Posted on 02/01/2006 10:17:56 AM PST by LdSentinal
CBS White House correspondent John Roberts is leaving the network to join CNN as senior national correspondent, effective Feb. 20.
Roberts had been considered by many to be a prime candidate to take over the anchor chair at the CBS Evening News, but CBS News chief Sean McManus put those ideas to rest last month when he told reporters at the TCA press tour that while Roberts was an excellent White House correspondent...we are looking in a different direction.
In a letter to his CBS colleagues, Roberts wrote: For nearly 14 years at the network, and two years at our Miami station, I have been a part of CBS News, and it a huge part of me. Ultimately, though, all relationships must come to an end, and regrettably, it is time to end my relationship here.
Roberts added that the move will be difficult and that the ache of anxious anticipation has been gnawing away at [him] for some time now, but did not explicitly reveal why he was making the jump to cable.
Jon Klein, president of CNN/U.S said that by freeing Roberts from the White House beat, the veteran newsman will be able to dig deeper into the political stories that have been breaking around the nations capital and beyond.
The move also kindles speculation that CNN and CBS are inching toward a merger of their respective news-gathering resources. Meanwhile, questions remain about who will assume Dan Rather's mantle at the CBS News desk. In a recent interview with Mediaweek, media analyst and autor Jeff Alan noted that should CBS go forward with plans to lure Katie Couric over to the anchor chair, there's no magic bullet for what ails the broadcast news model.
The problem is they may pay her an extraordinary amount of money, and theyll get an initial ratings spike, but it wont have any long term affects, Alan said.
Roberts served as CBS News chief White House correspondent for six years. He was also the anchor for the Sunday edition of CBS Evening News since March 1995 and substitute anchor for Face the Nation. He began his tenure at CBS News as co-anchor of the CBS Morning News from 1992 to 1994 and as news anchor for CBS This Morning.
Prior to joining CBS, Roberts had in the early 1990s put in time as co-anchor of Canadian broadcaster CTVs Canada A.M., the countrys highest-rated morning news program.
He will have a higher correspondent position, but not have as many viewers. I also think he may take a pay CUT to work on cable.
Well, CNN probably needs another liberal to keep it "balanced." < /sarcasm >
Journalist John Roberts = Gay Sheepboy in Bareback Mtn.
It won't help.
Let the CBS Titanic sink.
It is no loss!
Maybe it's how stupid people identify one another.
From one Liberal house of smut to another, no real difference.
In Baltimore they call it "The Block" because that's where you typically find most of the Ho's and prostitutes.
I don't blame him. He should get the anchor chair...looks like Katie Couric has received that anchor chair. Who really cares...any.
John Roberts, aka Sloppy Seconds.
When will he find the time to be the Chief Justice?
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