sign in sign up
<<
Home , Barbara Walters, CBS Evening News, Connie Chung, Dan Rather, Diane Sawyer, Don Hewitt

The Business of Getting “The Get”: Nailing an Exclusive Interview in

by Connie

The Joan Shorenstein Center

PRESS POLITICS Discussion Paper D-28 April 1998

PUBLIC POLICY John F. School of Government The Business of Getting “The Get” Nailing an Exclusive Interview in Prime Time

by

Discussion Paper D-28 April 1998 INTRODUCTION

In “The Business of Getting ‘The Get’,” TV to recover a sense of lost balance and integrity veteran Connie Chung has given us a dra- that appears to trouble as many news profes- matic—and powerfully informative—insider’s sionals as it does, and, to judge by polls, the account of a driving, indeed sometimes defining, American news audience. force in modern news: the celebrity One may agree or disagree with all or part interview. of her conclusion; what is not disputable is that The celebrity may be well established or Chung has provided us in this paper with a an overnight sensation; the distinction barely nuanced and provocatively insightful view into matters in the relentless hunger of a Nielsen- the world of at the end of the 20th driven industry that many charge has too often century, and one of the main pressures which in recent years crossed over the line between drive it as a commercial medium, whether print “news” and “entertainment.” or broadcast. One may lament the world it Chung focuses her study on how, in early reveals; one may appreciate the frankness with 1997, retired Army Sergeant Major Brenda which it is portrayed; one may embrace or reject Hoster came to accuse the Army’s top enlisted the conclusions and recommendations Chung man, Sergeant Major Gene McKinney—and the has given us. What we owe Chung, for “The media firestorm her accusations (later joined by Business of Getting ‘The Get’,” is our thanks for those of others) created. She delves behind-the- giving us a carefully-crafted window of under- scenes into the role of Hoster’s lawyer, how a standing into one of the most influential forces reporter was “selected” for the initial breaking of our times. story, and then the maelstrom of media requests for “exclusive” interviews that followed. Richard Parker She lets us see, in that maelstrom, how Senior Fellow, The Joan Shorenstein Center compete for , the tech- on the Press, Politics and Public Policy niques and strategies they use, the role luck and John F. Kennedy School of Government circumstance sometimes play, and why—among Harvard University the literally hundreds of press supplicants will- ing to tell Sgt. Hoster’s story—the vast majority failed. Drawing on her own experience as well as that of fellow broadcasters such as Barbara Wal- ters, , and , she lets us see how the quest for the celebrity inter- view—the “get” in her title—has evolved over the past two . She also lets us see how the “get” phenomenon isn’t confined to broad- casters—a fact print reporters sometimes like to forget—but is common to and news- magazines as well. Indeed, in a detailed descrip- tion of the competition for exclusive first excerpts from Gen. ’s book, Chung shows us how the cross-media competition served to intensify the level of journalistic com- petition overall. In a final section, Chung reflects on the “get”’s impact on TV news. Going beyond CBS producer ’s frank (and likely widely- shared) conclusion that “gets” are “the most disgusting” thing on television, Chung tries to give us fresh insights into the “get”’s effect on TV news, and how networks could act in order

Connie Chung 1 The Business of “Getting the Get”: Nailing an Exclusive Interview in Prime Time by Connie Chung

