WP: A Hazy New Day Awaits 'Nightline' (new format, anchors)

[DeepModem Mom]

A Hazy New Day Awaits 'Nightline'
Producers Weigh New Format, Personnel for Post-Koppel Era
By Howard Kurtz
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, September 26, 2005; Page C01


"Nightline" as we know it is about to fade to black.

Gone will be the single-topic examination that has been the ABC program's signature for 25 years. Gone will be the single-anchor format once Ted Koppel steps down Nov. 22. And some of the correspondents and producers who built the program into a journalistic powerhouse will likely be gone, too.

"I'm absolutely committed to 'Nightline' remaining a serious, substantive show," says British journalist James Goldston, the new executive producer. " 'Nightline' has a unique place in American television journalism and it's important that should continue. Of course, we wish it to be an entertaining show, but the journalism comes first always."

The likely new anchors are White House correspondent Terry Moran and "PrimeTime" anchor Cynthia McFadden, who have had serious discussions with Goldston and would be based in Washington and New York, respectively. Another possible anchor is Martin Bashir, who made documentaries about Michael Jackson and Princess Diana, although he may wind up as a contributor.

Goldston made a presentation last week to Anne Sweeney, president of Disney-ABC television, and ABC News President David Westin, among others, and got a tentative green light to pursue his vision of the show, say people familiar with the matter who declined to be named because no final decisions have been made....


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/25/AR2005092501443.html

[Tiberius]

1. I like that show...

I hope they don't kill it. That show and 60 Minutes are the only network news shows I ever watch.

Of course, with the way things are going, I wouldn't be surprised if it were dumbed down and tabloidized.

[Kelvin Mace]

2. It's is dead

Once you add multiple reporters and topis, it's just another unfocused news show.

[MostlyLurks]

3. So lemme get this straight...

Nightline will remain a substatitive show with:

-A co-anchor whose primary job has been to sit like a good little boy at White House press conferences and do virtually no investigative work.
-A co-anchor whose gig, up to now, has been hosting a sensationalistic "news" magazine show.

AND

-A journalist who blew the lid off Michael Jackson and Princess Di.

Substantive indded. Is it possible for Koppel to start spinning in his grave before he's even dead?

Mostly

[Theres-a]

6. At least we have DU

I swear,I don't know what I'd do without it.

[zbdent]

4. Didn't Nightline start out as the nightly update on the Iran hostages?

Wasn't there some sort of bad politician who benefitted from that constant harping about 52 people held hostage?

Hmm, I think his initals were RONALD REAGAN . . .

Damn that liberal media . . .

[Bob3]

5. Get ready for the Celebrity gossip section and the puff pieces

and the promos for shows on the ABC network. It'll be just another useless news show allocating 5 minutes for a complex important subject and the rest of the show to fluff.

[OneBlueSky]

7. ABC has wanted to dump Nightline for years . . .

and replace it with some late night entertainment crap . . . without Koppel, its days are surely numbered . . .

[grasswire]

8. I had been hoping...

...that Ted's daughter Andrea would take over for him. She's a fine news correspondent and has certainly put in her time already, both overseas and domestically.