CBS News Meets The New Boss
On his second day on the job, CBS News President Sean McManus addressed the troops this afternoon, laying out his early vision for the division and handling questions tossed at him by the likes of Ed Bradley and Andy Rooney. In an exchange that lasted just over 40 minutes, McManus began by paying tribute to his “friend,” outgoing CBS News President Andrew Heyward, saying, “I can’t tell you how much respect I have for his leadership ability, his integrity, his intelligence and most of all his love respect for honest journalism and outstanding reporting.”
Some of the themes McManus struck included a pursuit of excellence, a competitive desire to take CBS News up in the ratings and a willingness to experiment combined with a respect for the traditions of CBS News. McManus several times tied himself to the future success of the news division, commenting on leaving a comfortable spot as head of CBS Sports where his golf handicap had fallen in recent years to head a network number three in many categories.
McManus at one point noted, “If I didn’t think we could get it done, I wouldn’t have taken it because I certainly don’t want to be associated with anything remotely considered failure.” While McManus remains president of CBS Sports, he said 95% of his time will be spent focusing on the news division for the foreseeable future.
McManus sought to put to rest questions that some in the news division have been asking, beginning by voicing his admiration for CBS News tradition, noting, “I have an enormous respect for the ... quality and excellence of news coverage now being produced by all of you. … there’s a great heritage and a great prestige here at CBS that I hope to maintain, and indeed, build upon.” Within CBS News, these were important words because over the years some CBS and Viacom executives have said that tradition is more burden than benefit.
Some of the themes McManus struck included a pursuit of excellence, a competitive desire to take CBS News up in the ratings and a willingness to experiment combined with a respect for the traditions of CBS News. McManus several times tied himself to the future success of the news division, commenting on leaving a comfortable spot as head of CBS Sports where his golf handicap had fallen in recent years to head a network number three in many categories.
McManus at one point noted, “If I didn’t think we could get it done, I wouldn’t have taken it because I certainly don’t want to be associated with anything remotely considered failure.” While McManus remains president of CBS Sports, he said 95% of his time will be spent focusing on the news division for the foreseeable future.
McManus sought to put to rest questions that some in the news division have been asking, beginning by voicing his admiration for CBS News tradition, noting, “I have an enormous respect for the ... quality and excellence of news coverage now being produced by all of you. … there’s a great heritage and a great prestige here at CBS that I hope to maintain, and indeed, build upon.” Within CBS News, these were important words because over the years some CBS and Viacom executives have said that tradition is more burden than benefit.
Ex-NBA ref Tim Donaghy 