Online Journal
Front Page 
 
 Donate
 
 Submissions
 
 Announcements
 
 NewsLinks
 
 Special Reports
 
 News Media
 
 Elections & Voting
 
 Health
 
 Religion
 
 Social Security
 
 Analysis
 
 Commentary
 
 Editors' Blog
 
 Reclaiming America
 
 The Splendid Failure of Occupation
 
 The Lighter Side
 
 Reviews
 
 The Mailbag
 
 Online Journal Stores
 Official Merchandise
 Amazon.com
 
 Links
 
 Join Mailing List
Search

News Media Last Updated: Sep 22nd, 2009 - 00:49:17


Former CBS anchorman warns of corporate influence over news
By Wayne Madsen
Online Journal Contributing Writer


Sep 22, 2009, 00:19

Email this article
 Printer friendly page

(WMR) -- On September 16, Dan Rather, the former anchor of the CBS Evening News, warned that today�s news is shaped by very powerful corporate network owners who �are in bed with powerful political interests� that are influenced by government regulatory interests.

Rather spoke at a National Press Club remembrance of his colleague Walter Cronkite, his predecessor in the CBS Evening News anchor chair, and Don Hewitt, the late producer of 60 Minutes.

Rather revealed that in his conversations with Cronkite, the late anchor also believed that corporate interests were shaping the news to the detriment of objective journalism.

Rather also said that corporations were determining �war coverage of the lack of coverage.� He also warned that there are �too few owners of networks and stations.�

Rather was joined on the stage by fellow former CBS newsmen Daniel Schorr and Marvin Kalb. Bob Schieffer, host of Face the Nation, also participated in remembering Cronkite and Hewitt.

All the participants criticized a recent piece written by Michael Kinsley who charged that Cronkite was merely a person who could read from a teleprompter. All Cronkite�s former colleagues recalled stories about Cronkite editing stories based on new information he and his news team received in as little as seven minutes before the CBS Evening News went on the air nationwide. All the participants said that Cronkite had a unique ability to ad lib during hours-long live special events coverage, including political conventions and national elections, as well as space missions.

Previously published in the Wayne Madsen Report.

Copyright � 2009 WayneMadenReport.com

Wayne Madsen is a Washington, DC-based investigative journalist and nationally-distributed columnist. He is the editor and publisher of the Wayne Madsen Report (subscription required).

Copyright © 1998-2007 Online Journal
Email Online Journal Editor

Top of Page

News Media
Latest Headlines
Washington Post opposes health care reforms
Charge of the Beckerheads
Damn the New York Times and damn �permitted� marches
Former CBS anchorman warns of corporate influence over news
Late breaking -- sometimes broken -- news
Good and bad developments in the cable news wars
MSNBC and Fox: Posing divided, united they stand
Lou Dobbs undermines CNN's credibility
Few tears for crimes against Muslims
Alternative news?
Congressional caucus looks for way to save dying print media
Then some Americans wonder why they hate us
Western media propagandize Iran�s missile test
To corporate media, Pelosi, not Cheney, is torturer in chief
Why I oppose the Inquirer boycott
Foreign Policy�s �The Cable� changed quote about Emanuel
People who don�t need �People�
Emanuel�s stringent press conference rules freeze out veteran reporter
Dumbed down news drives down newspaper circulation
Iraqi shoes and the demotivated media