It was a jarring juxtaposition. President Bush was on CNN giving a speech about New Orleans, but the voice wasn’t his. A CNN anchor had left her microphone on as she headed to the washroom and the result was the airing of, among other things, details about her brother’s "control freak" wife. The video is here. And here’s a story from Reuters/The Hollywood Reporter with CNN’s apology:
CNN apologized Tuesday
after an open mike transmitted an anchor’s bathroom
conversation with another woman live over the network as it was
carrying President Bush’s speech in New Orleans.
"Live From" anchor Kyra Phillips had apparently left the
set around 12:48 p.m. EDT Tuesday for a bathroom break while
the news channel carried Bush’s speech marking the one-year
anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Phillips’ wireless microphone
was turned on and picked up about a minute and a half of a
muffled conversation she had with an unidentified woman where
she apparently talked about her husband, laughed and talked
about her brother.
"I’ve got to be protective of him," she said without being
aware that the mic was on. "He’s married, three kids, and his
wife is just a control freak." CNN anchor Daryn Kagan broke
into the telecast immediately afterward updating viewers on
what Bush had been saying.
"CNN experienced audio difficulties during the president’s
speech today in New Orleans," the CNN statement read. "We
apologize to our viewers and the president for the disruption."
CNN apologized to the White House on Tuesday afternoon. It
wasn’t clear whether it was a technical or human malfunction,
and CNN, citing corporate policy, said it wouldn’t comment on
whether anyone would be disciplined. It seemed unlikely that
anyone would.
CNN hasn’t been immune to technical problems, particularly
during political events. In November, a gaffe during a live
speech by Vice President Dick Cheney showed an intermittent "X"
on the screen. CNN apologized and fired a telephone operator
who told a caller who complained that the network was
exercising "free speech."
And in July 2004, viewers heard Democratic National
Convention producer Don Mischer swear over an open microphone
when balloons didn’t immediately drop after a speech by Sen.
John Kerry, the party’s presidential nominee…
No sign of the apology on CNN’s website. This incident once again shines the light on CNN’s lack of an online corrections page.
