Ted Koppel is leaving ABC in November

[Tactical Progressive]

Not just Nightline, but ABC News entirely.

They offered him other options like specials or switching 'Nightline' to George Stephanopolous with Koppel going to Sunday to host 'This Week'. Stephanopolous probably will take over Nightline, but Ted didn't want to go to a political show like 'This Week'. He just wants to start something new. I think there's probably more to it than that, but we might not know for a while.

This came in a Charlie Rose interview of David Westin, president of ABC, and he said that Ted had made the decision within the last few days. Koppel is a liberal but mostly he's an evenhanded newsman. He'll be missed. 26 years when he retires.

Westin said some interesting things, like how 'balance' doesn't mean that you always have two opposing viewpoints. His example was that ABC isn't going to put on a pedophile promoter to 'balance' out a story on pedophelia. Gee, how hard was that to figure out? Now if they can only take it to the next step. Edward R. Murrow supposedly said 'Sometimes there aren't two sides to a story.' It was the first time I've heard anyone in the media acknowlege what has become apparent to those who talk about these things on the internet. I thought it was heartening for one of these clowns to realize that the sense of cheap fairness which they have been increasingly employing, and which now dominates the news, is crap, but I have a suspicion it won't change them much.

In short, there was the first glimmer of recognition from someone in authority that their very conception of fairness is flawed. That can't be a bad thing, but it's a long way from there to it being a good thing in practice.

[gumby]

1. Ted Koppel's 'Nightline' came into existence

exploiting the Iranian hostage 'crisis.' Perhaps Koppel and ABC are single-handedly responsible for running Carter out of office. All hail Saint Ronnie.

Koppel luvs Limbaugh. Good Riddance!

[Tactical Progressive]

2. I think you've got Koppel all wrong

And Nightline has always been the best news program around while Ted was doing it.

[gumby]

3. Ted is just another millionaire talking head.

I especially don't like him because he has managed to maintain his facade of 'respectability.' He may not be as bad as others, but I still don't like him; especially since he had on Limbaugh as an invironmental 'authority.'

Here are some snips from The Daily Howler: http://tinyurl.com/6tk2u

[Tactical Progressive]

4. I really don't think one bad move like that

or even a bunch of bad shows, is enough to discredit the million and a half Nightlines that have been aired. Seriously, get over your one bad environmental show. I'll bet too that Ted didn't go easy on anything Limbaugh said.

Ted isn't one of the traitors to journalism that daily or weekly whore themselves out to right-wing pandering. Not even close.

[gumby]

7. Nothing personal,

but it seems that you have a LOT to learn about the Corporate Media.

edit: when exactly did Teddy 'hit' Bushy? It might seem that way only because everyone else won't touch such stories. But neither will Ted; he only pretends.

Like I said, Ted got 'Nightline' for his "nightly" pounding, pounding, pounding about the Iranian Hostages against Carter. Isn't that a clue? Perhaps you can cite where Teddy has pounded night after night about any of the vast (and real) Bush scandals? Not there.

Teddy is taking his millions elsewhere. Getting out while he can. No Integrity whatsoever. No loss.

[jdots]

5. I will miss his hair

Now A.B.C. can have a late night talk show hosted by an ex comedian like Ann Coulter.

[ariellyn]

6. Who keerz? Good riddance. nt

[Radical Activist]

8. ABC is the only TV news I can stand.

They seem to have the most integrity of the major news networks and broadcasts, but that still isn't saying much given the state of the corporate media today.