On MSNBC, Bernard Kalb (CBS corresp. emeritus) pans Kouric hiring

[Bozita]

Kalb opined that an evening network news anchor requires the gravitas earned only through experience. Loads of "been there, done that" are essential. Personal familiarity with major players is a plus.

Morning show fluff doesn't do it.

[speedoo]

1. He's right, of course.

It will be interesting to watch this situation evolve.

[Jack from Charlotte]

10. So describing the bunny balloons in the Rose Bowl Parade doesn't....

qualify one for being a news reader?

[babylonsister]

2. Time to find an alternate to Schieffer; she's not it. nt

[hlthe2b]

4. There are women who have earned the title...

Christine Amanpour comes to mind... Of course, she is likely too smart and principled to take the gig, but....

Hell, I think Diane Sawyer has earned that respect as well-- at least far more than Katie or the other cutesy ilck. She has done quite a few risky assignments in her long career, as I recall.

[babylonsister]

6. I'm not dissing women at all, just this particular one.

She's being hired for her 'cutsiness', not her news acumen. I'll miss Bob Schieffer.

[hlthe2b]

9. I agree...

[Caoimhe]

3. But but..

getting a live colonoscopy on air counts as hard hitting journalism doesn't it? :sarcasm:

[deminks]

5. But news doesn't sell anymore,

don't you know that news only gets them in trouble with the pretzeldente? The only thing worthwhile is the latest white woman who has disappeared. News is all going to be "fluff" in just a few years. It's the only thing the sheeple deserve to get. :sarcasm:

[BootinUp]

7. I think you should remove the sarcasm tag.

lol.

[otohara]

8. CBS Has Lost Their Edge

who are they going after with this move?

[warrens]

11. What century is he living in?

We're never going to have another Cronkite. Good hair and the ability to read a teleprompter are all that is required to make $10 million a year. I liked the idea of having a rotating cast, with the off-camera ones in the field half the time doing correspondent work on meaningful stories.

The idea of an anchor is obsolete. The next hire will be Dr. Phil or some shit like that.