Alex Massie writes in today’s Scotland on Sunday that ABC’s Diane Sawyer “has emerged as the dark horse” candidate to replace the departing Dan Rather in CBS News’ top anchor slot. TVNewser’s Brian Stelter pointed out on Friday that Sawyer has said this wasn’t the case - at least according to the New York Post - but would bringing a ‘familiar face’ to the newscast be enough to attract viewers normally in tune to seeing Sawyer on “Good Morning America” or other fluffy interview shows on ABC? Personal feelings aside, I can’t say for sure that this wouldn’t be a “smart” decision on the part of CBS, if they were trying to grab a batch of viewers that their ratings show they are obviously lacking. But does Sawyer make an improvement to the struggling network newscast, or would it merely serve as a slight ratings grab?
[ed: I especially like the Post’s speculation that Sawyer “might prefer a more cushy and equally high-profile job like anchoring a network evening newscast.” You know, instead of hardcore work like interviewing guests about their new dog medication or discussing the latest shopping tips for this holiday season. And don’t lecture me on getting up early in the morning, blah blah blah. If you paid me like $5 million I’d get up whenever you asked.]
2 responses so far ↓
1 preacher // Nov 29, 2004 at 12:09 pm
Diane Sawyer bias:
Comment about Majority’s “Moral Values”to Bush campaign advisor Joe Watkins on ABC’s Good Morning America, November 4.
“There’s a definite sense this morning on the part of the Kerry voters that perhaps this is code, ‘moral values,’ is code for something else. It’s code for taking a different position about gays in America, an exclusionary position, a code about abortion, code about imposing Christianity over other faiths.”
2 Media Bloggers Association // Nov 30, 2004 at 12:13 pm
NY POSTS’ PAGE SIX RELIES ON MBA BLOGGERS FOR DAN RATHER GOSSIP
Richard Johnson of the New York Posts’ Page Six gossip page relied upon three different MBA members for PROBE PEEK DOOMED DAN RATHER. The article is lifted from a similar piece by MBA Member Matt Sheffield of Ratherbiased.com, relies on…