Comments on: Dan Rather’s Legacy

By: Decision '08

Decision '08 — Thu, 10 Mar 2005 02:31:10 +0000

Weekly Jackass Number Fourteen: Dan Rather Really, who else could it be? I've already paid a tongue-in-cheek tribute to Gunga Dan in the series Rather Excellent Tales, so I thought I'd pretty much shut up for a change and let others do this week's installment. Let's see what everyone else i...

By: Jack Tanner

Jack Tanner — Wed, 09 Mar 2005 19:22:14 +0000

'Granted, Rather's goofy style makes your eyes bulge and your ears buzz.' Umm...not mine. I'm sure i haven't seen him for 25 years. 'You used to be able to trust the content. News programs were based on integrity, credibility.' No - their lies just didn't get exposed.

By: Michael Meckler

Michael Meckler — Wed, 09 Mar 2005 16:16:40 +0000

I worked for CBS during the Tisch years, and I feel sadness for what happened to CBS News during the Rather era. I discuss the decline of CBS in todayâs online column on my own weblog, RED-STATE.COM.

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Wed, 09 Mar 2005 16:07:36 +0000

According to their site, "Viacomâs well-known brands include CBS, MTV, Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite, VH1, BET, Paramount Pictures, Infinity Broadcasting, Viacom Outdoor, UPN, TV Land, Comedy Central, CMT: Country Music Television, King World, Spike TV, Showtime, and Simon & Schuster." So, yes, they own a lot of other media companies--but they're all entertainment focused.

By: Jim Henley

Jim Henley — Wed, 09 Mar 2005 16:01:27 +0000

Does CBS/Viacom own any significant cable franchises? It seems like ABC, NBC and Fox have all tried to adapt to the changing TV landscape. (MTV, right? Anything else?)

By: LJD

LJD — Wed, 09 Mar 2005 15:27:13 +0000

"In 1980, 75 percent of televisions in use during the dinner hour were airing an evening news broadcast from one of three networks"

You used to be able to trust the content. News programs were based on integrity, credibility.

Now it's just a show. They push sensationalism for ratings, propaganda for political uproar. It's not a story unless it's negative, even if you have to make it up.