CNN's promotions department found itself in serious trouble Monday after the airing of a spot that touted morning anchor Paula Zahn as "sexy."
The promo, which aired a few times Sunday night, rhetorically asked which show's host was "provocative, supersmart and, oh yeah, just a little sexy" followed by a zipper-like sound effect.
No one on the news side at CNN, including Zahn herself, knew about the spot, according to a network spokeswoman.
The promo, called "completely inappropriate" by the spokeswoman, was pulled from the air.
"It was a major blunder by our promotions department," CNN chairman Walter Isaacson said in a statement Monday.
"The ad was never seen or approved by anyone outside of the promo department. I am outraged and so is Paula, who has spent more than 20 years proving her credibility day in and day out on the air."
Network executives were discussing Monday what action to take against the promotions staffer responsible, a woman.
"The procedures were not followed," Isaacson said. "It is a serious matter, which we are treating in a very serious manner."
Top executives within CNN parent AOL-Time Warner who saw the promo air Sunday were also upset.
Ironically, the CNN spot put into words a previously unspoken truth: Anchors need to be good-looking.
"I think that's unfortunate," said Joe Angotti, a journalism professor at Northwestern University and a former NBC News executive. "I think that's not one of the qualities that should be promoted in a journalist.
"I'm sure that Paula and most journalists would much rather have her identified as a good writer," Angotti added.
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