He had such huge strengths and huge weaknesses. He practiced journalism like a blue-collar craftsman with a populist point of view. He was practicing a crusading craft rather than a profession, and [investigative reporting] has lost some of its juice, its verve, its gusto, in trying to be objective. Anderson didn't try to hide his politics or his agenda. |
He held politicians to a level of accountability in an era where journalists were very deferential to those in power. |
He was a bridge for the muckrakers of a century ago and the crop that came out of Watergate. He held politicians to a level of accountability in an era where journalists were very deferential to those in power. |
It's about the trajectory, ... CBS used to be the Tiffany network, dominant in all respects, while Fox is on a roll and seemed to come out of nowhere. |
Much of what passes for news in Washington is very hurried leaks from officials in power, whether in a corridor conversation or a thirty second phone call. And the media is far too credulous of accepting the word of Washington officialdom when it comes to self-serving leaks or publishing self-serving information. |
my guess is NBC will be rewarded [in ratings] for that and is already being rewarded for that. That alone is a reminder that the star appeal of the anchor still matters. |
On the one hand, I think it's really disturbing to have the FBI come knocking at your door, demanding to look at things you've been reading. It smacks of a Gestapo state. On the other hand, it's so heavy handed to be almost ludicrous. |
Part circus huckster, part guerrilla fighter, part righteous rogue, Anderson waged a one-man journalistic resistance when it was exceedingly unpopular to do so. |
These incidents become viewed through the lens of metaphor, |
These incidents become viewed through the lens of metaphor. And Dan Rather represents not just CBS, but all of network news. |
They flashed their badges and said they needed access to the papers. |