In an interesting bit of news CNN has just started selling t-shirts “on demand” with some of their select headlines on them. As you can see certain of the headlines below have a t-shirt icon beside them which enables you to click on it and get your own t-shirt with that headline.
Once you click on a headlines t-shirt icon you’re presented with some color and size choices before you place your order.
The shirts are $15 with 4.99 shipping.
Great idea guys, all I can say is, CNN needs to be more funny 
If The Onion did this they would make bank!
Right now the onion sells a few funny shirts, but none use their actual headlines, like the Area Man shirt for instance.
UPDATE: of course there is a blog called WTFCNN dedicated to catching outrageous headlines from CNN, now how do we print these
Thanks to Abi from HeatEatReview for the tip on WTFCNN
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While this is kinda neat, I did want to point out a minor problem, which some of you may just see as my personal opinion or rant here, but here goes: this further compromises CNN’s journalistic integrity. While providing this service does not directly affect the integrity of the articles CNN publishes, it does bring a new economic incentive for CNN to publish humorous articles, instead of serious, arguably more important ones. And while this is an on-demand service, suggesting that perhaps CNN may not really take their t-shirts into consideration when writing, it is alarming that as a corporation they would focus part of their efforts on this new cash inflow for them, instead of working on their incredible problems with putting out quality journalism.
I like CNN, but buoyed to the extent that I like any mainstream media at all, and seeing their news further influenced by economic forces, instead of moralistic ones, is disturbing.
But then again who knows what this really means at all.
Good point Chris, I guess I thought it was a weird fit from a brand standpoint. I mean CNN is not really known for funny or outrageous headlines. I think the issue of this becoming an incentive to focus on funny articles would have to be looked at in the context of the entire culture and incentive structure at CNN to really understand what impact these t-shirts would have. My gut says there are probably different ways of getting ahead in CNN that are more powerful and practical than writing funny headlines etc.
Chris’s analysis reminded me of the Onion article ‘Most E-Mailed’ List Tearing New York Times’ Newsroom Apart
If you’ve ever watched CNN’s American Morning (ideal for ironing) you know that the content’s already been dumbed down, regardless of website headline writers.
OMG the Onion f’ing rules. I guess I don’t watch CNN that much unless it is contained in some humorous montage of cable news people all regurgitating the same talking point on either The Daily Show or the Colbert Report
Forget the CNN headlines, the links ALLOW YOU TO SUPPLY WHATEVER “HEADLINE” YOU WANT.
Just replace the text in the URL:
http://www.cnn.com/tshirt/?headline=CNN-Has-Useless-Stories&date=1208775827000&hash=9153f55625ac032cb58bdd3882e94b18&return_uri=http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/offbeat/2008/04/21/ca.grunion.run.cnn
change the parameter in headline= of the URL and before the next &
I see this opening all sorts of PR problems. Why not print shirts mocking CNN followed by a tag line of “I just saw it on CNN.com”
I don’t think so Troy, did you actually try and buy it? I tried printing “The Awkward Situation Room” but it won’t add the shirt to the cart. I think the hash= part of the url is a security thing to make sure you’re printing one of their sanctioned headlines.
Everybody is jumping on the “print on demand” bandwagon. Who’s next? I bet if TV Shows did it they would make a killing. Especially TV Shows that have catch phrases. Doh!, Seriously? and How you doing? Put a little ad after the show and BAM! a million sales.
You heard it first here!
If you notice CNN only puts a few headlines available to purchase so I don’t see it being a problem with integrity of journalism.
I did some custom headlines when I heard about this earlier today (wasn’t going to order any of them, just looking for laughs), but CNN.com has since closed up that little loophole. Now, deviating headlines just redirect to a list of all the headlines available on t-shirts.
Wow, this is such a wierd, and lame idea… who honestly wants a shirt that says a CNN headline? Who thought of this idea, and who all backed it up as a “good idea?”