Brenda Hoster woke up at 5 a.m. as usual anchor of CBS News’ flagship broadcast, the on Tuesday, February 4, 1997. After 22 years in CBS Evening News. There I was, camped out the Army, old habits are hard to break. This day day in and day out at Harding’s Portland, Ore- would be different. The phone rang. Her best gon ice-rink, along with countless other friend was on the line. reporters, producers, bookers, and the curious, “You know, it’s already hit the East Coast. trying to “get” Tonya. It’s only a matter of time before it hits here. I Not that it was the first time I had found think you better get out of your house before myself in such less-than-dignified circum- daybreak.” stances. Twenty-five years ago, I followed A plague? A twister? A meteor? Not quite. Watergate figure H.R. Haldeman to church. I’ll Half a continent away from Hoster’s in El never forget the eviscerating look his wife gave Paso, , the East Coast was waking up to an me that Sunday morning. Haldeman was more exclusive, front-page story in the New York sympathetic. He knew this was the doing of a Times: TOP ENLISTED MAN IN THE ARMY crusty assignment editor. He took pity on this STANDS ACCUSED OF SEX ASSAULT. Retired cub reporter and promised to meet me back at Sergeant Major Brenda Hoster, a 39-year-old his home for an interview. Army and public affairs specialist, William Small, former CBS News Washing- was accusing her former boss, Sergeant Major ton Bureau Chief, has two favorite stories of the Gene McKinney, of sexually assaulting her dur- lengths reporters will go for a “get.” They ing a business trip. This, on the heels of a rash involve and me. Our boss in the of accusations by female trainees at the early 1970s, he now trots us out as examples of Aberdeen Proving Ground in that they “what makes good reporters,” namely were raped or sexually abused by their drill “immense appetites to get a story.” sergeants. Stahl chased Watergate figure to Brenda Hoster’s friend was right. By day- his home and interviewed him through his mail break in El Paso, at least five television camera slot. crews were camped on Hoster’s doorstep. More I chased AFL-CIO President George Meany would follow. into an elevator. I made it into the elevator, Welcome to the world of “gets,” microphone in hand, but the cameraman and parlance for the cutthroat competition for the soundman did not. Shown on the CBS Evening big interview, the hot celebrity, the tell-all tat- News that night were sounds (mostly my ques- tler du jour. It’s where supermarket tabloids, tions) emerging from a closed elevator door. morning wake-up programs, afternoon talk Another time, in 1972, I was determined to shows, tabloid TV shows, and even the network get an interview with Richard Kleindienst, who news broadcasts collide in a mad scramble for was embroiled in controversy during his confir- an exclusive that will sell papers and draw view- mation hearings for Attorney General. I pursued ers. It’s the symbiotic world where it’s hard to him to a men’s-only country club in suburban tell who is manipulating whom: the media or Washington, the only place he thought he could the newsmakers. And it is radically changing find sanctuary. I barged in and was rewarded the way journalists and news organizations with an interview the next night. carry out their mission. In those days, success was getting a short I should know. I was the one sent by CBS interview to air on the evening news and there News (that’s right, the House that Murrow was no tabloid taint to stories. Nor were any of built) to try to snag one of those infamous us trying to snare a long interview. “gets”: bad-girl figure skater . and, later, 20/20 were the only news magazines Never mind that I held the prestigious job of co- and the only outlets for lengthy interviews. But in the 1980s and 1990s, the game Connie Chung was a Fellow at the Shorenstein Center changed. There was an explosion of television in the spring of 1997. She is an anchor and correspon- news magazines. Suddenly 60 Minutes and 48 dent for ABC News and can be reached at 147 Colum- Hours on CBS and the highly successful 20/20 bus Avenue, New York, NY 10023. with and on ABC

