The true story of Chicago ... as told by Chicago
CNN pre-empted its usual primetime programming on New Year’s Day for a special two-hour film: A retrospective on the long career of the rock group Chicago. The film traced the group’s arc from its humble roots to its induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame last year.
Only at the conclusion of the program did viewers get a subtle clue about the film’s origins. A credit line read: “Produced by Chicago.”
CNN, in other words, reserved two hours for a film about a subject made under the editorial control of the subject itself.
The network said it has no concerns about the film, called Now More Than Ever: The History of Chicago. But experts in documentary filmmaking had a few.
At the very least, they say, the network should have disclosed upfront and more directly to viewers that the contents of the program were determined by the musical group, not by independent journalists at CNN. At the other extreme, CNN might have considered not airing the film at all, because it could be interpreted as a promotional exercise highlighting the group’s music just as it launches a new tour.
CNN calls Now More Than Ever an “acquired” film, meaning the network’s journalists weren’t involved in its production. Its nonfiction film division, CNN Films, bought the broadcast rights from its distributor, FilmRise.
News organizations typically try to maintain an arm’s-length relationship with the people they cover, lest their reporting be perceived as a conflict of interest. It would be unthinkable, for example, for a news organization to air a film about a political candidate that was made by the candidate’s campaign without telling viewers where the film came from.
“The cardinal rule is that you have to be honest with your viewers or readers,” said Tom Bettag, a visiting professor of journalism at the University of Maryland and former network news producer. “If there had been a clear disclosure, I’d find it hard to say that was terribly wrong. That said, to have avoided a full disclosure speaks volumes.”
He added, “Journalism’s first obligation is to the viewer. There is a clear understanding between the audience and a serious news organization that the program is being produced following news standards. To find out after the fact that a program was produced with the approval of the subject and by their people is a jolt ... Viewers can’t help but feel betrayed. They should, because it is clearly a betrayal.”
A CNN spokeswoman, Jennifer Dargan, said the network acquired it as “a finished documentary film.” She said it’s “not uncommon” for narrative documentaries, particularly those that require the acquisition of music rights, to be produced by people associated with the group.
In addition, she said, the network aired the full credits of the film, and the production credits are available online.
The Chicago film was directed and edited by Peter Pardini, whose uncle is Lou Pardini, the group’s keyboardist.
It largely celebrates the musical group, but it does include segments and interviews about conflict among its various members and a period in which the group was abusing drugs.
It also references the death of original guitarist Terry Kath, who died from a self-inflicted gunshot in 1978.
The cardinal rule is that you have to be honest with your viewers or readers.