Comments on: Can Bob Schiefer Save CBS News?

By: Michael Meckler

Michael Meckler — Thu, 31 Mar 2005 19:56:01 +0000

I also happen to like Schieffer's general demeanor and style, but I am disturbed by the sloppiness and disregard for the basics of newswriting that have shown up in the last three weeks. Stories have become less informative, with important details missing. The "give-and-take" with correspondents sometimes becomes confusing to follow, with Schieffer and the correspondents trading sentence fragments and unidentified pronouns. Dropping the formality should not mean dropping the clarity.

By: Steve Warnelis

Steve Warnelis — Tue, 29 Mar 2005 06:56:26 +0000

Something about the new format at The CBS Evening News strikes me as shades of Edward R. Murrow's "See It Now" broadcasts. Thus far, I'm not all that worried about the apparent editorializing, but I would caution CBS News to be sure they know when the line is crossed, and in the tradition of network newscasts in the 60s and 70s, clearly label that something is editorial commentary (i.e. Sevareid, Chancellor, for instance.)

Still, CBS News must also be sure to lay a FACTUAL foundation for even the most informed observation and we may just have to trust that our fellow citizens will know the difference between observation and opinion.

Considering that most people identify when they have given their opinion after they actually DO so, is it really that bothersome that this format appears to contain editorialization? Sometime simply facts just to that on their own.

The question I have is whether the larger decreases in audiences at NBC and ABC are really because people are flocking back to CBS just because of Schieffer or because Dan really alienated people that much OR because the format is more viewer-friendly, as Schieffer asserts.

By: Brenda Norville

Brenda Norville — Mon, 28 Mar 2005 19:07:57 +0000

I liked Dan Rather and always, ALWAYS, watched CBS News. I've NEVER stopped missing Walter Cronkite. I've always admired and appreciated Bob Schiefer. He has an honest face and a credible demeanor.

By: Mike Stiber

Mike Stiber — Mon, 28 Mar 2005 17:37:34 +0000

I stopped watching CBS News when this style started up. It wasn't a matter of political bias (I stopped watching too soon to notice any); I just found the editorializing massively annoying. If I want opinion, I'll watch a "news magazine". I already find the habit of every correspondent on every news program feeling the need to "sum up" their piece with some "insightful comment". I wish they'd spend the airtime providing depth behind their coverage, instead of promoting themselves.

By: Benedict

Benedict — Mon, 28 Mar 2005 16:26:01 +0000

The first commenter need not worry. Think back for a moment to Schieffer's performance as moderator for one of the Presidential debates. I believe it was generally regarded as the most openly biased against Bush of the three. While the style may have changed, it would be miraculous indeed if forty-something years of institutional bias at CBS were eliminated with the mere change of the lead newsreader.

By: Mark

Mark — Mon, 28 Mar 2005 15:05:05 +0000

Goodness, it sounds like Fox News.

James, you are going to catch hell from certain quarters for that snide comment. Heh. Maybe I should go ahead and start marketing a "CBS Blocker" to liberals.