CNN International

The most troubling aspect of the numerous competitors formed by foreign nations to take on CNN is the amount of government control and funding over these networks. Despite the fact these networks have been formed with the best intentions, the amount of government control, even in liberal democracies, should be troubling for any journalist.

The fact remains that while these networks may be acting objectively and without any governmental pressure, that all can change in the blink of an eye. The way the American government was able to handle an "independent" media during the initial invasion of Iraq, with closely shepherded embedded reporters, indicates what kind of effect a government can have when in bed with the media.