The CNN effect has been described in many positive and negative ways. Former UN security general Boutros-Ghali described CNN as “the sixteenth member of the Security Council (Gilboa, 2005)”. While Colin Powell viewed the network effect as being that “live television coverage does not change policy, but it creates the environment in which policy is made (Gilboa, 2005). » These two statements show that the CNN effect has an impact both domestically and internationally as a major part of the global political process. The CNN effect can be seen as positive or negative, but despite one's opinion, it has had varied effects by being part of the agenda-setting process and acting as an accelerator. Although the CNN effect and the network are relatively new phenomena, having only existed since the 1980s, this theory has had significant effects on government, politics, and the way events are perceived and reacted to. (Gilboa, 2005).With the creation of the Cable News Network, the CNN effect could be created. CNN grew in the early 1980s and made global news a reality as its broadcast became accessible in many parts of the world (Gilboa, 2005). The expansion was made possible by innovations in communications technology that made 24/7 broadcasting all over the world a reality (Gilboa, 2005). CNN now has the capacity to reach a potential global audience of 1.2 billion people, which has been made possible by these technological advancements (Gunther, 2001). This expansion laid the foundation for CNN to have a considerable and highly influential impact as the network's programming targeted a variety of demographics (Government Accountability Office, 2010). In the mid-19s...... middle of paper ......vates citizens, the fourth estate holds a great deal of power and responsibility in the messages they deliver and the issues they address . The CNN effect has the ability to set the agenda and drive policy initiatives by choosing which conflicts or actions the media chooses to cover. With limited resources available to news networks, their choices in covering certain topics are crucial to the livelihoods of diverse populations facing crises around the world. This is the case because broadcast news programs raise society's awareness of problems in the world and, ideally, give people the knowledge to make informed conclusions about these problems. The CNN effect illustrates the great power held by the media and shows how the media has the ability to influence all members of society in various ways..