CBS: Rather Decries Corporate Control Of News

[babylonsister]

Rather Decries Corporate Control Of News
Ex-CBS Anchor Says Government And Corporate Influence Over Newsrooms Spurred Lawsuit


NEW YORK, Sept. 21, 2007


(AP) Former network news anchor Dan Rather says the undue influence of the government and large corporations over newsrooms spurred his decision to file a $70 million lawsuit against the CBS TV network and its former parent company.

"Somebody, sometime has got to take a stand and say democracy cannot survive, much less thrive with the level of big corporate and big government interference and intimidation in news," he said on CNN's "Larry King Live."

In the suit, filed a day earlier in state Supreme Court in Manhattan, Rather claimed CBS and Viacom Inc. used him as a "scapegoat" and intentionally botched the aftermath of a discredited story about President George W. Bush's military service to curry favor with the White House. He was removed from his "CBS Evening News" post in March 2005.

"They sacrificed support for independent journalism for corporate financial gain, and in so doing, I think they undermined a lot at CBS News," he told King.

Rather did not mention other instances in which he believed news organizations bowed to corporate and government pressure.

CBS spokesman Dana McClintock did not return an after-hours call seeking comment Thursday. He has called Rather's complaints "old news" and said the lawsuit was "without merit." A spokesman for Viacom declined to comment.

more...

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/09/21/business/main3284810.shtml

[H2O Man]

1. Thank you, Dan Rather.

He is fighting the good fight. And he is doing it for his beliefs in what is right and what is wrong. I'm glad that he is doing this.

[babylonsister]

2. He is. I posted this more because it was on CBS' website! nt

[tularetom]

3. I have this image of Dan Rather on the Letterman show

right after 9/11, weepingly pledging undying support and loyalty to the chimp. Then I think about how quickly he backed down and apopogized when challenged on the National Guard stories.

I'm not important, Rather doesn't have to prove anything to me but I will always be skeptical that Rather really believes in his old motto; "Courage".

I hope I'm wrong but I'm afraid he'll fold like a cheap umbrella when he gets challenged on this lawsuit thingy.

[deutsey]

4. Welcome aboard, Dan. Better late than never. n/t

[valerief]

5. Good guy! I hope they don't disappear him. nt