CBS Chief [Les Moonves] called Dan Rather's remarks about the Evening news sexist.?

Question

Why can't people call them as they see it? What is wrong with Dan Rather saying the CBS has tarted up and dumbed down the news? The market seems to agree. I can totally understand where Dan Rather is coming from. He is old scool new anchor and form his perspective, the news is delivered by Katie Currick in a softball way. And BTW, the market seems to prefer hardcore news, if you judge it by the ratings.

The plot thickens.

Les Moonves says that they were going after a younger, female demographic. Which, by their own data they increased the veiwership in that target. But they lost the over 55 males.

Would you agree that targeting a paticular view gender is also sexist?

Answer 1

Couric's very first story on CBS, the one that introduced her to the prime time news market, was about the cruise/whatsherface baby pictures. For me it was a first impression I never got past. Rather is absolutely correct in his assessment.

Edit - No, I wouldn't call targeting a specific demographic sexist.
I'd put it under the catagory of "business". We need to start rejecting all of this PC crap. 90 % of what people are now describing as sexist and racist aren't those things at all.

Answer 2

You're absolutely right. Could not care less how a newscaster looks-it's how they deliver the news. Couric is probably a good newscaster, but I preferred Bob Sceiffer. Dan Rather should be able to say whatever he wants as long as it isnt slander. Seems like Dan Rather is an easy target for Moonves. It makes him look good. "See-I defended Katie".

Answer 3

Yep. I switched from CBS with Bob Scheiffer when Katie took over. I'm a female, so it's not being sexist. I enjoy the way Bob Scheiffer did the news. I expect Katie to tell us what time kindergarten lets out for the summer. That doesnt apply to all female newscasters, that's just the way I feel about Ms Couric.

Answer 4

It's amazing how one could see two different points of view concerning this subject from one topic to another, this same question exists in many different iterations on Y!A with a few different points of view. I can say that I'm glad I found this one, considering it is not filled with conservative rhetoric and is why I chose to answer it. I totally agree with your point of view on this topic. I feel that the events leading to Dan Rather's "retirement" from the CBS evening news signified a fundamental shift in thinking over at CBS, a news organization long known for it's "in your face", "telling it straight" approach to news reporting, which is how I believe news should be. Yet many conservatives label him as being bias, which I see as a way to point out whom they percieve to be leftist or liberal. I don't see how a news program can report rhetorical nonsense about Bush's attempt to discredit John Kerry's military service, at the same time reporting question of Bush's own military record, as being "bias".

These days there is a lot of truth to subjects that Dan Rather speaks on, and for him, having the benefit of not needing to be held, politically accountable, for reporting things the way they are, just gives him even MORE credibility.

I completely believe that CBS made an attempt to "dumb down" the news by "tarting" it up with a pretty face, but I don't believe his comment was aimed at Katie Currick personally. He was simply making a statement.

Thanks for giving me the oportunity to voice my opinion.

Peace

Answer 5

Besides Couric being tartish, Moonves has now exposed himself to be a dimwit by his kneejerk response of spewing out cliche namecalling for lack of any intelligent response to Rather's comment. You can always tell when somebody has scored a point when the other side (in this case Moonves) take a wild swing.

Answer 6

i think of Sharpton's remark following the assembly demonstrates the double favourite we see in as we communicate's society. He stated "it is not approximately taking Imus down, that's approximately lifting decency up." How can he have the gall to assert that? Did he have the decency, as Imus did, to make an apology while he grew to become into incorrect? for example, has he apologized to the Duke lacrosse gamers? Has he apologized to Pagones (from the Tawana Brawley case in the late 80s)? Has Sharpton ever apologized for his remark approximately white cracker interlopers? No - he would not could make an apology - in view that he's no longer a whitey. that's ok for him to do something he needs in view that probably certainly one of his kinfolk contributors from one hundred fifty years in the past grew to become right into a slave. And the place is the decency in rap and hip hop? That form of music espouses lots greater degrading language than Imus'. while will he condemn those songs and demand them to be taken off of the radio? No - because of fact maximum are no longer sung by utilizing whiteys. And that's ok because of fact there is an threat that one hundred fifty years in the past certainly one of his kinfolk contributors grew to become right into a slave. and that i assume I should not be commenting because of fact i'm a whitey . Which I in basic terms discovered i grew to become into. observed it on a black weblog (betcha i might get in a great number of issue for commencing a whitey weblog).

Answer 7

The use of the word tart can be construed to have a negative connotation to woman since one of the definitions of it is a promiscuous woman or a prostitute.
Katie seems out of her element as a nightly news anchor and as a reporter for "60 Minutes ."

Answer 8

I agree with you! I personally think what Rather said hit the nail on the head!

I am fed up with all this BS about celebs in the news, while OUR men and women are giving their lives for a debacle of a war that Bush has got us into.

Answer 9

It's more obvious that News is 'packaged' now for sensational, not informative value.

For example, any info about soldiers is 'packaged' differently by different media (electronic/print) outlets depending on their ideological bias (c'mon let's be honest all of them have conservative or liberal biases)

The 'packaging' (e.g. the 'placement' of the news item, the individuals interviewed, etc) may affect public perception about subject. Personally, I rec'd news from variety of sources...those w/ conservative/liberal biases.

The mediocrity of U.S. Education system contributes to the problem. People are not encouraged to process information but rather to just receive/regurgitate it.

Americans have small attention span and low willingness to put forth required effort to receive positive result. Americans are impatient and gravitate towards 'instant gratification'.

yea, many may say 'News is Business'. Well, the dessemination of the News follows capitalistic principles of Supply and Demand. Media outlets market the News to their audience/customers.

hey, but it's just my opinion.

Answer 10

I agree with Dan on this one, I could go on and on. However, I will restrain myself and say only that am annoyed at all things "news lite" these days. What happened to real reporting and investigative journalism?