Assign. #13 CNN - Bunch of Liars!

The winter of 2008/2009 was marked by a conflict between Russia and Ukraine on the issue of gas prices. Ukraine wanted lower prices of the natural gas delivered by Russia. Russia insisted that Ukraine should pay higher prices for the gas. Until the conflict was resolved Russia had taken a drastic measure - it simply cut the gas supply for Ukraine. But the gas supply for Southeastern Europe is delivered through the same pipe which provides gas for Ukraine. All of a sudden the gas supply for Eastern Europe was entirely cut. What a great peace of news for the news people! But they also needed some drama showing freezing people caught in the middle of the gas conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

CNN sought such a drama in Bulgaria but it could not find it. However, this did not stop the British correspondent of CNN Michael Moore to lie to the world that there are freezing people in Bulgaria because of the lack of gas supply. Moore's report shows "average Bulgarians" in the town of Pleven who freeze because of the gas crisis. Moore also shows that the gas supply to the city is "stopped." The truth is shown by a Bulgarian reporter who works for the Rupert Murdoch's TV called bTV. It turns out that the gas supply has never stopped since 1977 in Pleven, Bulgaria. It turns out that the building of the people, who freeze, has no central heating too. Moore and CNN are liars! But what is the big deal? The image of Bulgaria is damaged. Who cares as long as there is some human drama accompanying the gas crisis? Even though a Bulgarian journalist caught CNN in a lie there are no consequences so far. Michael Moore is not fired, CNN did not apologize to Bulgaria and what is even worse it did not apologize to its viewers for lying to them.

As a Bulgarian, what really disappoints me is the Bulgarian prime-minister Stanishev who was interviewed by Michael Moore. After the interview, Stanishev or his team never watched the report, otherwise they would have objected it. It could be even worse, they watched it but said nothing and allowed CNN to damage Bulgaria's image. Because this report truly damages Bulgaria's image. First of all it appears that Bulgaria is deeply affected by the gas crisis with no back up plan. Second, the people presented as "regular Bulgarian" citizens are not regular and they are definitely not Bulgarians. The shown people are gypsies from a ghetto in Pleven who do not work and live in a complete misery. However, the Bulgarian journalist does not have the guts to say it. He also does not dare to blame directly CNN for its lies, because that is what this television did. It lied and it did it professionally and intentionally. On the top of it, CNN did not apologize to its viewers.