Interstellar Network News
Encyclopedia
Interstellar Network News (ISN) is a fictional TV news network in the Babylon 5
universe. ISN's motto is The Galaxy's Most Important Network. ISN was modelled on real-world news outlets, such as CNN
.
Broadcasting from Geneva
(seat of the Earth Alliance
Government), ISN is the only Earth network that can afford the massive costs of live interstellar broadcasting, explaining why we never see another news network in Babylon 5. ISN's signal reaches Earth, all the Earth Alliance colonies, Babylon 5 and other alien worlds. By 2260 ISN had won six Platinum Network awards.
Throughout the series, ISN reports events happening all over known space from Earth's (and EarthGov's) perspective. Due to ISN's dependence on expensive tachyon transmitters mostly supplied by the government, the network was extremely vulnerable to government pressure.
During the administration of Morgan Clark
, ISN suffered censorship of many news reports that were contrary to the President's interests. With the full outbreak of the Earth Alliance Civil War, a group of ISN reporters attempted to disclose uncensored news of the bombardment of Mars and the secession of Proxima III and Orion VII from the Alliance during a live broadcast. ISN's facilities were stormed by elite military forces and the network went off air for several weeks. ("Severed Dreams
")
Eventually ISN returned to operations, but it was nothing more than a propaganda
machine completely subservient to Clark. It became known that the network's previous anchors had been arrested. ISN's recurring female anchor Jane was replaced by a previously unseen female anchor who cheerfully spouted off lies in favor of the new fascist police-state Clark had established on Earth. For the remainder of the Civil War ISN continued to serve Clark's interests, broadcasting "special reports" aimed to discredit anti-Clark forces, especially Babylon 5, and John Sheridan
in particular. ("The Illusion of Truth
") To counter ISN's blatant propaganda, Babylon 5 launched the Voice of the Resistance.
Following the end of President Clark's tyranny, the ISN was liberated and many of the network's previous anchors were released from imprisonment and returned to the cameras. Like the rest of the Earth Alliance, ISN tried to cope with and recover from the events of the Civil War.
Besides normal news bulletins, ISN broadcasts a variety of programs, including documentaries, special investigative reports (such as 36 Hours) and political talk shows such as ISN Night Side ("a no-holds-barred look at the events of today that will shape the world of tomorrow"), hosted by Derek Mitchell, seen in the episode "The Deconstruction of Falling Stars
".
aired September 16, 2259, sponsored by Interplanetary Expeditions in the episode "And Now For a Word
". Commercial messages aired during that program included subliminal propaganda for the Psi Corps
.
Babylon 5
Babylon 5 is an American science fiction television series created, produced and largely written by J. Michael Straczynski. The show centers on a space station named Babylon 5: a focal point for politics, diplomacy, and conflict during the years 2257–2262...
universe. ISN's motto is The Galaxy's Most Important Network. ISN was modelled on real-world news outlets, such as CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
.
Broadcasting from Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
(seat of the Earth Alliance
Earth Alliance (Babylon 5)
The Earth Alliance is the name of a fictional alliance of the nations of Earth and off-world colonies in the television series Babylon 5. The transition of Earth government from a democratic, elected government to an authoritarian, militaristic one and back to a democracy again is a major theme of...
Government), ISN is the only Earth network that can afford the massive costs of live interstellar broadcasting, explaining why we never see another news network in Babylon 5. ISN's signal reaches Earth, all the Earth Alliance colonies, Babylon 5 and other alien worlds. By 2260 ISN had won six Platinum Network awards.
Throughout the series, ISN reports events happening all over known space from Earth's (and EarthGov's) perspective. Due to ISN's dependence on expensive tachyon transmitters mostly supplied by the government, the network was extremely vulnerable to government pressure.
During the administration of Morgan Clark
Morgan Clark
William Morgan Clark is a fictional character and a major antagonist from the universe of the science fiction television series Babylon 5, portrayed by Gary McGurk. His character rarely appeared on-screen, but is a major off-screen presence in the show....
, ISN suffered censorship of many news reports that were contrary to the President's interests. With the full outbreak of the Earth Alliance Civil War, a group of ISN reporters attempted to disclose uncensored news of the bombardment of Mars and the secession of Proxima III and Orion VII from the Alliance during a live broadcast. ISN's facilities were stormed by elite military forces and the network went off air for several weeks. ("Severed Dreams
Severed Dreams
"Severed Dreams" is an episode from the third season of the science fiction television series Babylon 5. It won the 1997 Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation.-Synopsis:...
")
Eventually ISN returned to operations, but it was nothing more than a propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
machine completely subservient to Clark. It became known that the network's previous anchors had been arrested. ISN's recurring female anchor Jane was replaced by a previously unseen female anchor who cheerfully spouted off lies in favor of the new fascist police-state Clark had established on Earth. For the remainder of the Civil War ISN continued to serve Clark's interests, broadcasting "special reports" aimed to discredit anti-Clark forces, especially Babylon 5, and John Sheridan
John Sheridan (Babylon 5)
John J. Sheridan is a lead character in the fictional universe of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Bruce Boxleitner. For most of the series, he is the commander of the Babylon 5 station; during the series' final season he is the President of the Interstellar...
in particular. ("The Illusion of Truth
The Illusion of Truth
"The Illusion of Truth" is an episode from the fourth season of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5.-Synopsis:An ISN reporter does a report on Babylon 5 which turns out only to be propaganda.-Arc significance:...
") To counter ISN's blatant propaganda, Babylon 5 launched the Voice of the Resistance.
Following the end of President Clark's tyranny, the ISN was liberated and many of the network's previous anchors were released from imprisonment and returned to the cameras. Like the rest of the Earth Alliance, ISN tried to cope with and recover from the events of the Civil War.
Besides normal news bulletins, ISN broadcasts a variety of programs, including documentaries, special investigative reports (such as 36 Hours) and political talk shows such as ISN Night Side ("a no-holds-barred look at the events of today that will shape the world of tomorrow"), hosted by Derek Mitchell, seen in the episode "The Deconstruction of Falling Stars
The Deconstruction of Falling Stars
"The Deconstruction of Falling Stars" is the final episode of the fourth season of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5. This was the final episode of Babylon 5 to air on PTEN.-Synopsis:...
".
36 Hours
36 Hours is a fictional Interstellar Network News show hosted by Cynthia Torqueman which spends 36 hours on location investigating a subject. One such show dealing with Babylon 5Babylon 5
Babylon 5 is an American science fiction television series created, produced and largely written by J. Michael Straczynski. The show centers on a space station named Babylon 5: a focal point for politics, diplomacy, and conflict during the years 2257–2262...
aired September 16, 2259, sponsored by Interplanetary Expeditions in the episode "And Now For a Word
And Now For a Word
"And Now For a Word" is an episode from the second season of the science fiction television series Babylon 5. The documentary format used in this episode was later revisited for the fourth season episode "The Illusion of Truth".-Synopsis:...
". Commercial messages aired during that program included subliminal propaganda for the Psi Corps
Psi Corps
In the fictional universe of Babylon 5, the Psi Corps is an agency of the Earth Alliance responsible for all humans with telepathic or other para-psychological abilities anywhere within Earth controlled space. All persons with Psi abilities are required to either join the Corps, face lifetime...
.