best biz news stories overlooked in '05 (a little humor...)

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_51/b3964023.htm


(NEW YORK, JAN. 23) Moving boldly to remake its nightly newscasts, CBS News today made the surprise announcement that Borat Sagdiyev, the Kazakhstani character portrayed by humorist Sacha Baron Cohen on HBO's (TWX ) Da Ali G Show, will succeed Dan Rather as its evening news anchor. "Mr. Sagdiyev is a dynamic, fearless reporter who epitomizes CBS's fresh new approach," said a spokesman.

Many observers were flummoxed, since CBS gave no indication of understanding that Sagdiyev does not, you know, exist. Others expressed different concerns. "Having a fictional character read real news will severely impact the credibility of broadcast journalism," says Frank Discussion, chief editorial officer of the Edward R. Murrow Center for Literal-Mindedness in Reporting. An interview with the crude-spoken Sagdiyev, whose signature trait is extreme social inappropriateness, yielded no comment suitable for this publication.