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Who Will Replace Dan Rather
http://cbs2chicago.com/topstories/topstories_story_329121949.html ^ | Nov. 24, 2004

Posted on 11/24/2004 9:48:44 AM PST by COUNTrecount

Who Will Replace Dan Rather?

No Decision Has Been Made

Nov 24, 2004 11:18 am US/Central NEW YORK (CBS) With Dan Rather's announcement that he will step down as anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News in March, speculation is on about who will next occupy one of the most visible chairs in American journalism.

CBS News President Andrew Heyward and CBS Chairman Leslie Moonves have both indicated that potential candidates inside and outside CBS will get a look before a final decision is made. Moonves told The Wall Street Journal, "We're still contemplating a lot of people inside and outside the organization."

CBS said nothing of a potential successor, but two men inside the news division have often been mentioned as possible Rather heirs: White House Correspondent John Roberts and 60 Minutes Correspondent Scott Pelley.

Both men have served as White House correspondent, which is viewed as a stepping-stone to the anchor chair at CBS. Roberts also anchors the Sunday Evening News and often fills in for Rather when he is off. Some TV writers and critics peg Roberts as an early favorite, although CBS News has remained silent on the issue.

Roberts, a Toronto native, joined CBS News in 1992, and has been the White House correspondent since 1999. He worked as an embedded correspondent during the war with Iraq, reporting from the frontlines.

Pelley, who joined CBS News in 1989, served as White House correspondent from 1997 to 1999, where he covered the investigation of President Clinton by special prosecutor Ken Starr. He has been a 60 Minutes correspondent since 1999.

Another could-be heir to the news throne inside CBS is Early Show Co-anchor Harry Smith, 53. Smith worked for CBS News for 13 years as an anchor, correspondent and featured contributor for various broadcasts before becoming the Early Show co-anchor in 2002.

Some television writers have speculated that Chief Washington Correspondent Bob Schieffer could be a possible interim anchor if a successor isn't on board when Rather vacates the anchor chair. Rather is staying on at CBS News as a 60 Minutes correspondent.

There's already been the customary and lively round of speculative name-dropping about possible successors outside CBS. Among the many who have been mentioned are Ted Koppel of ABC, Tim Russert and Matt Lauer of NBC and Brit Hume of Fox.

Rather spoke of his decision to step down to more than 100 staffers in the CBS newsroom on Tuesday afternoon. In brief remarks, the newsman said that he had considered retiring since the late 1990s. He added that the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attack prompted him to put aside such thoughts.

He portrayed his decision to leave the anchor chair as a "mutual decision" made last summer.

Rather has worked at CBS News for more than 40 years and made his name as a reporter covering the Nixon White House. His nearly quarter-century at the helm of the CBS Evening News is the longest at the helm of any U.S. network evening broadcast.

Rather's announcement comes eight days before his NBC rival, Tom Brokaw, steps down as Nightly News anchor and is replaced by Brian Williams.

The triumvirate of Rather, Brokaw and ABC's Peter Jennings has ruled network news for more than two decades. Rather dominated ratings after taking over for Cronkite during the 1980s, but he was eclipsed first by Jennings and then by Brokaw. His evening news broadcast generally runs a distant third in the ratings each week.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: cbsnews; johnroberts; pelley; scottpelley
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To: COUNTrecount

It might seem hard to find a worse leftist liar than Dan Rather, but I'm sure CBS can do it.


21 posted on 11/24/2004 10:04:50 AM PST by Cicero (Nil illegitemus carborundum est)
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To: jpl

Laurie Dhue is hot. No doubt about it. Why doesn't CBS just hire a really hot babe? All she needs to do is read English from a teleprompter. No other skills other than looking pretty. Must be thousands of qualified babes. This nonense about being a "journalist" is ludicrous - the newsreader is just a talking head. Rather is an arrogant dinosaur whose time has long since passed.


22 posted on 11/24/2004 10:04:51 AM PST by Astronaut
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To: jpl
Let me be the first to nominate Fox News Channel's Laurie Dhue. I'd watch every single night.

I wouldn't. Don't misunderstand, I think she's really attractive, but this is the same network that spent months on end carrying Kerry's water for him, and trying to bring down the Bush administration. CBS News is unwatchable. I'd rather see the media dinosaurs finally die off, rather than put on life support by news anchors we just can't get enough of. You want Laurie Dhue or some other news babe or hunk, turn on FNC. You want some old haggard male or female news anchor, go to one of the other channels.

CBSABCNBCNNMSNBC are all unwatchable.

23 posted on 11/24/2004 10:05:11 AM PST by BigSkyFreeper (Congratulations President-Re-Elect George W. Bush!)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Katie wants the position.

