60 MINS/CBSNEWS TO ADD DISCLAIMER TO WOODWARD INTERVIEW:

Drudge Report ^ | APRIL 10, 2004 | Matt Drudge

[cyncooper]

Next Sunday, CBS NEWS and 60 MINUTES will feature a long interview with Bob Woodward, whose soon-to-be-released book PLAN OF ATTACK reportedly will contain important new details about the administration's decision to go to war against Iraq.

But this time, even though 60 MINUTES Executive Producer Don Hewitt still argues that he does not believe it is necessary to do so, CBS will acknowledge that its parent company owns the book and will profit from any and all sales!

"I'm doing it from here on out, only because of the brouhaha about it," Hewitt tells Sunday editions of the NY TIMES.

The DRUDGE REPORT was first to raise the VIACOMCBSSIMONSCHUSTER issue in connection with a previous cross-promotion launch at CBS.

Blindsided by a controversy over its corporate ties to the publisher of Richard Clarke's book, 60 MINUTES now promises that it will not happen again.

But Hewitt tells NYT Bill Carter he was not aware Clarke's book was even owned by Hewitt's very own company.

Hewitt said he did not know Clarke's publisher FREE PRESS was part of SIMON & SCHUSTER.

"Who the heck was Free Press?" Hewitt explains.

The Woodward interview is already taped and it will "make big news," Hewitt predicted.

He has scheduled it at special length, two sections of the program, the same amount of time given to Clarke's book.

Hewitt: "There are quid pro quo deals made for interviews with book authors. We never do them. I think SIMON & SCHUSTER is smart enough to put their books where they can do them the most good."

NYT Carter does not dare ask Hewitt how many shares he owns of VIACOMCBSSIMONSCHUSTER.

Developing...

[cyncooper]

Well, Woodward surfaces.

After a couple weeks of Richard Clarke taking a quote from Woodward's book, "Bush at War" out of context and using it to bash the president, Condoleezza Rice put the quote in proper context during her testimony last Thursday. Bob Woodward did not seek in the interim between Clarke and Rice testifying to clarify it on his own.

Then we find that Bob Woodward co-authored a front-page story in May 2002 giving the title and context of the August 2001 PDB. The PDB was misrepresented by democrats and media as a revelation from Rice's testimony when it has been known for literally years. Again, Woodward did not appear on the scene to set the record straight.

Link to thread on Woodward 2002 article:

Aug. Memo Focused On Attacks in U.S. Lack of Fresh Information Frustrated Bush (2002/PDB)

[dirtboy]

The DRUDGE REPORT was first to raise the VIACOMCBSSIMONSCHUSTER issue in connection with a previous cross-promotion launch at CBS.

Like hell, Drudge, FR was on it days before you ran it.

[cyncooper]

But notice Hewitt's "how were we to know?" garbage.

Uh, Don? You're supposed to have investigative journalists on staff, you outrageous jerk. You can bet you'd vet the imprint of a Republican book down to the last connection.

[Lee'sGhost]

Amazing. Ten years ago the few who knew about the conflict of interest issue would have been hard pressed to find a forum and in turn there would be no "bruhaha" and in turn CBS would have ran the Woodward piece without the disclaimer.

Folks, we've come a long, long way.

[dirtboy]

But Hewitt tells NYT Bill Carter he was not aware Clarke's book was even owned by Hewitt's very own company. Hewitt said he did not know Clarke's publisher FREE PRESS was part of SIMON & SCHUSTER. "Who the heck was Free Press?" Hewitt explains.

Hewitt must think we're all fools to believe this nonsense. Three anti-Bush books published by Viacom subsidiaries. Three 60 Minutes interviews, the one with Clarke being not one but TWO segments long. But we're supposed to believe that there isn't any connection whatsoever, that Viacom execs didn't call up Hewitt and tell him to shill their books on his program.

The term "plausible deniabilty" isn't even in play here. There is absolutely NOTHING plausible about this denial - and I'm gonna look to see if we can find a quote from Hewitt anywhere that he shows knowledge of Free Press's ownership by Viacom.

[MizSterious]

I'd like to see the disclaimer saying that Woodward is another partison hack doing grunt work for the Kerry campaign, and that much of what he says will be slanted, biased, or fabricated.

