AOL News invited Dan Rather to respond to the controversy following his remarks about the state of television news.
Let me put one thing to rest right away: CBS Corp. Chief Executive Les Moonves' charge that my "dumbing it down, tarting it up" comments about the CBS Evening News were "sexist," presumably because of my use of the "T word" in describing a newscast anchored by a woman. Nice try at misdirection from the issue at hand -- the parlous state of news, particularly television news -- but no cigar; I've used that phrase dozens of times in the past (such as documented here, here, and here) to describe the disturbing trend in news toward shallow, celebrity-obsessed coverage, in contexts where it clearly had nothing to do with gender.
Now that we've settled that, how about we have a real conversation in this country about the real issue: Our nation and our world face enormous challenges, many being of the life-or-death variety. Nuclear proliferation. Climate change. The health-care crisis. The growing gap between rich and poor. The ways that the war on terrorism has changed how we understand and interpret our Constitution and our bedrock values as a free and democratic society. There are debates about these and other pressing issues before us but, for the most part, they have been limited to our political elites, and these folks tend to already have a dog in the fight.
In fewer than nine months, the Republican and Democratic presidential nominations will likely be locked up. In less than a year-and-a-half, we will be going to the polls to choose a new president. Yet the rank-and-file American voter is not being drawn into the central debates of our time. And the information he or she gets about the presidential campaign is largely limited to the political horse race.
Why? One of the big reasons is the absurdly disproportionate coverage that news organizations give to celebrity "news" and other tales of scandal and prurience. They hope for a short-term ratings and demographics fix, while the long-term, important problems -- the ones that actually have a bearing on our lives -- get pushed out of broadcasts and the ever-shrinking "news hole" in print publications.
We can talk about that, we can debate whether this is good for our country and what we should do about it -- or we can turn this into another celebrity story involving two anchors and a network CEO.
Reader Comments ( Page 6 of 29)
76. NEITHER THE DAN RATHER OF YESTERDAY OR KATIE COURIC OF TODAY HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY THAT IS OF INTEREST TO THIS MIDDLE-CLASS EDUCATED WHITE FEMALE IN HER 40'S. IT IS TO BAD SOMEONE HASN'T TAKEN THE HINT YET AND FOLLOWED FOX IN THEIR QUEST FOR BRINGING HOME BOTH SIDES OF THE STORY. BUT ONE MUST KNOW THAT WHAT IS ALLOWED TO BE REPORTED IS DICATED BY THOSE WHO PAY THOSE BIG SALARIES.
JANE at 7:54PM on Jun 13th 2007
77. The best person to replace Rather was Bob Schaffer(sp?). I started watching CBS news for the first time on a habitual basis when he was anchoring. He was credible and a good journalist. I saw Couric's initial newscast and haven't watched since.
Evie at 7:56PM on Jun 13th 2007
78. I miss Dan Rather. Watching him tell the news was REAL. Now the news media is more like a circus. The reason is because they have gone from REPORTING the news to gossiping about the news.
In retrospect and tribute to Dan Rather The state of world affairs demands we have a good news reporter - we can't bring Brokow back but I wish Dan would come back to doing what he does best - Reporting the news to millions of avid viewers.
johan at 7:57PM on Jun 13th 2007
79. Dan Rather is so right. I always liked him and I think he makes a good point. CBS is dumbing down the news. Who gives a damm about Paris Hilton or who is the daddy of Anna Nicole's baby. We have people dying in Iraq. I like to watch Dan on HDNet. He still puts on a good show.
Maybe CBS could have two evening news shows, one for the old people who want to see the real news, and one like that dumb show on NBC "Extra" for the young audience CBS is trying to cultivate.
Marilyn Lester at 8:26PM on Jun 13th 2007
80. Has Katie even been to these countries she reports on? Has she been to Iraq? I remember when Brokaw, Jennings and Rather risked their lives to bring us the news. Need a stronger woman in that role (Christina Amanpour is great model).
Jennifer from Michigan at 7:57PM on Jun 13th 2007
81. There is undoubtedly a different style in today's news broadcasting as compared to that of the past 20 years. As that has changed, so has the state of the world. Katie is a fresh face in the evening and she still has a kind and compassionate voice in bringing us the viewers somewhat sombering news. I certainly miss her in the morning where her talents were greatly served, but she will continue to be a very valuable face in any news arena.
Barb at 8:15PM on Jun 13th 2007
82. My life was devoted to seeing CBS news. From the days of Cronkite, I had been a loyal viewer. I needed to see the truth after a long day working in the US govt. I no longer watch CBS news with Katie. I feel she cannot give me the perspective needed to analyze what is going on. She has no substance. Dan you are right. I wish you were back. The country needs a correspondent with integrity and vision. The news is serious, vicious, and at times evil. Dan we need your strength back to help us through it.
Mimi Roa Remache at 8:02PM on Jun 13th 2007
83. First, CBS caved in to the Bush wing of the GOP when it pushed Dan Rather out the door. The core of the report's allegations -- that George W. Bush received special treatment to get in the National Guard -- has never been challenged, only the authenticity of the memos. The hoax was a setup against Dan and hard news critical of Bush to scare off anyone looking at any other negative issues.
We now are delivered a stream of made-for-broadcast sound bites from news sources that say nothing and television producers never run anything longer than 60 seconds.