24 posted on 11/24/2004 10:05:19 AM PST by COUNTrecount
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To: COUNTrecount
Paul Magers of KCBS Los Angeles

From the CBS2 Website:

Paul Magers, one of the most highly regarded news anchors in the country, joined the CBS 2 News team on January 5, 2004. A native of Santa Maria, California, Magers and Laura Diaz anchor the station’s weekday 5 and 11 p.m. newscasts.

Magers returned to Southern California after having served as an anchor for KARE-TV in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota since 1983. In addition to anchoring the 5, 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts at KARE, he hosted numerous specials and moderated political debates (including the November 2002 debate between former vice president Walter Mondale and Norm Coleman, who were vying for a seat in the U.S. Senate following the death of Paul Wellstone) and participated in a wide variety of community events, including a 1997 telethon to raise money for flood relief in Minnesota.

His most recent national television appearance was in March 2003, when he served as a substitute anchor on the weekend editions of NBC’s “Today” show.

Magers was born in Santa Maria, California and spent the majority of his childhood in Ellensburg, Washington. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington in 1977. In 1979, he earned his juris doctorate degree from the Hamline University School of Law.

The recipient of numerous industry awards, including several Emmys and a Golden Mike, Magers began his broadcasting career at KSTP-TV in St. Paul, then moved in 1979 to KATU-TV in Portland, where he began working as an on-air reporter. In 1981, he moved down the West Coast to KGTV-TV in San Diego, where he spent two years as a reporter and anchor before he returned to the Twin Cities and began his 20-year career with KARE.

You heard it here first on FreeRepublic!

25 posted on 11/24/2004 10:06:15 AM PST by Restore (Get your PaddlePak now!)
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To: COUNTrecount

See BS will no doubt seek a similar fabricator to fill Dan's moldy shoes. That network is known for their fabrication of news, so don't expect them to change with the exit of Dan Blather.


26 posted on 11/24/2004 10:06:19 AM PST by MHGinTN (If you can read this, you've had life support from someone. Promote life support for others.)
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To: COUNTrecount

A smoldering pile of pig sh*t aired for 60 minutes Monday through Sunday would be a vast improvement over dan rather.


27 posted on 11/24/2004 10:06:19 AM PST by new cruelty
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To: COUNTrecount

Muttly vote for Sponge Bob.


28 posted on 11/24/2004 10:06:38 AM PST by PoorMuttly ("The right of the People to be Muttly shall not be infringed,")
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To: COUNTrecount

29 posted on 11/24/2004 10:07:03 AM PST by FreeKeys (The REAL story of the Pilgrims' THANKSGIVING is here: http://freedomkeys.com/thanksgiving2.htm)
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To: COUNTrecount

Baghdad Bob


30 posted on 11/24/2004 10:07:08 AM PST by RdhseRat
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To: COUNTrecount

Who cares? Those channels don't work on my TV.


31 posted on 11/24/2004 10:07:39 AM PST by TexasTransplant (When you are over the hill, you pick up speed)
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To: Freepdonia

Pelly is another TEXAN.


32 posted on 11/24/2004 10:08:47 AM PST by JFC ( President Bush, You are being prayed for along with our country daily, by millions of us.)
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To: COUNTrecount
CBS ought to someone else who's far more poised and fair-minded than was Dan Rather...

I hear Lawrence O'Donnell is available.

33 posted on 11/24/2004 10:09:04 AM PST by F16Fighter
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To: COUNTrecount

Don't know/Don't care


34 posted on 11/24/2004 10:11:13 AM PST by since1868
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To: COUNTrecount
Bill O'Reilly. Seems like to me he's been auditioning for it for awhile now. I've read here on FR he covets the job.
35 posted on 11/24/2004 10:12:08 AM PST by bigfootbob
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To: Restore
Paul Magers of KCBS Los Angeles.

Him ?


36 posted on 11/24/2004 10:13:23 AM PST by COUNTrecount
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To: ken5050
Close, but not quite there..it should be Howard Stern...thnk about it..it's brilliant..solves all of CBS's problems in a flash..and the "king of all media" will get ratings..

Not to mention weekly multi million dollar fines. I can just picture Howard as a newsanchor

"Good evening. This is the CBS Evening News with Howard Stern. Tonight. President Bush, yeah that dumbass, promoted Condelezza Rice to Secratary of State. Shes not married. Wonder if shes a Lesbian like Hillary? Boy that would be hot to watch."

37 posted on 11/24/2004 10:15:00 AM PST by Bommer
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To: F16Fighter

How about the Rajin Cajun himself, James Carville?


38 posted on 11/24/2004 10:15:00 AM PST by GoBucks2002
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To: F16Fighter

How about the Rajin Cajun himself, James Carville?


39 posted on 11/24/2004 10:15:13 AM PST by GoBucks2002
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To: F16Fighter

How about the Rajin Cajun himself, James Carville?


40 posted on 11/24/2004 10:15:21 AM PST by GoBucks2002
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