadrado. Derreck Johnson created the artwork for this season. Episode artwork by Ivylise Simones.
Sources for This Episode:
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Arras, Paul. American Television’s Live Coverage of the 9/11 Attacks, Lexington Books, 2024.
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Rutenberg, Jim. “Fox Portrays a War of Good and Evil, and Many Applaud,” New York Times, Dec. 3, 2001.
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Audiovisual
Evans, Gail, Esther and Herbert Taylor Oral History Collection, The Bremen Museum, May 5, 2023.
“How Aaron Brown Became CNN’s Voice Of Sept. 11,” NPR, Sept. 11, 2011.
Interview with Tom Johnson, Goin’ Back: Remembering UGA Oral History Collection, University of Georgia Oral History Collections, March 22, 2010.
Bonus Episode
CNN’s Tom Johnson on His Friendship With Roger Ailes
The former CNN president on the moment Fox News crashed the cable-news party.
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