Remembering CNN founder Ted Turner

Ted Turner, the visionary founder of CNN, has died at age 87, leaving a legacy that redefined global media and high-stakes philanthropy. He pioneered the 24-hour news cycle in 1980, transforming a modest Atlanta operation into a global powerhouse that achieved definitive status through its exclusive live coverage of the 1991 Gulf War. Turner maintained a "news is the star" philosophy, prioritizing journalistic credibility over individual celebrity despite his own flamboyant and often controversial public persona. After losing control of his media empire following the disastrous AOL-Time Warner merger, he pivoted toward global humanitarianism, famously pledging $1 billion to United Nations causes. This transition birthed the UN Foundation and the Nuclear Threat Initiative, inspiring a new era of billionaire giving. His later years were marked by a retreat from public life as he battled a degenerative disease, focusing on environmental conservation and international cooperation.