We are the losers.
Dan Rather was, and remains, a solid journalist who certainly wasn't picked out from a beauty contest, but for his abilities and courage (Vietnam) to go out and get a story.
I spent a decade in major news media and I can't see returning. I'd quit the first time someone said "Paris Hilton."
My local paper carried that crap across the top of Page One when she went to jail while a story on the troop surge in Iraq failing to provide needed results was buried inside.
People -- they're pandering to you while core issues essential to our lives, the lives of our children and direction of our country are being decided.
And you look the other direction.
MIchael at 8:08PM on Jun 13th 2007
84. I AGREE WITH DAN RATHER WHOLEHEARTEDLY ABOUT THE DECLINING STATE OF NETWORK NEWS AS IT STANDS TODAY!
Neverthess, you have to respect CBS Chairman/CEO Lesllie Moonves for standing behind his choice for anchor, Katie Couric...for now. But it ends there, because you also have wonder whether a career-long entertainment executive like Moonves should really be involved at all in hiring and recruiting for the CBS News Division to begin with. This is part of the larger growing, systemic problem with newtwork news today -- the once long-time separation of the Entertainment and News divisions at the Big Four broadcast networks has been torn down.
Clearly, Armani-suited entertainment executives (now holding chairmanships at networks like CBS and NBC Universal/GE, etc.), who are better suited for pitching in-show product placements with advertisers and what Hollywood star's career they are going to resurrect on some B-list sitcom or drama series, should not be making hiring and/or making content decisions within the news divisions.
What happened to the autonomy news divisions used to hold onto so fiercely in historical terms? It has given way to rampant media consolidation and long-time entertainment execs thinking they can wear second hats as news division dictators.
Now, I'm not sure why Moonves, or the other CBS News executives who are supposed to be able to advise him, did not do more market research and testing before even considering hiring Couric away from "Today." Again, while the morning shows fall under the oversight of the news divisions (ugghhh!), they are like a TV form of People magazine or direcly akin to "Entertainmment Tonight" or "Access Hollywood" -- they are not hard news and largely tabloid fluff.
What CBS News needs is an old line news division executive, someone like the late, great Roone Arledge (ABC News), to stand up on continuing encroachment of entertainment types into news operations. You didn't see (late CBS owner/chairman) Bill Paley jumping in to tell Edward R. Murrow how to report news or if CBS News should hire Betty White to anchor the news.
If CBS picked up Ted Koppel, Christiane Amanpour (sic?) or someone of their hard news ilk, they would be in a lot better ratings position for their early evening newscast. Or maybe they should have kept Rather to begin with, and had treated with the kind of respect a tested, veteran war correspondent deserves when they are forced out unceremoniously! I can totally see where Dan Rather is coming from on this!
Michael A. Freeman at 8:01PM on Jun 13th 2007
85. Dan Rather made up the news including reports about President Bush and the Iraq war. Please stay away and leave CBS alone.
Harvey
harvey at 8:01PM on Jun 13th 2007
86. Dan Rather does not trust women to be professional. I feel Dan Rather is so taken with himself that he no time to judge anyone else.
Mary Secor at 8:04PM on Jun 13th 2007
87. Dan Rather looked like a PRO and sounded like an authority in whatever he was reporting. Too bad he had to retire. We all get to that stage sometime. It is hard for anyone to replace him and wants to be better.
Jaci at 8:03PM on Jun 13th 2007
88. Katie was ok for the morning, I can't take in the PM. News is no longer news, we should call it entertainment at 6:30pm. Let's see 5 minutes of news and the rest is just crap. Who in the hell cares about Paris, what has she done or in fact most of clowns in Hollywood done to warrant nightly coverage......let's see..party late, get drunk, do some dope, drive without license, get arrested then have a PR person clean it. I would rather watch CSPAN or the the Discovery channnel.
boro49 at 8:06PM on Jun 13th 2007
89. CBS News, along with the rest of the US News Media, has strayed so far from reporting 'news,' that I do not even bother, but rather opt for foreign news sources.
I find the trend towards dignifying the political process with air time as amoral, embarassing and wholly repugnant. Until the American public demands unbiased reporting, asking hard questions by CBS (and all the others), as exemplified in an earlier era by Mr. Rather, and demanding the truth and at least a modicum of integrity from the US Government, then we shall remain as we are now and as seen by the rest of the world: international outlaws intent in deception, corpulence, corruption, lies and provocative behavior. Political process?! Where is that in a Fascist Government? Embarassing! We are now being seen as a culture to be pitied, and shuffled into the dust-bin of history.
L. Wadkins at 8:05PM on Jun 13th 2007
90. I hate to say this, but Dan Rather's probably right. And honestly the big breaking news of Katie Couric's first night was some Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes story. Give me a break!
But to be honest, my favorite CBS news anchor was Bob Schieffer. He was exceptional. And when no one was paying attention he built up an audience till Katie took over. And audience which Katie has managed to lose.
In Britain they call the anchors newsreaders, which is probably more accurate since it's the producers who are out gathering stories. An occasional story doesn't quite compare with the guts it took for the former big 3 to go out with troops in Vietnam. Or Dan Rather being the first reporter to say JFK had died without official confirmation in 1961.
Jane at 8:10PM on Jun 13th 2007