Connie Chung 3 were joined by: PrimeTime Live with Diane The tale of how and Sawyer and , Turning Point with one of the prime time television magazines rotating anchors, and Day One with Forrest wound up with the Brenda Hoster “get” is a Sawyer, all on ABC; Dateline with study of how newsmakers, their agents, public and Stone Phillips and NOW with Couric relations people, (or in Hoster’s case, her lawyer) and on NBC; Saturday Night with and the media manipulate each other to get Connie Chung, later Face to Face with Connie what they want. And tomorrow, ’s “get” Chung, and still later Eye to Eye with Connie will be old news, and the competition begins Chung on CBS. again. The big three networks had discovered that news magazines could be produced for half the The New York Times Gets “The Get” First cost of entertainment programming. If the news As Brenda Hoster’s lawyer, Susan Barnes magazines could win big, the big bucks would became Hoster’s self-anointed media advisor as follow. well. In 1993, after the , Barnes Next came tabloid television news maga- created WANDAS (Women Active in our zine spin-offs such as Hard Copy, Nation’s Defense, their Advocates and Support- and other offspring of the granddaddy of tabloid ers), two organizations which advocate for TV shows, A Current Affair, which had a 10- women in the military. According to Barnes, year run from the time it was created in 1986. these organizations make a point to select cases Add to the mix the morning and afternoon talk and stories involving military women that have shows (Oprah, Phil, Maury and many more), public policy implications. cable networks (CNN including , Fox Barnes had some experience with the News, CNBC, and MSNBC), long-standing early media and could have “given” the Hoster story morning and Sunday interview programs, and to anyone: a , magazine, television or ’s . The result: no self- reporter. respecting personality in the news received only Who the reporter would be was important a handful of requests for interviews. Any “get” to Barnes. She wanted, in her words, “someone worth his or her salt was inundated. who would check sources and arrive at his or William Small, who later became NBC her own conclusions.” She wanted a thorough, News President, recalled, “In the old days, there credible reporter. was a pecking order. If you represented the New “I checked Hoster out,” Barnes said. “I York Times, doors flew open. If you were a cru- didn’t think she was a fraud. I wanted the sader, you wanted to appear on 60 Minutes. If reporter to do the same.” you had something to hide, you dreaded 60 Min- ’s Greg Vistica fit the bill. In the utes. If you were a celebrity, you wanted Barbara past, Barnes had provided information to him Walters to interview you. Now, TV has eclipsed concerning other clients or stories. She felt he most of print with all these magazine programs. was “extremely good on military issues.” But There is competition for all these interviews she feared the magazine’s New York editors like never before.” “would not appreciate the importance of the Small believes the competition “has cre- story and would not give it the space needed to ated a fertile field for the handlers and spin doc- explain it.” tors [the lawyers, agents, and public relations Barnes had recently brokered a story with experts] to manipulate the media.” The intervie- NBC’s Dateline but decided against that pro- wee and his or her representative are in the dri- gram. The reporter with whom she had worked, ver’s seat. They can “audition” an interviewer, Gary Matsumoto, had left Dateline for Fox. ask for concessions, demand money, and require Barnes thought long and hard. In a memo that questions be submitted in advance. The to Hoster, she wrote: journalist will feel compelled to make pilgrim- “When you ‘go public,’ it is important that ages to meet with the interviewee, make a pitch you do so in a dignified and credible way. That and grovel for the interview. is what I am primarily concerned with manag- Television is not the only player in the ing. I do not want your story to be belittled or “get” game. Standing, tin cup in hand, with trivialized. That is why the New York Times television producers and bookers are print publi- opportunity is such a good one. As you know, it cations. A New York Times reporter will now is the most influential paper in the country, and position himself alongside the National the reporter, Eric Schmitt, is honest and reli- Enquirer, vying for the same interview. able.”