It's retarded and won't make any money… morons. Common sense. I am beyond clueless as to why they would start doing this? I am 100% sure I'm not the only one who thinks this….
Wow, this is such a wierd, and lame idea… who honestly wants a shirt that says a CNN headline? Who thought of this idea, and who all backed it up as a “good idea?”
It's retarded and won't make any money… morons. Common sense. I am beyond clueless as to why they would start doing this? I am 100% sure I'm not the only one who thinks this….
Wow, this is such a wierd, and lame idea… who honestly wants a shirt that says a CNN headline? Who thought of this idea, and who all backed it up as a “good idea?”
It's retarded and won't make any money… morons. Common sense. I am beyond clueless as to why they would start doing this? I am 100% sure I'm not the only one who thinks this….
Wow, this is such a wierd, and lame idea… who honestly wants a shirt that says a CNN headline? Who thought of this idea, and who all backed it up as a “good idea?”
It's retarded and won't make any money… morons. Common sense. I am beyond clueless as to why they would start doing this? I am 100% sure I'm not the only one who thinks this….
Wow, this is such a wierd, and lame idea… who honestly wants a shirt that says a CNN headline? Who thought of this idea, and who all backed it up as a “good idea?”
It's retarded and won't make any money… morons. Common sense. I am beyond clueless as to why they would start doing this? I am 100% sure I'm not the only one who thinks this….
Wow, this is such a wierd, and lame idea… who honestly wants a shirt that says a CNN headline? Who thought of this idea, and who all backed it up as a “good idea?”
It's retarded and won't make any money… morons. Common sense. I am beyond clueless as to why they would start doing this? I am 100% sure I'm not the only one who thinks this….
Wow, this is such a wierd, and lame idea… who honestly wants a shirt that says a CNN headline? Who thought of this idea, and who all backed it up as a “good idea?”
It's retarded and won't make any money… morons. Common sense. I am beyond clueless as to why they would start doing this? I am 100% sure I'm not the only one who thinks this….
Wow, this is such a wierd, and lame idea… who honestly wants a shirt that says a CNN headline? Who thought of this idea, and who all backed it up as a “good idea?”
It's retarded and won't make any money… morons. Common sense. I am beyond clueless as to why they would start doing this? I am 100% sure I'm not the only one who thinks this….
Wow, this is such a wierd, and lame idea… who honestly wants a shirt that says a CNN headline? Who thought of this idea, and who all backed it up as a “good idea?”
It's retarded and won't make any money… morons. Common sense. I am beyond clueless as to why they would start doing this? I am 100% sure I'm not the only one who thinks this….
Wow, this is such a wierd, and lame idea… who honestly wants a shirt that says a CNN headline? Who thought of this idea, and who all backed it up as a “good idea?”
It's retarded and won't make any money… morons. Common sense. I am beyond clueless as to why they would start doing this? I am 100% sure I'm not the only one who thinks this….
Wow, this is such a wierd, and lame idea… who honestly wants a shirt that says a CNN headline? Who thought of this idea, and who all backed it up as a “good idea?”
It's retarded and won't make any money… morons. Common sense. I am beyond clueless as to why they would start doing this? I am 100% sure I'm not the only one who thinks this….
well I for one think this is an awesome idea. and you just sound like you have a shitty life so i don't think your opinion even matters hahahah
Worse idea ever
ya i am agree with the bob. why they would start doing this?
Good idea to make a news headline popular forever. CNN should print that headline which are really worthy to get a look of the crowd. These headline can become a hot discussion.
Great T-shirts with great content
Spwcial edition of the CNN
I am a fan too
Hello, for a long time I read your blog, thanks for that that write interesting and
useful posts. I consider that blogers it is possible to name many journalists.
Good luck
Nice post!!
Also see: http://pizory.com/2009/01/16/creative-billboard...
I think it’s a good idea.
I like the content, personally.
this is the dumbest shit ever
whos brother is in the t shirt business?
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