CBC's 'The National': Lengthy piece on Dan Rather and CBS News

from the CBC email:


Anyone who has followed Dan Rather's career over the last 40 years knows
that the CBS journalist is proud of his network, proud of his career and
proud to be a journalist. He's never been shy about pushing for a good
story, chasing politics and hurricanes with a vigour reporters decades
younger can't match. He's also been adamant about how rigorous he is in
making sure what he reports is right, and that he believes no one
without checking their story out first. One of his many famous sayings
about the business goes something like this: "When your mother tells you
she loves you, get a second source". That background makes what
happened today all the more astounding.

Rather, and the highest officials of his network, had to apologize for a
major story aired a few weeks ago that had cast aspersions on the
military career of the President of the United States. Ever since the
story aired there have been questions raised about the authenticity of
the documents CBS used to base their claims on, but CBS, and Rather
especially, have been forceful in their rejection of those questions.
Until today. Now Rather and CBS admit there are problems with their
sourcing on the story, that the documents may be fake, and, they say,
they deeply regret the story got to air without proper checking in the
first place. It's a devastating admission and one that may seriously
taint Rather's career --- the story was one he personally oversaw and
when it went to air it was Rather himself doing the reporting. This
whole episode has a political impact as well coming as it does in the
midst of the US presidential campaign.

Tonight, Terry Milewski looks at the CBS/Rather story and the fallout
from it, while David Halton looks at what else is happening in the
presidential race as John Kerry came out attacking George Bush today
with a new energy, one his aides say he will need if he is going to
close the gap on the incumbent, who polls suggest, is starting to pull
away in the race.

Also on our newscast tonight: Lynda Calvert on a dramatic rescue at sea
off Newfoundland; Rosa Marchitelli on how a lock company is fighting
back to save its business after it was revealed a simple pen can break
its security; Heather Hiscox on whether a Toronto man is in jail for a
crime he didn't commit, but Paul Bernardo did; Maureen Taylor on a new
study that suggests you may be better off recovering from a heart attack
if you live in the United States than here in Canada; and Chris Brown on
serious concerns over the salmon stock on the west coast.

On our second half a feature documentary from Kelly Crowe on the cost of
a drug that's been successful in fighting a specific and very
debilitating genetic disease. The cost is overwhelming, but why? And
Rex Murphy will drop by as well tonight with his thoughts on the dispute
that has shutdown the NHL.

All this and more tonight -- hope you can join us.

admit it.. the 86 year old secretary said it wasn't the original.. and Dan concured.....what is up with this..........????