Turner founded Cable News Network in 1980 as the first dedicated rolling news channel, and it quickly became a staple of the media landscape. US President Donald Trump praised him as “one of the greats of broadcast history, and a friend of mine”.
Current CNN CEO and chairman Mark Thompson referred to Turner as “the giant on whose shoulders we stand, and we will all take a moment today to recognise him and his impact on our lives and the world”.
Thompson said in a statement: “Ted was an incredibly involved and devoted leader, intrepid, brave, and always willing to back up a hunch and trust his own judgment. He was and always will be CNN’s reigning spirit.
President Trump has been a harsh critic of CNN’s current leadership, but praised Turner, saying, “Whenever I needed him, he was there, always willing to fight for a good cause!”
However, the channel demonstrated its importance by delivering timely and regular updates on stories such as the assassination attempt on US President Ronald Reagan in 1981 and the Challenger space shuttle catastrophe in 1986. The network truly matured with its live continuous coverage from Iraq during the 1990-1991 Gulf War.
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