This week, CNN appeared to damage its credibility further by seemingly defending Kathleen Kennedy and disputing reports about her potential departure from Lucasfilm. According to Matt Belloni’s information on Puck, this defense appears to be a PR strategy in hindsight. CNN published an article that contradicted Puck’s report, citing a source close to the situation who claimed there was no current basis for Kennedy leaving Lucasfilm.
Currently, Belloni has revealed the probable identity behind the source – it appears to be Kennedy’s personal press representative, Simon Halls.
This brings up an obvious concern: If Belloni’s report is truthful, then CNN consciously chose to be part of the spin-doctoring for Kathleen Kennedy, rather than being deceived into it.
Belloni Identifies Simon Halls as the Likely Source of CNN’s Story
In Belloni’s recent response to Mike Fleming Jr.’s interview with Kennedy, which was overly flattering and aimed at contradicting Puck’s reports, Belloni disclosed an essential aspect concerning the public relations apparatus operating behind the scenes.
In part, Kennedy’s spokesperson Simon Halls shares the responsibility, as he has been actively telling reporters this week that Kathy’s schedule is merely speculation and there are no recent developments,” he commented.
The language closely resembles what a source, who is said to be well-informed about the matter, shared with CNN as they sought to dispute the claims made by Puck’s report.
“There’s nothing there right now,” was the direct quote CNN cited.
If Belloni’s assertions are accurate (considering his extensive industry ties, it seems unlikely that he would be mistaken), then it appears CNN was not delivering news but rather disseminating promotional material straight from Kennedy’s team, failing to acknowledge the underlying motivations of the source.
This is a serious breach of journalistic integrity.
CNN Knew Exactly What It Was Doing
In essence, the crux of the matter lies not in the assumption that CNN was deceived, but rather in the possibility that if Belloni’s assertion holds true – with the language originating from Kennedy’s publicist – it implies that they were fully aware of their actions and deliberately decided to publish the story.
A network utilizing CNN’s resources understands clearly that a personal publicist, due to their role, is not an unbiased source; rather, they work to influence public opinion in favor of their client. Instead of openly acknowledging the origin as Kennedy’s PR team, CNN chose to conceal it behind ambiguous language, giving the impression that the information was from an impartial inside source.
This is not journalism—it’s corporate propaganda.
As a cinephile, I can’t help but wonder if the situation would have unfolded similarly if a studio exec had leaked news supporting Kennedy’s departure instead. Frankly, it seems highly improbable.
It seems that CNN opted to safeguard the public relations story of Kathleen Kennedy by presenting it under the guise of impartial news coverage.
Why CNN Would Carry Water for Kennedy
This raises another question: Why would CNN rush to Kennedy’s defense in the first place?
One plausible scenario is that I’m dealing with the concept of access journalism – a practice not always ethical where media outlets secure favorable coverage in exchange for ongoing insider access. Given Kennedy’s influential position within Hollywood, it’s likely she has strong connections in the media world. By publishing a defensive piece about Lucasfilm’s president, CNN probably kept their relationship with her and Disney intact for future coverage opportunities.
To put it simply, instead of providing unbiased news, CNN intentionally broadcasted public relations propaganda as facts to preserve their connections within the industry.
The Broader Problem: Corporate PR Masquerading as News
This situation isn’t just about Kennedy—it’s part of a larger media credibility crisis.
If Belloni’s findings are correct, CNN’s act of disguising a publicist’s statements as exclusive reporting is a classic demonstration of why the general public’s trust in mainstream media has significantly decreased. The public relies on journalism to be grounded in facts, not corporate propaganda. When outlets like CNN intentionally blur this boundary, it further undermines their credibility and trustworthiness.
The facts remain unchanged:
- Kennedy herself admitted that succession planning is happening.
- An announcement will come within the next year.
No amount of CNN spin will change that.
This finding clearly illustrates that Hollywood, along with its media partners, will stretch boundaries to manipulate the storyline – sometimes even resorting to misleading the public for the sake of controlling the narrative.
And CNN was seemingly more than happy to play along.
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2025-03-01 00:55