ASHLEIGH Banfield's harsh critique of TV news might not have been as self-destructive as it sounded. Banfield - reamed out by NBC head Neal Shapiro for criticizing coverage of Iraq's liberation in a speech at Kansas State University - is trying to set herself up for another job. "Ashleigh's contract is up this year," said a spy. "There is no way MSNBC or NBC is going to renew her, so she is trying to get a job with CNN by pulling the 'real news' card." But sources at CNN said there was "no way" Banfield would be hired "after what she just pulled." A rep for the network declined comment.