CNN reignites BuzzFeed feud

BuzzFeed seems to have struck a nerve with cable news channel CNN.

CNN CEO Jeff Zucker and CNN’s communications team have in the last week specifically targeted BuzzFeed in statements, press releases and on Twitter — positioning the cable news company as the dominant player in the news stuff, including among millennials, and arguing that CNN is beating the digital media company in a number of metrics.

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This week’s feud comes in the wake of Zucker’s comments earlier this month that BuzzFeed and Vice “are not legitimate news organizations.” (BuzzFeed editor in chief Ben Smith responded by criticizing CNN for “[turning] its platform over to Jeff's friend Donald Trump.” )

Zucker reignited the feud Tuesday when he called out BuzzFeed, Vox and Vice while speaking at Nomura's Media & Internet conference.

"There's a lot of talk out there about Buzzfeed and Vice and Vox, and they are all good,” Zucker said during his remarks, citing a June report that ranked CNN ahead of digital companies among millennials. “…The place that owns millennials in this space is CNN.”

CNN’s communications team followed up on Zucker’s statements with a tweet highlighting CNN’s ranking in the study. The tweet tagged Smith, who had noted the median age of CNN viewers on Twitter in response to Zucker. The CNN team also linked to this POLITICO Media article that cites the same study.

The following afternoon, CNN’s communications team blasted out a press release to reporters. Near the top of the release: “BUZZFEED SHOWS DECLINES ACROSS THE BOARD; DOWN IN VISITORS, VIEWS, MINUTES, MOBILE.”

Less than an hour after the press release was sent, BuzzFeed's Twitter account sarcastically responded to CNN’s communications team, referencing this scene from “30 Rock” featuring actor Steve Buscemi.

A few minutes later, Smith responded to Zucker.

"So Jeff Zucker says it's CNN vs. BuzzFeed" he wrote on Twitter. "We agree. Past vs. future. Stay tuned."

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