4 The Business of “Getting the Get” Barnes had assisted Schmitt on several sex- gation Command had received Brenda Hoster’s ual harassment stories in the last four or five thirteen-page complaint, sent certified mail by years while he was the New York Times Penta- her attorney. The charges were officially filed. gon correspondent. Master Sergeant Phil Prater, who had taken Hoster, as a public affairs specialist, also Hoster’s old post as Sergeant Major Gene McK- knew Schmitt to be “a guy who had a good rep- inney’s public affairs advisor, suddenly had the utation and who did a thorough check before he job of telling his boss the news involving the does a story.” With Barnes’ reinforcement, woman Prater had replaced. McKinney said he Hoster agreed he was the one. would look over the material after a meeting. Barnes believes that reporters don’t like to Prater, meanwhile, sought advice from his pub- be issued a press release. They don’t like to be lic affairs superior. “given” stories. As she put it, “I wouldn’t have Thus began a long day and night for the gotten anywhere if I had called out of the blue.” Pentagon. So, she waited for Schmitt to call. She knew he The New York Times would be running would because he was working on another story the story on the front page the next morning, she was knowledgeable about. Tuesday, February 4, coincidentally, the same Schmitt did call in relation to the other day that top brass from would be story and asked Barnes, “Well, what else is appearing before the Senate Armed Services going on?” Committee on the issue of . Eric Schmitt got his “get.” (Some at the Pentagon believe the timing was When I called Schmitt to ask him how he far from a coincidence. Schmitt maintains that got the Hoster story, he didn’t want to talk it was. “It was a fortuitous coincidence,” he about it. He told me it was as if he were a CIA said. “We would have run the story that day if agent being asked to divulge secrets. Was he the hearing had been held or not.” He said experiencing some discomfort that the story Barnes and Hoster had never discussed the hear- came to him, rather than the other way around? ing with him.) He agreed to a few on-the-record quotes: “I By early afternoon, Sergeant Major McKin- had dealt with Barnes over the years as a source ney had provided the Army Chief of Public of ‘women in the military’ stories when I was a Affairs Colonel John Smith with a statement Pentagon correspondent.” denying the charges. Schmitt knew Barnes to be a credible pro- With that in hand, seven of the Pentagon’s fessional in her field but, like any good reporter, top brass, including Army Secretary Togo West, he began the process of checking out Hoster. He spent the night in crisis session putting together made a few calls before flying to Barnes’ office a statement for public release. in Denver for a three-hour interview with By 9:30 p.m., Colonel John Smith phoned Hoster on Thursday, January 30. Eric Schmitt with a terse three-paragraph state- Hoster decided this was the only media ment: the Army would investigate and McKin- interview she would do. No TV. Why? “Fear. ney denied the allegations. The statement also Being on the other side of the camera; never included McKinney’s request to be excused from having done it.” Barnes showed her the Date- the panel that was reviewing the issue of sexual line story and asked her to keep an open mind. harassment in the Army. (The statement missed Schmitt flew back to New York with the the New York Times’ first edition deadline but Hoster interview and a list of people Hoster had made the next one.) given him of people she said could verify her The Pentagon then sent the statement to account. He spent the weekend working on the all media outlets. story. On Monday morning, February 3, By 11:30 p.m., the weary soldiers went Schmitt dropped his bombshell story on the home to grab a few hours of sleep before the Pentagon. He personally delivered packets to invasion of reporters at first light. the accused Sergeant Major Gene McKinney, as well as Army Secretary Togo West and Army How Missed “The Chief of Staff General Dennis Reimer. He Get” included the allegations, requests for inter- The fact that the New York Times views, and his questions, asking for a reply that scooped the Washington Post in its own back night. The story was to run the next morning. yard did not sit well at the capital’s venerable By 3 p.m., the U.S. Army Criminal Investi- newspaper. Dana Priest, the Washington Post’s

