In 1980, a brash media mogul named Ted Turner flipped the switch on a bold experiment—the world’s first 24-hour news network. His dream? To democratize access to truth, inform the world in real time, and reshape journalism for the better.

But that noble vision unleashed forces no one fully understood.

Breaking the News is a daring, deeply reported audio documentary series that traces CNN’s dramatic rise—and its role in the unraveling of public trust in journalism. Through seven cinematic episodes, the podcast explores how media innovation helped fracture reality in America. How objectivity became a casualty of profit, politics, and platform algorithms. And what this means for the future of democracy.

Why This Matters

We are living through an era of profound disinformation, deep fake deception, and civic distrust. Truth—once a shared foundation—is now up for grabs. Our team of veteran journalists believes this story must be told. Not just to understand what went wrong—but to ask what journalism must become next.

What Your Donation Supports

Your tax-deductible contribution will help us bring this essential series to life. Every dollar you give helps fund:

Investigative research and fact-checking
Recording and editing of interviews with key insiders and media critics
Sound-rich narrative production and immersive audio design
Promotion across podcast platforms, YouTube, and live events

We plan to release the full series in 2026 across all major podcast platforms.

Your generous contribution, no matter the size, brings this story closer to being told. For more details about the episodes and key players to be featured in our audio docuseries, visit our website.

Funder FAQs

1. After I donate, how will my contribution be used?

Contributions will go into a general account at AIR that will be used to fund project development and production, as well as marketing and distribution expenses. Funds will be disbursed on a rolling basis to meet all costs, which are detailed in a project budget with line items.

2. How long will it take to produce the series?

The goal is to produce and deliver the series by the Fall of 2026. The timing depends in part on how quickly we meet our fundraising goal.

3. How will I know when the series is complete and where I can listen?

The series will be released and promoted on all major podcast platforms. We plan to reach out to all funders in advance of distribution to let them know the release date and other details.

4. What happens if you don’t raise enough funds to finish the project?

As noted above, contributions will be pooled in a single account that will fund project expenses on an ongoing basis. We will stop production if we fail to raise the full amount required to complete the podcast series. At that point, any funds raised that have NOT been spent will be reallocated by AIR to another like-minded project (or projects) that it is supporting.

5. Can those interviewed for the series contribute?

We don’t solicit donations from people we interview. Anyone who chooses to give does so independently, and contributions have no effect on the series’ editorial content.

Breaking the News Podcast Fund

By ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENTS IN RADIO

Breaking the News Podcast Fund

Bring to life a daring audio documentary on CNN, truth, and the future of journalism