Posted on 07/22/2003 1:26:16 AM PDT by kattracks
HOLLYWOOD - CBS News President Andrew Heyward admitted yesterday that he had no answers to why the "CBS Evening News with Dan Rather" continues to struggle in the ratings.But he stood by Rather, who has been at the helm of the newscast since 1981.
The newscast runs a poor third among the networks and a few weeks ago logged its lowest ratings in at least a decade, if not ever.
"I'm frankly a little bit puzzled by it," Heyward told members of the Television Critics Association yesterday.
"The program journalistically, in my view, is excellent. Dan has had a fantastic year. The program was nominated for six Emmy Awards, significantly more than either competitor. The journalism and storytelling is terrific."
Yet, he said the program could do a better job showcasing what makes the show "distinctive" from its competitors, ABC's "World News Tonight" and NBC's "Nightly News."
"We probably don't get as much credit from the audience for the things we do that are distinctive and original," Heyward said. "We can do a better job at promoting that."
Meanwhile, Heyward conceded that CBS News went overboard in pursuing an interview with Pvt. Jessica Lynch.
Earlier, news division executives defended a letter they sent that tried to secure an exclusive sitdown with the former prisoner of war in Iraq.
Along with the interview request, the letter mentioned how Lynch could turn her story into a TV movie and book within other units of CBS' parent corporation, Viacom. It also suggested she could be the host of her own special on MTV, which could stage a concert in her hometown.
Heyward said yesterday that the letter wasn't clear enough in separating news and entertainment offers for Lynch.
"We have a well-defined policy, which is that there is no link between our interviews or requests for interviews with any other entity at Viacom or anywhere else," Heyward said.
"We thought we made that clear in the letter, but obviously we didn't do a good job of that."
His comments yesterday followed similar ones made by CBS Chairman Leslie Moonves over the weekend, who said that the letter's mention of a TV movie, "Maybe [it] went over the line" and hadn't respected "the sanctity of CBS News."
When reports of the letter to Lynch surfaced, CBS News was criticized for dangling entertainment opportunities to land a serious news interview.
CBS News executives stressed then that the letter made no direct link between the interview request and the other offers from within the parent company.
Heh...there are so many applicable cliches for this character it's pathetic.
Living in denial..
Doesn't have a clue...
Hang in there padnuh..I'm sure it's got nothing to do with Rather bias himself.
The successes at Fox cannot have gone unnoticed.
Clueless. It appears that Mr. Heywood doesn't get out much, does he?
Doesn't bother to get on line either, apparently.
Doesn't even bother to read any newspapers.
Or watch any competitors that have differentiated themselves from the pack of also rans.
But he stood by Rather nevertheless.
Hey CBS, hire me - I'll tell you why the Evening News is struggling for ratings.
Rather stinks!
One can take a pig and dress it up real nice, but even if the dress is "excellent" and the pig has had a fantastic year, the subject is still a pig.
As for the program being nominated of six Emmy Awards.
Even an Idiot can receive an award from a committee of idiots.Dr. Laura
But he stood by Rather, who has been at the helm of the newscast since 1981.
LOL.......
(Exactly,.....what does Dan 'have on CBS'.....?)
Hush-hush!
I'm sure plenty of credit would come pouring in - if only there WAS an audience...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.