Giving Proper Credit to CBS 2 and Scott Weinberger
Scott Weinberger's exclusive reports this week on security guards sleeping like Homer Simpson at the Peach Bottom Nuclear Plant just outside of Philadelphia were an eye opener, since a major catastrophic event there could have its effects felt over a hundred miles away. Plus the same company, Wackenhut, is also under contract to the federal government to provide security.
Thanks to Weinberger's three month investigation and video from a whistle blower, Wackenhut is on its way out at the plant. It was a fine piece of investigative journalism that got results. It also was the second time in the past few months that a New York station has beaten a Philadelphia station with a story on their turf.
But wait. KYW, the WCBS' co-owned sister station in Philadelphia (where former Access Hollywood host Larry Mendte co-anchors with Chris Wragge's alleged girlfriend), also broadcast a version the story. However what they aired made it appear that the investigation was done by Walt Hunter the investigative reporter there and the stations "I-Team." We should also point out that KYW aired their report on Tuesday; the day after WCBS aired the first of two reports.
We viewed both stations reports, which are available online, and Hunter's report reused much of the footage and part of the interview with the whistle blower were directly lifted from Weinberger's reports, and the WCBS exclusive graphics were covered up with graphics from the Philadelphia station. Hunter’s report was also not as in depth as what aired on WCBS.
We do have to say that Hunter did do some actual reporting in his story, going out and interviewing some locals near nuclear plants, along with crafting his piece for the Philadelphia market, and that KYW did provide some assistance with things like camera crews and logistics during the WCBS investigation. However, Weinberger and his team to did all the leg work to get the story. They should have at least gotten a mention from the Philadelphia station for bringing the story to light, since Hunter would have had nothing if it wasn’t for CBS 2.
Kenneth Rather Bitter?
The San Francisco Examiner reports that at a recent question and answer session at a Washington restaurant former CBS News anchor and hurricane hunter Dan Rather may have let it slip that the real target for his lawsuit against CBS is both George Bushes. The host of the event, Carol Joynt, asked Rather if he would call the current president to the stand, to which he replied, "I'd like not to answer the question." However Joynt told the paper how she read between the lines, "From the look in his eye -- and he gave me a definite Ratheresque look -- I got the impression he will call the president as a witness. Possibly both of them: 41 and 43. He implied the suit is not against them, but what the suit is about stems directly from his antagonistic relationship with them."
Rather still sticks by his report on Mr. Bush’s national guard service calling it “the truth” and seems to still have a well of dislike for both Bush the father and the son.
The Virgin Money Honey
If you head down to Wall Street for the next couple of days, you may find in front of the New York Stock Exchange a Geoffrey Raymond portrait of CNBC anchor Maria “Money Honey” Bartiromo on display in front of the building. There is of course a twist to the painting, with Raymond casting the Money Honey as the Virgin Mary.
ABC Call up
WABC’s general manager Dave Davis has been called up to ABC News. He’ll leave channel 7 after four years there to become Executive Vice President of ABC News where he will be in charge of all of the networks news programs. This is the latest in a series of moves at ABC to trim down to redirect resources to digital platforms. No word on who will replace him at WABC.
MSNBC Where Temporary Becomes Permanent
The 9:00 p.m. “Live with Dan Abrams” hosted by Dan Abrams, who has been general manager of MSNBC since June 2006, is staying where it is after being put on as a replacement for Joe Scarborough’s Scarborough Country after he moved to mornings to fill the abruptly vacated Don Imus morning slot. Abrams will step down from the general manager position next month with his boss, NBC News vice president Phil Griffin, taking over the reigns at the cable channel.
WCBS to Air the Tunnel to Towers Run
This Sunday (September 30) at 10 a.m. WCBS will be broadcasting the 3rd annual Tunnel to Towers Run. For those of you who don’t know the history behind it, it commemorates firefighter Stephen Siller’s run through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel on 9/11 wearing 75 pounds of firefighter gear.
Along with coverage of the event hosted by Chris Wragge and Kristine Johnson, channel 2’s one hour special will feature Dana Tyler interviewing Stephen Siller’s widow, Sally Siller, in her first extended television interview.
WNBC’s Reel Talk Goes National
WNBC’s Saturday morning movie centered show Lyons & Bailes Reel Talk with film critics Jeffrey Lyons and Alison Bailes goes national this weekend. NBC Universal, the parent company of WNBC, will have its NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution subsidiary distribute it. The show has been seen on a few other NBC owned stations, but not fully nationally.
Top 20 TV Earners
Forbes has released a list of the top 20 money earners on television. It is no surprise that Oprah Winfrey is #1 on the list with $260 million. On the news side, the low rated CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric was the highest paid at $15 million a year.
