CBSNEWS PUSHED BOOK IT OWNS; '60 MINUTES' DID NOT REVEAL PARENT COMPANY'S FINANCIAL STAKE

Drudgereport.com ^ | 3/22/04 | Drudge

[NYC Republican]

XXXXX DRUDGE REPORT XXXXX MON MARCH 22, 2004 12:04:25 ET XXXXX

NEWS FOR SALE: CBS PUSHED BOOK IT OWNS; '60 MINUTES' DID NOT REVEAL PARENT COMPANY'S FINANCIAL STAKE IN CLARKE PROJECT

CBSNEWS did not inform its viewers last night that its parent company owns and has a direct financial stake in the success of the book by former White House terror staffer turned Bush critic, Dick Clarke, the DRUDGE REPORT can reveal.

60 MINUTES aired a double-segment investigative report on the new book "Against All Enemies" -- but did not disclose how CBSNEWS parent VIACOM is publishing the book and will profit from any and all sales!

ETHICAL BREACH

CBS even used heavy promotion for the 60 MINUTES/book launch during its Sunday sports shows.

It is not clear who made the final decision at CBSNEWS not to inform the viewer during 60 MINUTES how they were watching a news story about a VIACOM product.

60 MINUTES pro Lesley Stahl is said to have been aware of the conflict before the program aired.

[CBSNEWS.COM did add a disclaimer to its Internet coverage of the book over the weekend: "Against All Enemies," which is being published Monday by FREE PRESS, a subsidiary of SIMON & SCHUSTER. Both CBSNews.com and SIMON & SCHUSTER are units of VIACOM." And CBS RADIO did carry a disclaimer in its news coverage of the book.]

SIMON & SCHUSTER INFO-COMMERCIAL

Earlier this year, it was Stahl who also profiled another author on 60 MINUTES -- for another book owned by VIACOMCBS -- without any disclaimer!

"The Price of Loyalty" by former Treasury Secretary, turned Bush critic, Paul O'Neill was financed, produced and released [and rolled-out at CBSNEWS] by VIACOM's SIMON & SCHUSTER.

Coming in future weeks, best-selling author Bob Woodward is set to release his PLAN OF ATTACK, a fresh look at the Bush White House.

Will the Woodward VIACOMSIMON&SCHUSTER product debut on: VIACOMSIMON&SCHUSTERCBS's 60 MINUTES?

[EDITOR'S NOTE: STAHL'S INTERVIEW WITH CLARKE ON '60 MINUTES' WAS THE TOP-RATED SHOW OF SUNDAY NIGHT WITH 11.9 RATING/19 SHARE.]

[NYC Republican]

Lead story on Drudge.

[sarasota]

When are people going to realize that CBS/NBC/ABC et al are in bed with their parent companies and promote their agendas? Maybe a few will get the picture now?

[Stallone]

CBS: COMMUNISTS BASTARDS SOCIALISTS

[dirtboy]

We've been pushing this for the last two days on FR, and 60 Minutes failed to reveal their clear conflict of interest with this story. We need to hit this hard, harder and often. People will often poo-pooh claims of media bias. But conflicts of interest such as this get their attention.

[Defiant]

The top of the hour news on the radio yesterday lead with this story, but at the end mentioned that CBS's parent company, Viacom, was publishing this Clymer's book. If the radio news division could do that, why didn't 60 Minutes? Because that would reveal their bias perhaps?

[NYC Republican]

The top of the hour news on the radio yesterday lead with this story, but at the end mentioned that CBS's parent company, Viacom, was publishing this Clymer's book. If the radio news division could do that, why didn't 60 Minutes? Because that would reveal their bias perhaps?

Exactly. CBS appears to be the most biased of the major media outlets. Disgraceful.

[King Black Robe]

Ping! Here's an answer to your earlier question.

[Freedom2specul8]

Bump

[imintrouble]

Until my cable company finally consented to pipe in Fox News (after arguing with them for four years), I could not bear to watch the liberal mainstream media warp the minds of the public.

I don't watch Fox News that often as it turns out, but when I do, I find they are attempting to present an alternative and comparative view of what we loosely term "news" these days.

I appreciate their efforts and the fact they are successful in ratings and numbers demonstrates to me, a definite need and desire by the majority of the public to cover all sides of an issue.

I think it takes courage to view every aspect, especially of global events and evolutionary processes within nations and their governments, and for one to be insular in the pattern of information taken in, one is only getting half or less of the truth.

This is what academia has become, as is our press, and it is up to the good people such as those who frequent these forums, to see all sides of the issues are presented fairly with veracity.

Otherwise, we are lost and might as well succumb to a one station country such as communist regimes offer.

I shame CBS and who I believe is the most vulgar in their criticism aimed at the present government, and think that interview was primarily aimed at getting controversial numbers rarings, as well as accomplishing their favored Bush bashing agenda. Shame shame shame.

What was once a revered electronic publishing news and editorial information source, has become a panderer to publicity and remuneration.

[dirtboy]

What a surprise. /sarcasm

[11th Earl of Mar]

CBS: COMMUNISTS BASTARDS SOCIALISTS

Yes, but as this story illustrates, every socialist is a capitalist when he wants to be.

[truthandlife]

I am sure Rush will hit this today. He will probably say, "why should any of us be surprised."

I have a a feeling that this was timed with Kerry's vacation. Kerry thought that this would be the story that takes down Bush and it is just going to backfire just like every other false attack on Bush.

I am sure Kerry is not feeling to relaxed after the motive of CBS is spread across the political landscape.

Bush administration should take advantage of attacking CBS during this time.

[imintrouble]

In case you missed this thread.

[dirtboy]

I don't watch Fox News that often as it turns out, but when I do, I find they are attempting to present an alternative and comparative view of what we loosely term "news" these days.

Plus, when they reference a story from another Murdoch company, the talknig head will state that the source is "owned by the parent company of this network" - and sometimes the stage crew will join in as well.

[NYC Republican]

What can you say about CBS at this point? They're acting like Kerry's "hatchet-men". This HAS to backfire on them big-time.

[Peach]

Drudge headline:

CBS did not reveal parent company's interest in the Clarke matter.

http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1102982/posts

[Pukin Dog]

Where the hell would we be without Drudge?

I know that Freepers often get the same facts that Drudge gets, but without the ability to get that information into the general public we would really be screwed.

Drudge is read by everyone, on both sides of the aisle and in every media outlet. I fear that without Drudge we would have never gotten any headway on Clinton and Monica and on stories like this one.

Thanks, Drudge.

[samadams2000]

Amazing!...what is this the 5th major gaffe revealing unethical behavior at CBS this year?? Flush Viacom stock and call them- they are literally out of control. Remember the fish rots from the head- Sumner Redstone. Call Viacom...again..Geez