Dan Rather's withering criticism of CBS 'doesn't reflect reality,' network insider says
Former CBS News anchor Dan Rather blasted his former employer that's now under the leadership of lightning rod editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, raising the eyebrows of a network insider who doesn’t think the criticism reflects "reality."Rather, who famously stepped down from his role as CBS’ evening news anchor in 2005 and eventually left the network the following year after reporting a discredited story about then-President George W.Bush, joined a variety of liberal media watchdogs who have spoken out against Weiss over the past year."What’s happened at CBS News is sad," Rather told Variety."It is in many ways a disaster, not just for the people who work at CBS News — and there’s still a lot of really good people working there," Rather continued.
"But this is a further example of big billionaire corporate power in bed with powerful people and the presidency to get control of these operations for their benefit."SCOTT PELLEY FIRED AT CBS NEWS AFTER BLOWUPS WITH BARI WEISS, NEW '60 MINUTES' PRODUCERAmid scandal, Dan Rather stepped down from his role as "CBS Evening News" anchor in 2005.(Reuters )Rather also suggested that President Donald Trump has forced change at CBS News, as Skydance Media CEO David Ellison took control of the network last year through a long-planned merger that was approved shortly after CBS agreed to settle an election interference lawsuit with the president."Donald Trump has expressed his extreme dislike for ’60 Minutes.’ So now, he’s gotten his way," Rather said.
"He cleared the way for a consolidation of corporate power, which in turn cleared the way for doing what’s been done to ’60 Minutes.’ The wreckage of CBS News is everywhere and continues to this moment.I don’t see how to stop it."While anonymous CBS News staffers have objected to changes made under Weiss, newsletters aimed at progressive audiences have regularly attacked her.
Other former CBS News stars, such as Scott Pelley, have spoken out against Weiss, but no...