News Anchors Making News (The Point)

News Central ^ | 12/12/2004 (yes, the date is correct) | Mark Hyman

[Angry Republican]

The retirement of NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Brokaw may be the beginning of the end.

Dan Rather claims his earlier than expected retirement from CBS Evening News had nothing to do with his Memogate scandal. But we all know better.

Peter Jennings may be safe at ABC World News Tonight, for the time being, but the same can't be said for Nightline's Ted Koppel. Two years ago, ABC nearly dumped Koppel as it pursued David Letterman. Although ABC eventually backed off, Nightline's meager ratings and suspect credibility has indicated the end is near. Nightline's executive producer, Leroy Sievers, was reportedly told his contract wouldn't be renewed.

These developments underscore what a recent study revealed. The Project for Excellence in Journalism released a study earlier this year that found that the network newscasts continue to hemorrhage viewers. The big three networks spend more time chasing demographics than chasing meaningful news stories. The study shows a rise in fluff stories about celebrities and lifestyles at the expense of more serious news.

Moreover, relying on a single anchor to sum up all the day's news in a half-hour timeslot with 24-hour cable, radio and the Internet providing stiff competition is not a good strategy. The network news rooms are failing in their efforts to try to distinguish themselves as being all news versus the commentary that comes from the talking head cable shows. The skewed news coverage and bias injected into the evening newscasts is not lost on most viewers. This is one of the reasons why viewers are abandoning the newscasts.

The networks will have look to a different model if they want to stop their ratings slide. The days of Dan, Peter and Tom calling the shots are over.

And that's the way is.

I'm Mark Hyman.

[Angry Republican]

The days of Dan, Peter and Tom calling the shots are over.

Amen to that!

[Travis McGee]

[Angry Republican]

Hell yeah. The MSM has been Zotted by the new media.

[bushisdamanin04]

I used to be a Nightline regular back in the Falklands War days, but I haven't watched in at least 10 years, probably a good bit longer. Koppel's arrogance is as bad as Rather's.

[Travis McGee]

Dang right. And how!

[rodguy911]

I've watched Brian Williams a few times and he appears to be walking on egg shells. He seems to be ever so careful about every word that comes out of his mouth. I think he knows the rep ol tom had, he doesn't want the same fate.

[maine-iac7]

Brian Williams ...I think he knows the rep ol tom had, he doesn't want the same fate

More like he's hoping no one will review his past utterances - every bit as rabidly liberal as the others -

besides, he's a little too prissy for me -doesn't look like he's ever been a "real person"

[rdl6989]

I used to be a Nightline regular...

Me too. I got so mad when ABC prohibited their anchors from wearing American flags right after the terrorist attacks that I quit watching anything on ABC.

[bushisdamanin04]

The only things I watch on ABC are Desperate Housewives, Boston Legal, and an occasional MNF game ... but if a pollster calls me, I’ll deny it! I also used to love their Sunday show, with David Brinkley and George Will, even Sammy D. I wouldn’t watch Georgie Steponallofus for all the tea in China ... or India ... or ...

[Ticonderoga34]

Rush has said good things about Brian Williams in the past.

On the other hand, Rush didn't say that Brain Williams was unbiased or nonpartisan.

Goodbye Lame Stream Media. We won't miss you.

[rodguy911]

Others on here have said he listens to Rush and likes nascar, he may be a rat but I'm waiting to see how he plays the game.

[fat city]

"Peter Jennings may be safe at ABC..."

Yeah, until they see NBC and CBS drawing bigger audiences with Seinfeld reruns.

[Bernard]

Maybe Ted Koppell could make a statement by standing at a mass-grave site and reading off the names, "Anonymous dead Iraqi #1, Anonymous dead Iraqi #2," etc. That would show an interest in the whole story. I won't hold my breath.

[PistolPaknMama]

I love it!

[JanetteS]

Rush also really likes Tim Russert. Sean Hannity had only wonderful things to say about Williams. Peggy Noonan says Rather always sends flowers because life is tough.

No one is saying these people kick puppies or pull the wings off of butterflies when their not spinning madly for the liberal point of view. The THINK they're doing what's right.

I had one liberal friend who was a wonderful person and passionate flower child who never grew out of it. We were fine as long as we never, never discussed politics.

Most adults, even though they disagree on some things try to get along. It's like the atheist who finds God at 81, as long as they're alive, we've got a chance to change their minds.

By the way, my flower child friend converted to conservative Republicanism on Sept. 11th and is now very active in the local Republican party.

There's always hope and now that MSM has lost their strangle hold on information we have more opportunity than ever to sway people's opinions.

[Travis McGee]

Me too!