Nancy DisGrace and CNN News

Jerry Kurelic, Jr.

Note: This letter was submitted to CNN following the reporting by Nancy Grace on the murder story in Atlanta. This was the headline-grabbing case of a man who is alleged to have killed a judge and three other people in an Atlanta courthouse on March 11.  Predictably, CNN and other mainstream news outlets had a field day, producing what can only be called “tabloid news reporting.”  Writer Jerry Kurelic, Jr. a computer engineer in Washington, D.C., could take it no more.  His comments below reflect my own feelings about the major news media.

Dear CNN,

I have long viewed CNN as the lone news network with some sense of reason and balance.  I watch no other news source for the most part.  I feel compelled to write CNN for the first time to tell you that Nancy Grace is a disgrace to the viewers, other journalists and to journalism itself.  She is tabloid TV and pure sensationalism.  She is over the top, melodramatic and way too emotional.  When I see her on CNN, I might as well be watching Fox News or American Idol, because CNN becomes Fox News at that point.  Trash TV. 

Being a former prosecutor, Nancy has a one-sided perspective of reality and thinks everyone is guilty.  Nancy has a unique perspective of this tragedy in Atlanta no doubt, but I think putting her in to host Larry King tonight was poor judgement on CNN's part.  She is too close to the case, and it looks like CNN is cashing in on that and exploiting it.  When watching her on TV with all the facial close-ups of her, it feels like you are watching a televangelist, as she gets angry one minute and on the verge of tears the next, trying to appeal to the viewers' emotions. 

I cannot believe CNN has sunk to these levels.  I say if it's drama you want, then let's bring in Geraldo Rivera, Jerry Springer or even better, how about Robert Tilton, the farting preacher (http://www.miggy.net/multimedia/preacher.htm)?  Send in the clowns. 

 I can't be the only viewer out there in “TVLand” that sees this.  Very bad move CNN.  Your other anchors and hosts for the most part (excluding CIA agent exposer, Robert Novak) are respectful and class journalists, particularly Lou Dobbs.   Gain the respect of your viewers again, CNN, and send this clown back to Court TV.