WASHINGTON — CNN denied a request for an interview and deferred Voice of Russia to a CNN International response on its press website, regarding former CNN journalist Amber Lyon’s reporting in Bahrain and the subsequent censorship battle she experienced with the network.

CNN and Lyon recently clashed over how the network handled her coverage of Bahrain during the Arab Spring protests over multiple assignments, including the documentary “iRevolution: Online Warriors of the Arab Spring,” which aired on CNN in the United States but not on CNNi.

One of Lyon’s major concerns was the content produced by the network for the Bahraini government under contract agreements, which CNN did not deny in its response.

However, CNNi did say in its response that its “editorial operations and our commercial operations are completely separate. No deal ever buys any editorial influence.”

Lyon said otherwise, adding that that money went to create “positive content.”

“CNN may say that it’s independent. But you watch some of this content and tell me what you think. They’re going live on Bahrain’s pearl divers at a time when the country is going through horrific human rights’ abuses and majority of the people are revolting!” Lyon told Voice of Russia.

CNNi’s response did not clarify why it had not broadcast the iRevolution documentary other than saying that “It was never intended to air on CNN International.”

You can read Lyon’s interview with Voice of Russia here, the CNNi response here and Lyon’s original interview with The Guardian here.

VOR