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CBS News President Rips Into ‘Early Show’: ‘Let’s Get With It’

Apr 19, 2011  •  Post A Comment

CBS News President David Rhodes sent a memo to staffers that ripped into the network’s morning news program "Early Show" for failing to follow up on breaking news reported by CBS over the weekend, reports TVNewser.com.

Rhodes was upset that none of CBS’s breaking news or newsmaking interviews turned up on Monday morning’s edition of "Early Show," such as the "60 Minutes" report Sunday that questioned the accuracy of the nonfiction bestseller "Three Cups of Tea," the story notes.

"Where are these stories this morning? Not on the ‘Early Show.’ Why not?" Rhodes wrote in the memo. He notes that the stories were discussed at a Friday meeting, and they aired on high-rated CBS shows, "so an audience clearly found them. Some have generated follow-up coverage in other media. Not our own show, though."

He finished by telling staffers, "Let’s get with it. Where’s our reporting? Make sure it’s in our show."

8 Comments

  1. They’ll never get it. The hosts are not serious journalists. These are not ‘news’ shows. They like a morning drive radio, with pictures, and headlines at the top of the hour. CBS get a clue, and find the next Captain Kangaroo…

  2. They’ll never get it. The hosts are not serious journalists. These are not ‘news’ shows. They like a morning drive radio, with pictures, and headlines at the top of the hour. CBS get a clue, and find the next Captain Kangaroo…

  3. As one who worked for CBS News, I find it laughable that Rhodes would actually publish said memo.
    If I were Les Moonves, Rhodes would be out in front of Black Rock holding the box with his personal belongings topped with a pink slip.
    That news division needs a thorough house cleaning…beginning with The EARLY SHOW.
    Like anything that “once was”, CBS News can reclaim it’s lofty position in broadcast journalism…it will take lots of that old “black ink” in the veins.
    Sorry, the current lot at the top are clueless…too “heady”, too “corporate”.
    Peter Bright

  4. As one who worked for CBS News, I find it laughable that Rhodes would actually publish said memo.
    If I were Les Moonves, Rhodes would be out in front of Black Rock holding the box with his personal belongings topped with a pink slip.
    That news division needs a thorough house cleaning…beginning with The EARLY SHOW.
    Like anything that “once was”, CBS News can reclaim it’s lofty position in broadcast journalism…it will take lots of that old “black ink” in the veins.
    Sorry, the current lot at the top are clueless…too “heady”, too “corporate”.
    Peter Bright

  5. ABC is putting real pressure on TODAY and he is worried about a minor scandal about “Three Cups of Tea” not being covered. He has no clue what the morning shows are about. Breaking News, Lifestyle, Entertainment and personal stories. Interviewing families and business owners from the weekend tornadoes is what people wanted to see Monday morning. Not a lame scandal about a book that only sold 20,000 hardcover copies.

  6. Many years ago, when CBS News WAS a news-gathering organization, the stylebook specifically noted that CBS News had NO Shows, they were broadcasts or programs. The simple fact that the Morning News is called the “Early Show” says it all. In fatc, what was the best and the brightest news organization has been turned into the biggest joke over the last 10 years. From K-K-K-aty Couric actually anchoring the signature Evening
    News to the joke that is mornings to the recent spate of Junior High School correspondents (Jeffy Glor and the rest of the children) to the now mostly Entertainmenbt-driven 60 MINUTES, this train wreck is close to hopeless. Rhodes is correct about one thing. If you break a good story, run with it. The “CUP OF TEA” story got play EVERYWHERE (including in law enforcement ranks) but at CBS..and that’s nuts. Housekeeping ain’t the right word.. demolition and rebuilding is more like it.

  7. Many years ago, when CBS News WAS a news-gathering organization, the stylebook specifically noted that CBS News had NO Shows, they were broadcasts or programs. The simple fact that the Morning News is called the “Early Show” says it all. In fatc, what was the best and the brightest news organization has been turned into the biggest joke over the last 10 years. From K-K-K-aty Couric actually anchoring the signature Evening
    News to the joke that is mornings to the recent spate of Junior High School correspondents (Jeffy Glor and the rest of the children) to the now mostly Entertainmenbt-driven 60 MINUTES, this train wreck is close to hopeless. Rhodes is correct about one thing. If you break a good story, run with it. The “CUP OF TEA” story got play EVERYWHERE (including in law enforcement ranks) but at CBS..and that’s nuts. Housekeeping ain’t the right word.. demolition and rebuilding is more like it.

  8. Many years ago, when CBS News WAS a news-gathering organization, the stylebook specifically noted that CBS News had NO Shows, they were broadcasts or programs. The simple fact that the Morning News is called the “Early Show” says it all. In fatc, what was the best and the brightest news organization has been turned into the biggest joke over the last 10 years. From K-K-K-aty Couric actually anchoring the signature Evening
    News to the joke that is mornings to the recent spate of Junior High School correspondents (Jeffy Glor and the rest of the children) to the now mostly Entertainmenbt-driven 60 MINUTES, this train wreck is close to hopeless. Rhodes is correct about one thing. If you break a good story, run with it. The “CUP OF TEA” story got play EVERYWHERE (including in law enforcement ranks) but at CBS..and that’s nuts. Housekeeping ain’t the right word.. demolition and rebuilding is more like it.

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