CBS fires four employees over Bush service-record story

[Pernicious]

http://www.cbc.ca/story/arts/national/2005/01/10/Arts/CBSfirings050110.html?ref=rss

CBS fires four employees over Bush service-record story
Last Updated Mon, 10 Jan 2005 14:45:51 EST
CBC Arts

NEW YORK - CBS fired three executives and a producer Monday, after the release of an independent investigation into a story on 60 Minutes that negatively portrayed U.S. President George W. Bush's military service and relied on dubious documents.

The American network fired Mary Mapes, who produced the report; Josh Howard, the executive producer of 60 Minutes Wednesday; senior broadcast producer Mary Murphy; and senior vice president Betsy West.
Mary Mapes in 1999. (AP photo)

The news segment, which aired Sept. 8 during the U.S. presidential campaign, relied on four documents allegedly written in the early 1970s by the late Lt.-Col. Jerry Killian, one of Bush's Texas Air National Guard commanders. The story suggested that Bush had used his father's political connections to get into the Air National Guard - and avoid going to Vietnam - and had not fulfilled his service obligations.

A number of officials and members of the public raised questions about the authenticity of the documents almost immediately after the show aired, but CBS News continued to defend the story for almost two weeks.

"The bottom line is that much of the Sept. 8 broadcast was wrong, incomplete or unfair," Les Moonves, CBS president and co-president of parent company Viacom, said in a statement.

"We deeply regret the disservice this flawed 60 Minutes Wednesday report did to the American public, which has a right to count on CBS News for fairness and accuracy," he said.

   * RELATED STORY: CBS apologizes for using Bush service memos

'Myopic zeal,' 'rigid and blind defense' compounded problem: Independent report

The firings came after Monday's release of a 224-page independent report by a two-man panel comprising Dick Thornburgh, the former U.S. attorney general, and Louis Boccardi, the former CEO and president of the Associated Press. In late September, CBS had commissioned the panel to conduct a review of the situation.

"Both the Sept. 8 segment itself and the statements and news reports by CBS News that followed the segment failed to meet" the core journalistic principles of accuracy and fairness that CBS expects from its personnel, read the report.

While Thornburgh and Boccardi did not conclude whether the "Killian documents are authentic or forgeries," it did identify "a number of issues that raise serious questions about the authenticity of the documents and their content. With better reporting, these questions should have been raised before the Sept. 8 segment aired."

The report cited the involved parties' "myopic zeal to be the first news organization to broadcast what was believed to be a new story about President Bush's [Texas Air National Guard] service."
George W. Bush during his time in the Texas Air National Guard. (AP file photo)

The issue was then compounded by "the rigid and blind defense of the segment after it aired despite numerous indications of its shortcomings," the report said.
Panel's recommendations

The panel also recommended a number of changes, including:

   * Appoint a senior standards and practices executive, reporting directly to the president of CBS News, who would review all investigative reporting, use of confidential sources and authentication of documents. Personnel should feel comfortable going to this person confidentially and without fear of reprisal, with questions or concerns about particular reports.
   * Foster an atmosphere in which competitive pressure is not allowed to prompt airing of reports before all investigation and vetting is done.
   * Allow senior management to know the names of confidential sources as well as all relevant background about the person needed to make news judgments.
   * Appoint a separate team, led by someone not involved in the original reporting, to look into any news report that is challenged.

News anchor Dan Rather, who was the correspondent on the story, announced in November that he would be stepping down as anchor of CBS Evening News, but he insisted that the timing had nothing to do with the investigation.

Given the televised apology Rather offered after the fiasco and his announcement about stepping down, Moonves said further action against Rather was not warranted.

The thing that got me was 3 of the 4 people fired were women?

[napnip]

The thing that got me was 3 of the 4 people fired were women?

It's just a matter of time before some feminist group *cough* N.O.W. *cough* releases a statement saying those women were unfairly targeted.    :roll:    If they don't do it, I'll be surprised.

[PROFOUND1]

Hey Pernicious, are you the same Pernicious I bumped into gaming several days ago on call of duty united offensive and the map was RHINE VALLEY, my tag was MENS_ACTIVIST. Also Ive seen a certain Dr Evil also gaming COD getting top scores I dont mind admitting to this its a rather nice break from the troubles of reality, before picking up the armour of mras and engaging once again into the "real battle."

