Inside.com

Fired CNN Staffers Use the Web For Revenge

A site called tedsturnovers.com delivers newsroom gossip, biting critiques and some links to earlier work of new CNN hire Andrea Thompson.

by Lara Cohen

Thursday, April 26 10:35 P.M.

A group of renegade former CNN employees are creating some Drudge-like mayhem on the Web for their old employer.

The crew of disgruntled refugees from the cable news network recently launched tedsturnovers.com, a site named after founder Ted Turner and devoted to the 400-plus employees that in the post-AOL Time Warner merger world ''went the way of the dodo.'' The site is a combination of actual stories on the inner workings of the Atlanta-based news organization and a playful parody of, among other things, CNN's attempt at connecting with a younger demographic. On Thursday, the site took aim at the hiring of former NYPD Blue actress Andrea Thompson as an anchor for CNN Headline News. No punches were pulled -- helpfully, there was a link provided to a site with nude photographs taken of Thompson earlier in her career.

Information for the site is gathered from over 100 CNN correspondents, producers and production assistants -- both those currently working at the network and others collecting unemployment. The site spokesman, who wishes to remain known as ''Ted Turner'' for fear of losing his ''top-shelf severance package'' (a deal contingent upon signing a nondisclosure agreement) says the Web site was originally launched as a message board for shafted employees. ''We were asked to leave within an hour of hearing the news, which resulted in a mad scramble,'' he explained. ''Add to the mix armed guards at the ready and it was a pitiful experience for quite a number of people. It wasn't so much the news, as being handed a cardboard box by a (human resources) stooge and being asked to clear out post-haste.'' Clearly there was not much time for heartfelt goodbyes. Soon after the mass layoffs, tedsturnovers.com was born. The information being leaked out about the news network occasionally gets still-employed execs in a tizzy. Site leaders insist their ''editorial judgment regarding content'' dictates their publishing decisions, and that they are, above all else, still principled journalists. However, creators concede ''we do have some folks who are still employed with CNN who drop us a line on what's happening at the mothership, and if its worth a mention, we do just that.'' As a result, some less-than-flattering insider information has made it online. A recent story highlights an internal debate that supposedly took place over whether the network should air early Survivor results (leaked, ironically, by a similarly disgruntled group) in a desperate attempt to bolster faltering ratings. The feature on Thompson pointedly recalls some of her acting roles (stints on JAG and Baywatch, for example) and quotes one current exec as saying she ''has a pair of salutes to die for.''

A spokeswoman for CNN dismissed tedsturnovers.com, saying ''it's not on our radar screen. It's a spoof.''

As for the nude photos of Thompson, CNN executives have discussed them with the new anchor but did not make a major issue out of the matter. ''We accept Andrea's explanation regarding the photos in question,'' the spokeswoman said. ''We hired her as an anchor for Headline News and we feel she is a promising journalist.''

Thompson issued a statement saying she ''did pose for Black And White magazine, a prestigious artistic publication, several years ago. I did this as a piece of art and make no apologies for the decision I've made as an artist in my 20-year career.''

According to the site's creators, those still working at the Atlanta headquarters are failing to see the humor of it all. ''We have been called 'cowards, ' 'disgruntled, ' 'poor-sports' -- all the lazy references those currently employed offer to those recently fired. They seem to forget they still have a job,'' says the spokesperson for the spoof site. ''Arrogance has a way of providing that.''

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2001

Answers

You know if they really what to get even, they could do some rescreach on the nwo etc... There are books too give them a head start, The Nude Communist and The Nude Capitalist also Tragity and Hope. I hope the spelling is close on these works. They with a little more reading, could blow the world governments apart. That is if they had the guts to write what they find.

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2001

"Black and White magazine, a prestigious artistic publication.."

I'm reminded of Donald Trump as portrayed in Doonesbury some years ago, looking at a picture and exclaiming "Look at the hooters on those nymphs! Now that's art."

-- Anonymous, April 28, 2001