Connie Chung 5 Pentagon reporter, learned of the story when her Prater (who suspected they were reporters) was office called her at home that night. She imme- not fooled. diately phoned Colonel Smith and two other As expected, most of the requests offered sources to ask, “What do you know about this?” McKinney the “opportunity to tell your side of According to Brenda Hoster, the Post could the story.” Black Entertainment Television have had the story as early as the previous promised not to slander. maga- November. Hoster had called the Post then, zine said, “We are very open-minded.” Many when the Army’s sexual harassment panel was offered off-the-record conversations. first announced, to tell her story. On her own, Hoster, meanwhile, was at the home of Hoster called four times. She received voice friends. That day, her home answering machine mail three times and decided not to leave a mes- filled up with no fewer than thirty calls. A den- sage. The one time she did speak with someone tist office manager, Hoster called her boss to (a man), she spent 30 minutes detailing her alert him that she didn’t know what this week story. No one called back to follow-up. would bring. She said, “if the press calls, don’t lie. Just tell them I’m not there and I don’t have Tuesday, February 4, l997 - Front-Page Day any comment. If you’re comfortable with It was lunchtime on the East Coast when answering questions, go ahead. If they are persis- Susan Barnes arrived at her Denver office on the tent, give them Susan Barnes’ telephone num- morning of February 4 to find almost twenty ber.” media calls on her answering machine. The first call on Barnes’ machine was from The stampede had begun. Mark Hooper, CBS News’ assistant bureau chief A media veteran, Barnes was nonetheless in , requesting an interview for the CBS stunned. She told friends, “I miscalculated. I Evening News with . never expected this [level of] interest.” How did Hooper find Barnes’ name and Before she went to her office, Barnes kept phone number? It wasn’t in the New York her scheduled interview with MSNBC on the Times story. He did a NEXIS search and came issue of sexual harassment in the military. up with three or four lawyers associated with NBC’s cable arm had booked the Barnes inter- military sexual harassment cases. He left mes- view because Senate hearings were being held sages with each of them, including Barnes. that day, not knowing the Hoster story would be Hooper called CBS News field producer the “get” of the day. NBC News also took Craig Bengtson, who was camped in Boulder, advantage of that serendipity and interviewed Colorado covering the JonBenet Ramsey murder Barnes for the NBC Nightly News with Tom case, and sent him to Barnes’ office in Denver. Brokaw. Bengtson and other producers and camera crews, So, while MSNBC didn’t get Hoster first, it also covering the Ramsey case, found their way scored the first TV interview with the person to Barnes’ office, jamming her hallways. closest to the “get,” Barnes. A sort of “mini-get.” Barnes remembers the CBS News producer Susan Barnes’ experience was replicated at rushing up the stairs as she was walking out of the Pentagon on Front-Page Day. Every army her office, saying “We have a Lear jet on standby public information connected to the to take you anywhere you want to go.” Smiling, Hoster story was inundated with requests for Barnes replied, “I only have to go to the bath- interviews. room. I don’t need a Lear jet.” Master Sergeant Phil Prater, McKinney’s Barnes said Bengtson was insistent but pro- public information officer, kept detailed records fessional and repeated what she called the CBS of the requests received. CBS News called and mantra: “Dan Rather thinks this is a very wanted to know what time McKinney usually important story.” (She said just about everyone left his office to go home. (No doubt to stake who called from CBS uttered some version of out McKinney and catch him on camera.) the same, “Dan Rather feels strongly about this Knight-Ridder called to say interviews had story.”) Later that day, Barnes did do an inter- already been done with McKinney’s sister and view with producer Bengtson which aired on the his family; could McKinney talk? Newsweek CBS Evening News with Dan Rather that night. faxed a letter wanting to do a story from the Back in Dallas, CBS’s Mark Hooper was angle of the death of McKinney’s son, a “human still trying for Hoster. He sent CBS News corre- interest-type story” according to Prater’s notes. spondent to El Paso to find her. Pel- Two callers even posed as generals, saying they ley went to her home and knocked on the door. needed to talk with Sergeant Major McKinney. No response. Standing outside the door, he called

