Inquiry Into CBS Unlikely to Finish Before Election

Wall Street Journal ^ | October 6, 2004 | JOE FLINT

[OESY]

CBS Chairman Leslie Moonves said the independent panel investigating the network's report on President Bush's National Guard service probably wouldn't complete its work before the presidential election.

The Sept. 8 report on CBS's "60 Minutes" news magazine relied on now-discredited documents. While the scrutiny of Viacom Inc.'s CBS has faded somewhat, some media pundits warn that the longer the panel's inquiry takes, the more unsettled it leaves CBS. And against the argument that the report should come after the election to avoid any unintended influence or distraction, some counter that a delay makes the network seem to be dragging its feet.

Speaking yesterday at an investment conference held by Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Mr. Moonves seemed to indicate that a post-election report probably would be better, so it "doesn't affect what is going on."

Mr. Moonves also described as "inappropriate" the contact between the producer of the report, Mary Mapes, and Joe Lockhart, a member of Sen. John Kerry's presidential-campaign staff. Ms. Mapes had acted as an intermediary between Bill Burkett, from whom CBS says it received the documents, and Mr. Lockhart.

...Initially, there was talk inside CBS News of wanting to get the inquiry over with so the network could begin steps to restore its credibility.

"From what I can tell, they're hoping this will die down, and the way to make it die down is to drag it out as long as possible," said Jay Rosen, chairman of New York University's journalism department.

The two-member panel, comprised of veteran Republican politician Dick Thornburgh and former Associated Press Chief Executive Louis Boccardi, was commissioned by CBS two weeks ago to analyze how the network came to air the report and its reaction to questions challenging the documents on which the report was based....

[camle]

yeah innit? they want to leave their attempts to sway the election undisturbed until after its' over... all in the name of journalism doncha know

[Eric in the Ozarks]

There was a time when The Associated Press and CBS were the pinnacle of the journalism profession. Not anymore.

[camle]

not since jolly wally klondike retired at least.

[chiefqc]

Oh Gee, what a big surprise.

[RckyRaCoCo]

Inquiry Into CBS Unlikely to Finish Before Election

Don't bother, it's already been done

[SandRat]

In my book that tells me that it would help GW and destroy the Kerry and DNC conspiracy taking CBS down with it too.

[Rocky]

I'm shocked. And saddened. Deeply saddened.

(If the shoe were on the other foot, the press would never tolerate this delay.)