How CNN’s Ted Turner changed the media landscape forever

This episode of As It Happens explores the legacy of Ted Turner, the visionary founder of CNN, whose bold 24-hour news network revolutionized global media. Through interviews with former CNN science correspondent Miles O'Brien and archival audio from Turner himself, the episode paints a portrait of a flamboyant, driven entrepreneur who transformed journalism from a niche enterprise into a round-the-clock global spectacle. Despite his controversial persona and later disillusionment with corporate ownership, Turner’s impact on real-time news coverage, crisis reporting, and media innovation remains indelible. The episode also covers pressing contemporary issues: Canada’s Privacy Commissioner Philippe Dufresne reveals that OpenAI violated Canadian privacy laws by training ChatGPT on vast amounts of personal data, prompting calls for stronger legislation. Meanwhile, investigative reporting by the San Francisco Chronicle wins a Pulitzer for exposing how insurance algorithms left wildfire survivors in California financially devastated. The episode further highlights systemic exploitation of South Asian women farm workers in B.C. and a student-led movement at NYU to reclaim in-person connection in a digital age. Together, these stories underscore the enduring power of journalism to expose injustice, challenge technology’s unchecked growth, and rekindle human connection.