6 The Business of “Getting the Get” Hoster on his cell phone and left a message. Havel, Cuba’s , Haiti’s Jean-Claude Although Hoster can’t remember all the Duvalier, Britain’s , ’s thirty or so messages on her home answering Muammar Qadaffi, and every American presi- machine, she does remember Pelley’s call. Pel- dent since . ley told me he said “I work for Dan Rather. I’m World leaders know her on a first name in town. We can do this, anytime, anywhere.” basis. A 1993 New York Times piece recounted The CBS News correspondent tried to find how a reporter’s interview with then-prime the dentist’s office where Hoster worked, but minister Yitzhak Rabin was interrupted by a was told a local CBS affiliate reporter had phone call. “Hello. Yes? Hello, Barbara, how are checked it out and Hoster wasn’t there. you?” After a few words, Rabin hung up. “Bar- Pelley and producer Bengtson began a dia- bara Walters,” he explained. logue with Barnes that led them to believe they In his memoirs, A Reporter’s Life, CBS might be successful in getting the exclusive News Anchor Walter Cronkite recalled how his with Hoster. On that basis, Pelley spent the famous satellite interview with Egyptian Presi- night in El Paso. dent opened: Hoster was overwhelmed. Granted, she was a public affairs specialist, but as she put it, “‘Good morning, Walter, and how is Barbara?’ was “I was used to setting this stuff up. I was some- [Sadat’s] greeting. He was fond of Barbara Walters one else’s p.r. person.” This was different. and somehow we were linked in his mind. He She called Barnes and asked if she could began every conversation with me by asking how come to Denver and be with her. Barnes was Barbara was.” distressed. “This wasn’t very thought out. I never should have let her leave Denver.” Should In fact, that 1977 interview set off one of she let Hoster take a commercial flight to Den- the great “get” battles. During the interview, ver? Should they schedule a news conference? Cronkite was successful in extracting from No, she decided, she didn’t want to put Hoster Sadat the fact that he was willing to go to Tel through that kind of “scene.” Aviv within a week to discuss peace. All Sadat Barnes advised Hoster to do a television needed was “an invitation.” Cronkite quickly interview. “Do I have to?” Barnes remembers got a satellite interview with Israeli Prime Min- Hoster asking, terrified at the prospect. “Yeah, ister who said, “Tell him everybody doesn’t read the newspaper,” Barnes [Sadat] he’s got an invitation.” replied. After much anguish, they agreed to dis- Those two interviews were world class cuss each offer and revisit the question. exclusives for Cronkite, illustrative of his abil- By the end of that day, Susan Barnes had ity and power, as the most trusted man in received 55 media calls. By week’s end, she had America, to get heads of state to speak with him counted close to 150; from Newsweek to and make news. Cronkite was credited with National Public Radio; from the Today Show to bringing Sadat and Begin together, setting off the CNN; from the Army Times to even Stern mag- chain of events that would lead to the first for- azine in . mal peace between Israel and an Arab neighbor. More importantly, the programs that have This was a clear example of “gets” affecting the most viewers and impact, the network tele- public policy. vision news magazines, called. In turn, Cronkite’s news scoop set off a A decision had to be made, and soon. Cronkite-Walters “double-get” battle. Accord- Prime time news magazines, with their ing to Cronkite, he had arranged to fly with high-profile anchors, big budgets, and big rat- Sadat from Cairo to Tel Aviv for this historic ings, have changed the quest for the “get.” More meeting, while other reporters flew directly to than any program or any trend, however, a tele- Tel Aviv to cover the story. Cronkite reports, in vision news pioneer named Barbara Walters has his memoirs: made it an art-form. “It looked like a clean beat. But we hadn’t figured Barbara Walters: Premier “Get” Getter on Barbara Walters, a serious mistake. She had Barbara Walters invented today’s “get” taken an earlier plane via different route to Tel market with exclusives on her specials, 20/20 Aviv. When ABC learned of our Cairo ploy, they and World News Tonight. She has interviewed intercepted her and got her a charter to Cairo the just about every world leader in her time: next morning. ’s , Czechoslovakia’s Vaclav