Sorta like "Deep Throat."

[freedom4me]

I say we have a "designated watcher" for 60 Minutes who posts the info. I don't want to boost CBS's ratings in anyway. Actually, I do that with many programs. I don't watch and then just scan the posts on FR.

My motto: ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, MSNBC, PBS...TURN 'EM OFF.

Actually, I'm thinking of making that into a bumper sticker.

[cyncooper]

I am disappointed with Woodward. Last summer when the yellowcake/Wilson story erupted, it was none other than Bob Woodward on Larry King who actually put it in proper perspective.

Now he's preparing to release this new book that many freepers say they've heard is critical of the Bush administration. Seeing that Sixty Minutes is giving him two segments (Rice got one, and it was edited to distort) seems to confirm that expectation.

And his failure to step forward to correct the record on his own work being twisted or ignored does not cover him in glory, either.

Very disappointing.

[cyncooper]

Yes, the interview should be watched and noted. It sounds like it will be a week from tomorrow since it says "next" Sunday.

[dirtboy]

Check this out - a rah-rah press release from Viacom for 3Q 2003 highlights:

http://www.viacom.com/pdf/dl3Q03.pdf

On Page 3:

Six Wins For CBS News

The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences awarded CBS News with six News and Documentary Emmy Awards, more than any other broadcast network. The broadcasts that received these accolades included the CBS Evening News With Dan Rather (two awards), 60 Minutes II (two awards), 60 Minutes (one award) and Don Hewitt, along with past and present correspondents of 60 Minutes, won the second Annual Lifetime Achievement Award.

On Page 4:

Dr. Phil Flies Off The Shelf

Dr. Phil McGraw’s new book, The Ultimate Weight Solution: The 7 Keys to Weight Loss Freedom, debuted at No. 1 on the New York Times Best Seller list. The demand since its September 9 launch has been so strong that Simon & Schuster’s Free Press now has 2.5 million copies in print.

So Hewitt would have us believe that he is doesn't read major press releases from CBS's corporate parent - and that the Free Press, which put out Dr. Phil's best-selling book, has no relationship to Viacom. What a pantload. We need to dig hard and deep and nail the SOB for this one.

[cyncooper]

Drudge has added a picture of the book cover on his page now...

[Cicero]

Watching a channel doesn't "boost its ratings" unless you are making a Neilson Report or a survey. They have no way to know who is watching except what they extrapolate from surveys and reports.

[Feiny]

CBS has purchased the movie rights to Clarkes book. I can't wait to see which liberal actor plays him.

[rudy45]

I called CBS about the book publisher connection, and the woman said "but it (the notification) was on the web site." I should have asked her, in response, "well in that case, why not just do away with the TV show and put everything on the web site?"

[dirtboy]

According to this article in the Baltimore Sun, over the last two years 60 Minutes has covered books a total of six times. Five of those were Simon and Schuster Books. But I'm sure that's only a coincidence.

[Rokurota]

Drudge has added a picture of the book cover on his page now...

The picture doesn't tell much. Does anyone have any real information about what Woodward's angle is going to be?

[GBA]

"But this time, even though 60 MINUTES Executive Producer Don Hewitt still argues that he does not believe it is necessary to do so, CBS will acknowledge that its parent company owns the book and will profit from any and all sales!"

See, yet another reason why I can't trust the media. He doen NOT believe it is necessary to acknowledge the connection between the parent company and its book being promoted on its 60 minutes program. Just like he probably thinks he can honestly report on Bush when wishes he were Monica. No biased reporting from CBS whatsoever. Yeah, whatever, dude.

[NYCVirago]

Hewitt said he did not know Clarke's publisher FREE PRESS was part of SIMON & SCHUSTER.

I wonder if the Times will mention in their article that they themselves pointed out this connection *before* Clarke's appearance on 60 Minutes.

[dirtboy]

WE GOT HEWITT NAILED DEAD TO RIGHTS! Check out the Free Press Logo!

[Owen]

Why is any conservative watching this network? Why are not conservatives writing to sponsors to inform them of seeking to do business with their competitors?