Good News or Bad News?

Anderson Cooper delivers good news with CNN’s ‘Heroes’ special highlighting do-gooders

'All-Star Tribute' will salute people, like 2010 honoree Anuradha Koirala, who have helped others

By Richard Huff
New York Daily News

Originally Published: Thursday, December 8 2011, 1:00 PM
Updated: Thursday, December 8 2011, 1:00 PM


CNN’s Hero of the Year in 2010, Anuradha Koirala, with Anderson Cooper
There’s been a push of late to add good news stories to the news mix everywhere, but Anderson Cooper notes that what people view is a different story.

“People say they want to hear good news stories, but often those aren’t the things they stick around to watch,” says Cooper.

He should know.

Every week on his CNN show he features profiles of people who do good work — as does CNN worldwide — and on Sunday at 8 p.m., he hosts “CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute,” honoring people who do good work.

“What people say they want to watch and what they wind up watching are often not the same thing,” Cooper says.

However, he says that doesn’t mean television shows shouldn’t find those stories.

The “All-Star Tribute” is the culmination of CNN’s annual push to highlight people who have taken the initiative to change the lives of others. The network got 40,000 submissions and profiled more than 150. The top 10 will be honored Sunday, with one getting $250,000 and named “CNN Hero of the Year.” (Each of the others will receive $50,000.)

Among the finalists is Amy Stokes of Yonkers, who in 2006 founded Infinite Family, an organization that uses the Internet to connect hundreds of teens with adult volunteer mentors who teach them skills in areas like languages, computers and just plain survival .

The common thread with all the heroes is their normality.

“They’re not people who have access to money. They’re not people who work the corridors of power,” says Cooper. “It is people who were living normal lives and saw a need — and they took that next step.”

That’s the difference, he says. Many people see a need; few take action.

“I’m sure some people will forget them and move on,” he says of the honorees. “We’re amazed by the impact. It’s not just the money we give them on this one night, and for many of these people it’s a significant amount of money. But it’s the global exposure. … It’s a global platform and exposure they can’t get anywhere else.”

He notes last year’s winner, Anuradha Koirala, whose appearance on the show inspired Demi Moore and her charitable organization to do a documentary on Koirala’s project to end human trafficking.

For Cooper, the special is one more bit of work in a week that includes his regular CNN job, some duties at CBS’ “60 Minutes” and the taping of his daytime show, “Anderson.”

“I’m not working in a coal mine,” he notes. “And I’m not going out on patrol with 130 pounds on my back in 110-degree heat. This is fun; this is a great mix.”