As if the relationship between the Obama Administration and
the news media weren’t cozy enough already, former “CBS Evening News” anchor
Dan Rather is calling on President Obama to “make recommendations” for the media
on how to survive the economic downturn.
Rather spoke at the Aspen Institute in Aspen, Colo.
on July 28 and addressed challenges to the news industry, which he described as
challenges to the “very survival of American democracy,” and insisted the president
should step in.
“I personally encourage the president to establish a White
House commission on public media,” Rather said, according to the July 29 Aspen
Daily News.
According to the story, Rather said “corporate and political
influence” on newsrooms had damaged the industry and was cause for concern.
“A truly free and independent press is the red beating heart
of democracy and freedom,” Rather said in an interview. “This is not something
just for journalists to be concerned about, and the loss of jobs and the loss
of newspapers, and the diminution of the American press’ traditional role of
being the watchdog on power. This is something every citizen should be
concerned about.”
Rather, who retired as “Evening News” anchor and did not
have his contract renewed by the network after a 2004 controversy in which he
used allegedly false documents that in a report to discredit former President
George W. Bush, reasoned that a commission on media reform would make
recommendations on saving journalism jobs and creating new business models to
keep news organizations alive.
Rather is now employed by HDNet – a television network
described as a “high-definition” network. He has previously
faulted corporate influences and the lack of public awareness for his
ultimate downfall at CBS News and for the current media climate.
