Howard Kurtz: 2 Named to Head CBS Memo Inquiry (Norfork affilate dropping CBS News)

Washington Post ^ | September 23, 2004 | Howard Kurtz

[Cincinatus' Wife]

......But some CBS staffers questioned the selection of a man once named to the Cabinet by the father of the story's subject, and they asked why Heyward, who approved the "60 Minutes" story, was involved in the appointments. "I don't see it as a hanging crime, but it would have been better to let someone not involved make those appointments," said Tobe Berkovitz, an associate communications dean at Boston University.

There are signs that the controversy is hurting CBS and anchor Dan Rather at the local level. Bob Lee, general manager of WBDJ-TV in Roanoke and president of the CBS Affiliates Association, said he has heard from many stations and "we're all being battered."

"There is a body of people who just intensely dislike Dan Rather and see an opportunity to demand his immediate resignation, or that he be shot," Lee said. A smaller group, he said, view the reaction as "the Republican right wing just trying to drum Dan out of the business. Viewers have been quite vocal that while they admire, respect and trust our local news organization, we are so tarnished by this lapse of judgment at the network that they may take their viewing elsewhere."

WNIS-AM in Norfolk said yesterday that it is dropping its agreement to carry CBS News reports after 12 years and switching to ABC because of the Guard story. "Our listeners have clamored for a change," said spokesman Dave Morgan, adding that CBS's credibility has been "seriously damaged by the ongoing scandal." ..........

[Cincinatus' Wife]

[Mister Baredog]

ROTFLMPJO

[Cincinatus' Wife]

PJs

LOL

[starvingstudent]

hahahhah. Dat's a goot won

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Richard Thornburgh, who ran the Justice Department during parts of the Reagan and George H.W. Bush administrations, will conduct the investigation with Louis D. Boccardi, who retired as chief executive of the Associated Press. Thornburgh is also a former Republican governor of Pennsylvania.

[JLS]

If that affiliate really jumped ship unexpectedly to CBS, that will cause the big bosses to take notice.

[Mo1]

Ummmm .. the Republican right wing doesn't watch CBS News ... so you folks are losing your viewers from somewhere else

[NewMediaFan]

Errr, I mean call it off

 

[moneypenny]

Pardon me, there are some that think it is 'republican right wing conspiracy', and how many years was Dan trying to find something on President Bush, and nobody finds this to be a little odd, weird.

Dan and his ilk can lie, cheat, forge etc., and they only see the right wing side. I believe we have a problem here Houston. A lot of very liberal (extremely left wing conspiracy) are going to keep running into that same wall and eventually and more so, hopefully implode. These people don't have a clue to reality.

[Mount Athos]

There was a houston owner of two Radio stations, who threatened to switch both from CBS to Fox news. Did that ever happen? He gave a specific deadline which had passed.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

WDBJ's Lee new chairman of CBS Affiliates Assn.

E-mail Bob Lee, Chairman of CBS Affiliates Assn.

[moneypenny]

Never heard another thing on it. Maybe someone out there can let us know.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

A bit of a belated welcome to FRee Republic. I once was a starving student too :-).

[Cincinatus' Wife]

***....The national media's reputation, such as it is, for fairness and objectivity goes into a slump about this time every year (sometimes more often). The gentlemen and ladies with the reporters' pads and cameras may try hard, but they don't really cotton to conservatives or Republicans. It's the way they were raised: the schools they went to, the environment they grew up in, the company they keep.

A good number try hard to be fair, but the general deficiencies of their approach go far toward explaining the success of Fox News and Rush Limbaugh. The media are liberal, by and large, and it's too bad. As bad, in fact, as if they were (fat chance) massively conservative, putting out for general delectation a single view of life and politics.

The media aren't wholly to blame for the poison now in the atmosphere — a topic people discuss with me at least as often (given my 40 years in the media) as they try to draw me out on the politics of the moment. A rancid smell fouls the political air. We don't just "oppose" anymore; we hate, we despise, we abhor. Especially if we're liberal and talking about "W."

For which I don't hold the "liberal media" — Dan Rather included — uniquely responsible. We're all out there throwing haymakers these days. Part of the problem is the liberal media far outnumber the conservative variety, especially with the accession of — pardon me while I hold my nose — the exquisitely self-esteeming and self-serving Michael Moore.

With all the stench, you would think Mr. Rather and such would mind their manners better, seeking to restore some balance. Nope. Too many of truth's self-denominated transmitters continue showing signs of partisan gullibility in the first degree. .....***

http://www.washtimes.com/commentary/20040922-091142-8920r.htm

[Cincinatus' Wife]

That might have been Dan Patrick (radio)???

[martin_fierro]

My e-mail tonight to KPIX ('Frisco CBS affiliate):

Dear Sir;

Half a million dollars in fines for that Janet Jackson Super Bowl "wardrobe malfunction" stunt.

Reckless, blind reliance on forged documents in an ostensible attempt to influence a Presidential election.

Ed Murrow must be spinning in his grave.

Your continued affiliation with the CBS network does not reflect well on the professionals at KPIX.

---

We'll see what response I get.

Who knows? It may be a classy acknowledgement of fault. But this being the Frisco Bay area, I seriously doubt it.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Great letter.

The truth!

CBS never sees it - cBS

[starvingstudent]

Thanks. It's good to be here.

[BigSkyFreeper]

Since I have satellite television (DISH Network), according to DISH, my "local" affiliate is KCNC the CBS affilate in Denver, CO. I'll fire off an e-mail and see what happens.

[Paleo Conservative]