Watching CNN this morning and wondering what happened to “News in depth.”

1. It is disgusting to hear a British newswoman–anyone that is, reading aloud on CNN this morning, the private voice mails of Prince William and Kate Middleton while they were dating. These messages put into the trial record of Rupert Murdoch’s old newspaper that is charged with illegal hacking of private citizens’ cell phones, including those of a missing child, and those of dead soldiers.

Whatever in the name of all that is reasoned, makes the heads of CNN think that people want to hear the vapid messages of two people arranging to meet. Pointless, a huge waste of media time and money.

The question should be, does this enrich a culture, help to learn, make life better, warn if need be, uncover corruption, give needed information. I thought I was watching a ladies show in which the next segment would be how to crochet a doily to cover the toilet paper roll.

2. It is disgusting to hear a female correspondent on the GROUND in Russia who CANNOT answer the CNN newsroom female newscaster’s question regarding ‘What is the state of religion/ Christianity in Russia?’ Apparently Putin in his latest pronouncement has said something like Christian people in Russia dont approve of gay people. It was not clear what Putin said in any depth, because the entire segment was so focused on absolutely inane talk from the so-called “Russian correspondent” who had the insight of a second grader.

The in house CNN female newscaster tried to press, saying to the woman “correspondent” in Russia, ‘Well, you’ve lived there, what do you see about this sudden Christianity?” And the Russian correspondent who seems to be a United Statesian or from the UK, said the equiv of: ‘Oh, there are believers, um, uh, duh, er, um, ah.’ And then went on to say bs that sounded like it was straight from the conservative wing of the Roman Catholic church: the equiv of ‘oh, you know, Putin thinks all of Eu and USA are godless countries, etc.’

Just this: LET PUTIN SAY THAT IF IT IS TRUE. Not someone who, at least today, appears to be anything but an in-depth reporter.

3. It is disgusting in the sudden controversy about “Duck” the old guy [from a reality tv show that has become popular] saying his piece to GQ about his condemnation feelings about blacks and gay people… and then… to bring on air a gay reporter from Huffpo and a man representing the Southern Baptist–and expect that ensuing conversation to inform.

Does anyone at any on air media org, get that NO ONE in their right mind watches the NEWS to see what makes anyone in their right mind, flee the wastrel of that inanity on television–or at family dinners during holidays. I mean, really, lol. Does news media on the air, REALLY not get that most are sick of the yelling that does not inform, progress, or deepen or improve the plight of souls in this world who are in la lucha, in struggle.

The public deserves better than this vacuous “inch-deep news.” And especially, CNN: if you’re going to have a foreign correspondent on the ground in other countries, for heaven’s sake, pick one who has GRAVITAS and KNOWLEDGE of HISTORY then and right now. Your ‘correspondents’ are not supposed to act like they are TOURISTS on holiday who know squat about all layers of the culture. People died, DIED, were SLAUGHTERED for their faith in Russia during the times of the Tzars and the time of Uncle Joe Stalin and his followers. Surely a question about Christianity and any other religion in the former Communist destruction of Faith and leveler of Churches, Temples and Synagogues deserves a correspondent in the know.

I like many of the folks at CNN. Anderson Cooper on the bridge at Katrina, suffering with the people, goes a long way in wanting to see more of that kind of reporting.

Here’s the deal: MLK is one of my greatest heroes, no matter his flaws. He said you are on the wrong track if you first think, Is this safe? On the wrong track if you ask “Is this politic?” On the WRONG track if you ask, “Is this popular?”

From what I know as a grass roots journalist, within the ethics of journalism, NONE of those ought be asked or followed by any reporter about any dictator, any premiere, any corporation, any behemoth or monster. Not if you’re reporting news about matter of huge worldwide importance to others. Otherwise it’s called toadying up, trying to position oneself for bennies from the very entity one is supposed to be covering in depth. It’s also called absolutely NOT serving the public.

What I understood MLK to say was that we should ask: What are the needed Truths for us to know the world… in order to think and act for a better world? And then go after them, hammer and tong. That that is NEWS. Not hiding or dodging poisonous realities in industry and government.

CNN, today you had a chance to comment on decency with regard to private lives and innocent conversations between lovers. You chose otherwise. You had a chance to say something about gay people and religious people who get along well with one another. You chose otherwise. Today you had a chance to speak up with insight about and to the ‘positioning Putin,’ by giving in depth background to his utterance from his own bosses– in order to reveal motive. You did not.

The biggest lie about news and journalism is that it is somehow to be magically ‘objective’ [dont make me laugh] and ‘balanced.’ [dont make me laugh again.]

What we can have, however is just and fair reportage IN DEPTH– IF journos aim for it.

But, today CNN, I hardly knew ye.