How Fox News created a crisis at CNN.

For a decade and a half, CNN was unrivaled and ambitious and understood its place in the world. At least it thought it was – until Fox News appeared on television screens. Could CNN save itself by going conservative or going tabloid? And how would CNN and Fox respond when 9/11 made news more important than ever?

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Season 10 of Slow Burn was written and reported by Josh Levin. The executive producer was Lizzie Jacobs.

Slow Burn is produced by Sophie Summergrad, Joel Meyer and Rosie Belson with help from Patrick Fort, Jacob Fenston and Julia Russo.

Derek John is the executive producer of narrative podcasts at Slate.

This season was edited by Susan Matthews and Hillary Frey.

Merritt Jacob is our senior technical director. Mix and sound design by Joe Plourde.

Our theme music was composed by Alexis Cuadrado. Derreck Johnson created the artwork for this season. Episode artwork by Ivylise Simones.

Sources for this episode:

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Audiovisual

Evans, Gail, Esther and Herbert Taylor Oral History Collection, Bremer Museum, May 5, 2023.

“How Aaron Brown Became CNN’s Voice of 9/11,” NPR, September 11, 2011.

Interview with Tom Johnson, Goin' Back: Remembering UGA Oral History Collection, University of Georgia Oral History Collections, March 22, 2010.

Bonus episode

CNN's Tom Johnson on his friendship with Roger Ailes

The former CNN president on the moment Fox News crashed the cable news party.