Evening news anchors

[Brent Burns]

With the post-Peter Jennings era, ABC News has a new anchor team in Elizabeth Vargas and Bob Woodruff. Granted, I don't really watch much of those evening news- ABC, NBC and CBS.

However, it is going to be interesting to see how the folks would perceive the Vargas-Woodruff show.

What do y'all make out of this?

[cricketman]

I'm a certified news junkie but I simply can't remember the last time I watched the network evening news. I go to cable first and foremost, mostly Fox, and then listen to NPR during the day to balance things out. There isn't one news outlet that doesn't have a bias anymore and you just have to take your news with a healthy dose of cynicism about the agenda of the presenters. It's sad but true in my opinion.
Having grown up on the BBC I think they've become partisan too of late! What the hell happened to journalism? I always thought it was supposed to be objective.

[Campbell]

I dont watch the network news much either, usually flip between CNN and Fox News, NPR during the commute, and on occasion a little MSNBC or Jim Lehrer. The news is very partisan these days and considering how liberal CNN has become I welcome the differing opinions Fox can put out. I have always considered NPR to be fairly even in its reporting, their liberal angle is reflected more in the types of stories they cover rather than how they cover them. I think the network news tends to be a little more unbiased than cable news, but not nearly as comprehensive in its coverage. The good thing is we have lots of outlets for getting our news these days.

[Jolly Roger]

What the hell happened to journalism? I always thought it was supposed to be objective.

Gotta sell baby!!!

It's unfortunate that competition for revenue has tainted something that should be more useful and unbiased.

It's even trickled down into the local news. In my area, the weather forcasters have figured out that they can increase ratings by making wild claims about "serious rain/snow/heat events". They're wrong 85-90% of the time but rationalize it by saying they'd rather be wrong and have it not happen thatn not provide us with adequate warning.

[KnoxVegas]

A two-person free-to-air news broadcast will never be as good as the Rather-Chung pairing in the mid-90s. Spectacular!

[laxfan25]

I rarely if ever watch network news, really loathe the FoxNews, MSNBC and CNN's of the world, and listen to NPR 90% of the time. My favorite news show is The Daily Show - cause if you couldn't laugh at what's going on you'd definitely have to cry.
When the cable "news" shows spend so much time on "stories" like Natalie Holloway (sp?), Scott Peterson, Michael Jackson ad nauseaum, the rest of the real news is given in 10 second sound bites, or more often, a pretty-face anchor talking over someone's video. At least Morning Edition and All Things Considered give you extensive coverage of the real news, and you actually get to hear the people speak at length. I don't need someone translating others' statements for me. While some may feel it has a leftward bias, it is the most balanced news available, in my mind.
Yesterday I was in the D.C. area and heard CSPAN radio, with an hour long seminar from the American Constitution Society on the Alito nomination. I think that is a better source that the ads that will be coming out from People for the American Way and their counterparts on the right.
I also read the Washington Post and NY Times on line, but get a lot of the best news from the Water Cooler on uslia.com.

[laxfan25]

What the hell happened to journalism? I always thought it was supposed to be objective.

I think you're probably too young to realize that newspapers in particular have really never been objective. Read up about William Loeb, the publisher of the Manchester Union-Leader in New Hampshire.
"Before he became known as the publisher of New Hampshire's only statewide newspaper, The Manchester Union Leader, William Loeb III tried many other careers. According to a recent documentary, "Poweful as Truth", Loeb sold quic- dry paint, surplus rum and puncture proof tires. Fiercely anti-Communist Loeb became a key player in NH politics for three decades. Loeb may be best known for has scathing, conservative front page editorials and racist views. He derided Eisenhower, Kissinger, Kennedy and others in his vitriolic front-page editorials."
The history of the Chicago Tribune isn't all that different.
I really think as the original network news shows came to the fore in the 60's, (Cronkite, Huntley/Brinkley, Chancellor, etc) that they made a real effort to present the news in a relatively unbiased format, as opposed to the newspapers of the day. I still miss Walter Cronkite doing the news, he was the best. Ted Coppell does great work also, and today it was announced that he is taking his team to the Discovery Channel, so don't give up hope, just continue to search out enlightenment wherever you can, and make up your own mind on the great issues of the day. Way too few people do nowadays.

[Sonny]

I really think as the original network news shows came to the fore in the 60's, (Cronkite, Huntley/Brinkley, Chancellor, etc) that they made a real effort to present the news in a relatively unbiased format, as opposed to the newspapers of the day. I still miss Walter Cronkite doing the news, he was the best.

Relatively unbiased? You did make me laugh here Bert. One of the primary reasons mainstream news media outlets are a dying breed is precisely because of their liberal bias.

Thank goodness for the Internet and news talk radio to provide the resources for some much needed fact checking. Network news and major newspapers are on intensive care and headed for life support. They once were the only conduits for news information for the masses. Not any longer.

[Brent Burns]

A two-person free-to-air news broadcast will never be as good as the Rather-Chung pairing in the mid-90s. Spectacular!

Ethan sure hit it on the head. That was why I started this thread because I knew it was laughable. I doubt Vargas and Woodruff would enjoy sharing the limelight. Yeah, it did not really work out between Chung and Rather.

Sonny is also right that the dinosaurs (ABC, NBC, and CBS) are dying. I find it funny and amusing that those behemoths are trying everything to compete with the Joneses (the Internet, cable companies, et al). Ed Murrow is probably still rolling in his grave about the news reporting.

It is not only the news, but it is also the shows that are not worth watching. Soooo.... the news worth watching for me is USLIA.com.

[mlax29]

Just a fun fact, Bob Woodruff attended Cranbrook-Kingswood highschool in Michigan and captained the lax team while there.

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