CBS News gaining viewers; some credit Schieffer

[DeepModem Mom]

LAT: At CBS, it's a feeling of good news again
The 'Evening' show has gained viewers, and many credit stand-in anchor Bob Schieffer.

NEW YORK — A year ago, the mood in the West 57th Street headquarters of CBS News was bleak.

An independent panel had just issued a scathing report that blamed the network for "fundamental deficiencies" in rushing to air a piece that raised questions about President Bush's military service — a story that CBS News ultimately had to admit was based on unverified documents. In the wake of the controversy, four staffers were forced out and anchor Dan Rather, who had reported the story on "60 Minutes Wednesday," retired from "CBS Evening News."

The crisis deeply shook network employees. When veteran Washington correspondent Bob Schieffer took over as interim anchor of the evening broadcast in March, he recalled, "It's all people were talking about, it's the only thing people were thinking about."

But there are some signs that CBS News may be shaking off the depression that had hung over it since the controversial story about Bush aired in September 2004. The emerging confidence in the newsroom illustrates how quickly fortunes and moods can change in a fast-paced media environment — even within news organizations that have suffered blistering public critique.

Whether the optimism is premature, or misplaced, remains to be seen. Much of the improved morale stems from changes at the flagship broadcast, the once-top-ranked "CBS Evening News," which has lagged its competition at NBC and ABC in recent years. The newscast remains in third place this season, but it is the only broadcast to have gained viewers since last year, albeit by an increase of 3%....

http://www.calendarlive.com/tv/cl-et-cbs16jan16,0,2802521.story?coll=la-tot-promo&track=widget

[no_more_rhyming]

1. WoooHooo

Look out Oreiley.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

2. He's a MEDIA WHORE

Just kidding. I really like him and trust him.

[underpants]

3. NBC is White House propaganda and elderly medical reports

as and avid ABC viewer I have no idea what is happening there.

So that could account for some of that.

[Beausoir]

4. I like Bob but I am still pissed about Rather,. And Borger is crap.

Rather folded when he should have stayed and fought.

And that POS Gloria Borger. What a fucking tool for the Bush administration. She acts like this is all just such a fun GAME! Whoo-hoo! Abortion rights are such a fun game! War! It's a fun game!

[peekaloo]

5. Ramen. Gloria "Bug Eyed" Bolger is so obviously partisan it's sickening!

That manic grin when delivering each Democratic "failure" puts my television at great risk of being destroyed.

[sallyseven]

6. Did Rather have a choice?

The network was still kissing bushies butt. Did I detect the fine hand of rove behind the doctored documents? The fact is that bush is a deserter and without his father would be in jail. I have very little use for the military when they cover for the moneyed crowd. I cannot believe the way that women fall all over themselves defending bush. He hates women just like the rest of the fundies. The right wingers just want women to procreate and clean the stall. Fundies only live in animal stalls. They are just big pigs.

[KharmaTrain]

9. Ratjer Really Couldn't Fight

Yes, you are right...CBS was still reeling under the Janet Jackson boobie mess and this corporation wants the FCC to pass even further deregulation (codeword: monopolization) of the airwaves. They kicked Mel Karmazin and others out...Les Moonves, the schmoozer took over and Rather's fate was sealed.

Also, Dan knew his retirement was at hand. He didn't need this fight and saw he had few real friends left at Big Rock. People characterizing him as "folding" on this story, don't realize all the fights he put up in the past and how he fought most of those alone for years.

Dan hasn't had his last say in this story...neither has Mary Mapes. They'll be looked back after this age of McCarthyism moves on as more victims of a right-wing smear machine that was at its zenith.

Cheers...

[1932]

7. Now that Viacom spun off CBS, does that make CBS the most independent of

the three networks? Is it the only network that ONLY does TV and therefore isn't looking for 'synergies' between broadcasting and selling, oh, say, WEAPONS like NBC?

[trotsky]

8. "based on unverified documents" - But the facts were verified.

The great Rovian bait-and-switch. No one disputed the veracity of what was IN the documents, only that the documents themselves weren't actual paper printed in the 1970s. * is an AWOL deserter and they managed to brush that off thanks to this confusion.

[annabanana]

10. of the "big four".. CBS

makes me scream and yell less. It will be interesting to see them as the repub reich goes down (which it will). They may end up in first place again, if they can go back to their roots and provide honest journalism. I wish they had a 24/7 like nbc does.. That's where their backbone would show.

It's important to remember that there are many many people in this country who still don't have cable. The relative coverage of the big networks still matters. When the signal goes all digital all those (poor) people will be S.O.O.L. as far as citizenship tools go.