Good Afternoon . . .
FCC Chairman Michael Powell is stepping down from the job he has held for four years. During his tenure he has supported more and more deregulation of the telecommunications industry while, at the same time, levying the largest fines in history for indecency on the airwaves.
Powell, the some of Colin Powell, told the President he would leave in March. No successor has been made. Under FCC rules Powell's successor must be a Republican.
My Way News
NBC Universal Television Group President Jeff Zucker says that the CBS story on Bush's National Guard service could not happen at NBC. Zucker was speaking at the Television Critics Association in Los Angeles.
Zucker was surprised that CBS did not have any of the safeguards that are in place at NBC since their own scandal involving NBC Dateline. While Tom Brokaw and his successor, Brian Williams, are very liberal, they would not have the motivation or vindictiveness of Mary Mapes or Dan Rather.
The report on Rathergate failed to mention that Mapes had been working on this story and other anti-Bush stories since he ran for governor of Texas. Rather was embarrassed on air by former President George HW Bush and has held a negative attitude toward anyone in the Bush family.
Broadcasting & Cable: The Business of Television
Speaking of Rathergate, the 3 CBS News executives that were asked to resign have failed to do so. Josh Howard, Mary Murphy, and Betsy West were still working at CBS as of Wednesday. None could be reached for comment.
Speculation is that remain on the job while pursuing legal action against CBS.
Attorneys know that you do not ask a question in court unless you know the answer. Perhaps Dan Rather should have learned that lesson during the Inauguration festivities on CBS.
Historian Joseph Ellis said that there could be scandals that imperil President Bush's second term. Ellis said that As a "a lame duck...the press is really out to get you. And they can get you if they want to get you. And they're going to go after him. You can already start to see it. And what the press defines as a scandal becomes a scandal."
A confused Rather quickly changed the subject.
Media Research Center
If events warrant, more in the Weekend Briefing or Monday in the Morning Briefing. Have a great weekend.
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