[Pernicious]

Sorry Man,

I no longer play Call of Duty, I play Natural Selection (A mod for Half-life), and City of Heroes.

[PROFOUND1]

Ok dude nice to know your a gamer in your "brief spare time" however besides "ALSO" I have enjoyed many of your extensive posts, thank you!

[dr e]

Profound1 - I am afraid that the high scoring gamer who some call DR EVIL is simply an imposter.  The real Dr Evil is far too busy with his quest for world domination to learn the intricacies of knifing on halo2 or using a scope on counter-strike.  Scott otoh is quite a gamer.  "gg no re" as he says.   :wink:

[LSBeene]

I play CITY OF HEROES

C&C Generals Zero Hour and a few others.

Anyone here wanna ever meet up online for some NONgender issues and do some gaming!?

C'mon ... have pity on the Army guy who's stuck in NOME ALASKA!!!

It's freaking -25*F here for Cris-sakes ...

And there's about 5 hours of "daylight" (hey, the sun IS above the horizon by about 2-20* for a few hours!) ...

Why do you think I post so much in winter!?

Msg me here on the thread so that we can coordinate a few gamers and get 2-5 of us in some games.

Hey, maybe I'll tell you what I did last weekend for training.

(I'll get the E-mail I sent to my friend and copy it here)

Short version: we went out into the wilderness and lived in SNOW CAVES we had to individually dig.  It was -20* to -45* w/wind chill out there.

Holy-freeze-my-****-off Batman!!!
Steven

[Pernicious]

Heh Kinda Funny

Steven,

My main character is on Champion and his name is Pernicious There is some other lurkers here that play COH as well.

[LSBeene]

I play on Triumph, but could join you there on Champion.

I found a way to PLevel that seems to really work.

We got one dude from level 1-15 in 3 1/2 hours.

And within 6 hours he was level 20 or 21.

Lemme know if you want to try it or you couild come to Triumph.

I got a level 38 or 39 blaster there (among others).

Steven

[Pernicious]

I play on Champion

I have a few characters, most of them have been leveled the old fashioned way

Level 44 Spines/Regen Scrapper
Level 36 Assault/Devices Blaster
Level 30 Mace/Stone Tank
Level 19 Force Field/Psionic Defender

I play with Renegade who used to post here quite frequently, but mostly just lurks once in a while.

I am in a decent SG, which seems to have quite a few active members, who play at all different times.

I also play alot with my friends, I have a Ventrilo server up so my friends are all able to connect to my server, so voice communications are much faster than typing in messages.

Either way would be fun to group up, and to learn this reliable method of powerleveling lowbie chars could be useful.

[LSBeene]

Pernicious,

Shall we tentatively say ... this weekend?

Remember I am in Alaska (1 hour difference from California time zone), but I could start on friday night.

Yeh, I got a set of headphones someplace here.
we could definately do voice.

Also, the PLevel method is quite easy but takes 3 people.  If you want me to PM you to explain I can .. or I could do it here for general info for whoever reads.

My level 38 blaster got his level the old fashioned way to: LONG hours over 6 months.

It was my first character.

But, yea, we could do this this weekend if it's convenient to you.

And yep, it's true: we got this one dude to level 20 or 21 in one night.

It's not hard, but the guy who's leveling just sits there (so he doesn't die and get into debt - which REALLY slows down the process).

Actually the Anchor and the Leveling Character both pretty much sit on the sidelines doing squat (unless it's a healer) to avoid debt while the PLeveler character goes out and does lots of damage.

Anyways ... I'll write it up here on the forum when I get home from work (about 5 hours)  ... k?

Steven

[LSBeene]

Pleveling made easy.

3 players are needed.

1) the character being leveled.  He don't do squat except stay clear of dying to avoid debt.  If he's a healer and the player is not an idiot he can help a little bit.
2) The Anchor.  This is the character to whom the character being leveled is Side Kick'd to.  He does squat so that he don't die and leave the one being leveled "out there" alone.
3) The Pleveler.  He is from level 30-45.  The Anchor should be 3-7 levels below him.  4-6 are ideal.  That way he and the one SK'd to him gain the most points.

Pernicious .. it's easy.  If my explanation is not clear let me know.

Steven

[LSBeene]

Pernicious,

I just started a healer on Champion.  This way I can be of some use.  Later we can get me a damage dealer and, if you don't mind, maybe you'll Plevel me.

Lemme know.

Steven