Institutional Award: Cable News Network (CNN) for Significant News and Information Programming

In the view of the Peabody Board, CNN has become an integral part of the lives of millions of Americans by providing significant, reliable, up-to-the-minute news coverage on a 24-hour basis. The true value of CNN has been in its extended coverage of breaking stories, including the attempted assassination of President Reagan; the crash of Air Florida Flight 90; and more recently, the bombing of the American Marine barracks in Beirut. The Board also recognizes that CNN is one of the few remaining television outlets for important political discussion and debate, from Daniel Schorr’s Ask CNN and Newsmaker programs to Crossfire and Freeman Reports. In addition, its regularly scheduled feature, sports, and weather segments are exceptionally well done. For making the concept of continuous television news an influential and respected reality, a Peabody to the Cable News Network.