In an interview with NPR, Fareed Zakaria says his network, CNN, ” is getting smarter…you can feel it in the stories,” under the leadership of Mark Whitaker, CNN’s managing editor and executive vice president. “You can feel it in the depth with which they’re covered, the kinds of people in terms of guests who are brought on air, the ways in which issues are discussed.”

Rick Sanchez came to New York City today for a live interview on Good Morning America and a radio interview on WABC. Before he left for Atlanta, I talked to Sanchez at his hotel, overlooking his former employer, CNN.

We talked about the circumstances last Friday, Keith Olbermann‘s criticism, Jon Klein, Eliot Spitzer and more. Here’s the full Q&A:

Another thing I talked about with former CNN/U.S. President Jon Klein yesterday was his reaction to a very positive quote from Fox News Chairman and CEO Roger Ailes.

It was particularly interesting as Ailes’ network and Klein himself have had quite a rocky relationship – at least until Klein officially was no longer at the helm of fellow cable news outlet CNN.

Former CNN/U.S. President Jon Klein says the network is in good hands. Incoming head of CNN, and former HLN head, Ken Jautz, is “an extremely capable executive and a good guy,” says Klein.

Meanwhile SVP of Programming Bart Feder, who Klein hired and is the #2 exec at the network, is “the single best news executive around.” I talked to Klein today about his plans for the future and more.

Ken Jautz is now running CNN, but in the eyes of some of the staff it might be more notable that Jon Klein is no longer running the network.

The firing has brought out some former and current employees speaking openly about their positive reaction to the move. We spoke to several people inside CNN about the feeling Friday, and Klein himself.

Former HLN head Ken Jautz has taken over as head of CNN, following the dismissal of Jon Klein.

As he begins his first week at the helm, we talked to Jautz today about his big picture plans for the network, whether HLN talent could end up at CNN and the characterization that he’s the “opposite of Jon Klein.”

Today, New York Magazine‘s Daily Intel blog caught up with Jonathan Klein, who was removed from his position as CNN’s president this week. Gabriel Sherman writes Klein’s version of how he heard the bad news:

It appears that the terrible ratings finally caught up with him. Brian Stelter at the NY Times reports that beleagured president of CNN Jon Klein is out of his current position, replaced by Ken Jautz, who is currently heading up HLN. CNN’s Worldwide Chief sent a memo to CNN’s staff this morning indicating that Klein was leaving with “our respect and friendship” without specifying the reason why he was out, though certainly CNN’s declining ratings were at issue.

Leave it to Simon Cowell, the most brutally honest person on TV, to potentially break the news that yes, CNN is indeed hiring Piers Morgan to replace Larry King.

During a brief interview with Extra TV, Cowell said he personally helped “broker the deal.” As in, done deal.

Larry King is moving on.

The CNN host announced last night he’s ending his 25-year show in the fall. His boss, CNN/U.S. President Jon Klein told Mediaite “to be able to pull together and get out on air in a classy, optimistic way, blew me away.” We talked to Klein about what happens next for King (and Anderson Cooper, and John King), the new Spitzer/Parker show and more.

CNN has decided on their 8pmET program – bringing in Eliot Spitzer and Kathleen Parker – but since the show doesn’t debut until the fall, there’s a lot of time to talk about what the show means.

Howard Kurtz talked to CNN President Jon Klein about the decision on his own network during Reliable Sources yesterday.

…his boss. (CNN/U.S. President Jon Klein) Right?

Cable news ratings for the first quarter came out this week, and its been a rather tough day for CNN. Writing for the NY Times, Bill Carter‘s story includes a headline that screams “CNN Fails to Stop Fall in Ratings.” No, it’s not good news – or more to the point — it’s actually more bad news. Insiders have long whispered about what’s going on at CNN, and alas, the continued and consistent poor ratings mean that its finally time to openly question Jon Klein‘s future in his role as President of CNN.

Have you ever wondered what Anderson Cooper or Candy Crowley would look like if they were neanderthals? Of course you have – I mean, who hasn’t? Thankfully, the smart producers at CNN have given their viewing audience what they want – a realistic portrayal of CNN talent done up as though they were early cavemen. Finally! The amazing and relevant video is after the jump. Also, in other CNN related news, prime time ratings continue to slump.

Politico’s Michael Calderone pulls back the curtain on some internal tension at CNN over the direction of the network.

Besides a meeting that took place at the D.C. bureau, there are also concerns at the network about the need for John King‘s upcoming 7pmET show to begin the process of turning the nighttime ratings around.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s new book, “Cheating Death,” was released in October, but the celebration took place this week. In the crowd was a mix of talent and executives from CNN and other networks – including a large contingent of TV doctors. How was his boss going to describe him Monday night?

Latino activist Roberto Lovato co-founded Basta Dobbs, the most notorious of the Latino grassroots organizations that angrily called for the firing of CNN’s controversial anchor. With his abrupt resignation last week, Lovato and Latinos were celebrating — and taking some of the credit. To him, it’s an example of Latino clout in this country — and a voice CNN had no choice but to listen to. Mediaite’s Jose Simian spoke with Lovato exclusively about what he called their “victory.”

“What a relief to get the odious Lou Dobbs out of the news business, at least for a while.” Let’s just say that Bil Rappleye thinks his replacement with John King is a step in the right direction for CNN.

Shortly after Lou Dobbs announced his decision to leave CNN, he received his very first going-away present: a “Worst Person in the World” bronze medal, courtesy of Keith Olbermann. What did he do to deserve the honor less than two hours after he announced his departure?

With CNN’s ratings dropping, and its sister network HLN reaching historic heights, the spin when it comes to defending the network takes on extra significance.

For CNN/U.S. President Jon Klein, it sounds like the path relates to changing the topic from ratings to ‘journalism.’ Will it work?

Buried in Brian Stelter‘s story about the battle between Fox News and the Obama Administration is a little nugget: Last month, Lou Dobbs met with Roger Ailes. Fox Business Network, which recently picked up firebrand Don Imus, is reportedly interested in Dobbs, whose controversial anti-immigration, anti-Administration stance has sat awkwardly with the rest of CNN’s programming of late.

Where were you a year ago today? If you are a political journalist — or media hanger-on — chances are you were living out of a suitcase at the 2008 Presidential Conventions, with the Dems nominating Barack Obama in Denver and the GOP nominating John McCain in Minneapolis/St. Paul. Remember those heady days?

At this point it’s a bit of a lose-lose situation for CNN where Lou Dobbs is concerned. Regardless of what they do there is just no way to look good. To wit: HuffPo is reporting that CNN is refusing to air the anti-Dobbs commercials the website put together to protest Dobbs’ Obama-Birther coverage.

The controversy surrounding CNN host Lou Dobbs’ discussion of the current “birther” theory has not increased his ratings.

The negative attention will no doubt continue next Tuesday now that Media Matters has announced plans to run ads critical of Dobbs on MSNBC, Fox News and CNN — specifically during Dobb’s 7PM time slot.

Well, it looks like Lou Dobbs won’t be having any more “birther” debates on his CNN show.

CNN President Jon Klein put out a memo last night to Lou Dobbs staffers in which he declares, “It seems this story is dead.” Here’s his note, courtesy of TVNewser.