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The media pundit's pundit. Written by NYC insider Jeff Jarvis, BuzzMachine covers news, media, journalism, and politics.

Two little

7 comments on Two little

Two little

: CBS is doing as little as possible with its Rathergate commission: It appointed only a two-person commission and though they are respected — former AP head Louis Boccardi and former PA Gov. Dick Thornburgh — they aren’t TV and they don’t represent the various constituencies and thus viewpoints I think are important. But far, far worse: CBS is charging them only to look into how the forged docs got onto the air, nothing after, nothing more. Big mistake. Muffed opportunity. Frightened and frightening lack of vision.

My view of what they should have done here. CBS’ announcement here. See Ernie Miller’s parallel reaction here.

7 responses to “Two little”

  1. Matthew Goggins Avatar
    Matthew Goggins

    I think this is very good news. This may be the first thing CBS has done right since the story broke.
    Appointing a former attorney general of Thornburgh’s status is the first positive move by CBS that actually acknowledges the magnitude of the crime committed. And Mr. Baccardi will bring his expertise in the appropriate vetting of news stories.

  2. BigFire Avatar
    BigFire

    And charging them to do nothing. I can hire the best expert in the world and still get nothing done if I don’t let them do anything.

  3. Jeff Wolf Avatar
    Jeff Wolf

    The ratings at CBS continue to be pounded as a result of Rather-Gate. Whats more, they have again made breaking news with the FCC’s fine for the Janet Jackson flash!

  4. Brett Avatar
    Brett

    I don’t think it matters who’s brought on board at this stage – the pain at CBS is not high enough for change yet.
    Thankfully, CBS and the rest of them still have to go through the gauntlet of bloggers, which will always be more thorough and more permanent. At some point, their credibility will matter because money’s at stake and they will take action.

  5. Ernest Miller Avatar
    Ernest Miller

    Well, we will have to see if anyone raises a stink about it. So far, the media reaction seems to be “thank god CBS is doing what needs to be done.” CBS News may have rightly concluded that they really didn’t need to do much to satisfy the other media that they were taking care of the “problem.”

  6. Keith Avatar
    Keith

    Jeff, I like you and I read your blog almost every day… However on this issue, you seem blind to the high level of corruption, deceit and monumental lack of contrition on the part of CBS. This is a cover-up, plain and simple, and calling it a “muffed opportunity” means that you really don’t get it.
    Are you just too ‘inside’ in the media to see it? Is it your basic liberal tendencies that just make you not realize the magnitude of the deceit here? Is it that you have fallen for the DNC/MSM meme that any questioning of talking points or history is a “personal attack” and “mud?”
    CBS’ commission here has very little different to it than any anti-corruption panel of the month appointed by Mr. Arafat, and you think it is a simple mistake… strange….

  7. Jeff Jarvis Avatar
    Jeff Jarvis

    Keith: Give me a break. I’ve been smashing CBS and I smash this two-little-too-late commission and you smash me for not smashing the enough? Go smash Tom Shales, eh?