Connie Chung 7 Just as we were boarding Sadat’s plane, along she quite a bit about Barbara.” came, running across the field with hand upraised When ABC learned that Cronkite had also like a substitute entering a sporting contest. Sadat gotten the duo, the network aired a six-minute invited her aboard, and her enterprise robbed us of excerpt of the Walters interview in the early our exclusive.” evening so it would precede Cronkite’s sched- uled airtime. The Walters interview aired in its Barbara Walters’ version of this story is entirety later that evening. slightly different. She had flown to Israel to That was then. Today, Walters says, “view- interview Israeli Defense Minister Moshe ers aren’t interested in world leaders. They are Dayan. Afterward, she got a call from ABC not interested in foreign, hard news. They News President . He told her would not watch Sadat and Begin. Heads of state Cronkite and NBC News Anchor John Chancel- are very savvy. They ask ‘What are your rat- lor were planning to fly with Sadat from Egypt ings?’ ‘Will I get an hour?’ to Israel. (Cronkite said Walters is mistaken. wants an hour.” Chancellor was not on the plane.) Perhaps with cable television, there’s At that time, there was no way to phone another way to slice the pie. In March, CBS’ Egypt from Israel. Walters called the Egyptian king of “gets” Mike Wallace interviewed Iranian Ambassador in Washington, D.C. requesting leader Hashemi Rafsanjani. Wallace recalled that he ask Sadat if she could join his airborne that Rafsanjani wanted an hour in prime time. entourage. She got the okay and hopped a char- Wallace said he knew he “can’t get that on the ter to Egypt. network.” Wallace came up with the idea of a When she boarded the Sadat plane, Walters deal with C-SPAN. The result was a 15-minute says her network competitors were “not Rafsanjani interview on 60 Minutes on Sunday thrilled” to see her. On the way, the trio drew and a re-play of the piece on C-SPAN on straws to decide who would go first for one-on- Wednesday, followed by Wallace’s unedited 45- one interviews with Sadat. The mid-air inter- minute interview. According to Wallace, that bit views were completed and uneventful. of nudging was the difference between getting Then she slipped a note to Sadat’s chief of the interview and losing it. staff asking if she could interview the Egyptian Barbara Walters noted that 60 Minutes can President, after he addressed the Israeli Knesset. interview “a Rafsanjani” and survive because of To insure that Cronkite and Chancellor would the program’s history, strength, and track record. not know what she was requesting, she drew She said she could not interview someone like boxes on the note for the chief of staff to check: Rafsanjani today on 20/20. “Yes” or “No.” “Sadat and Begin together” or Wallace believes there are few world lead- “Sadat alone.” The note came back “Yes” was ers anyone would want to “get” today. As he checked. “Alone” was checked. put it, “who would you like to see and hear that In Israel, Walters was about to get what she you’re not hearing from?” calls the “biggest break of my career.” She 60 Minutes still airs more international enlisted Begin himself in her effort to get the stories than other television news magazines. first interview in history with the two rival But 20/20 and the others fight a fierce battle for heads of state together. Both had agreed to be ratings against entertainment programming. A interviewed by her separately. She interviewed “get” brings viewers into the tent. As Dateline’s Begin. After the interview was over, Begin said, Executive Producer put it, “You “Barbara, I forgot to tell you. I told Sadat, ‘for can’t live on big ‘gets’ alone, but they are the the sake of our friend Barbara, let’s do an inter- bright neon sign that brings them [viewers] in.” view together.’ He said okay.” The formula of a prime time magazine pro- For Walters, it was not just a “get.” It was gram calls for three or four stories: an investiga- a “double-get.” tive piece, a consumer/health/news-you-can-use When Cronkite found out about the Wal- piece, an emotional, tug-at-the-heartstrings ters scoop, he asked for and got a joint interview story and a one-on-one interview or profile. as well. According to writer Tom Shales of the If the one-on-one is a “get,” the network Washington Post, Cronkite said at the end of his publicity machines promote it via print and dual interview, “Okay now that it’s over, did television . The interviewer will even make Barbara get anything that I didn’t get?” Cronkite the rounds with other television programs and told me he doesn’t remember saying that, but if reporters to promote the “get.” he did, “it was probably a joke. I kidded Sadat With Hoster and Barnes, it was different.

8 The Business of “Getting the Get” They wanted the television interview over How News Magazines Have Changed the quickly. For the duly anointed TV magazine, Book “Get” that would mean no time for advance promo- When General Colin Powell retired as tion. No matter, getting the Hoster interview Chairman of the on Septem- would still be a coup. The program that lands ber 30, 1993, news organizations clamored to get the scoop solidifies its reputation. interviews with him. So who would land the big interview? Colonel Bill Smullen, Powell’s Executive Barbara Littman of CBS’s 48 Hours was the Assistant, said Barbara Walters and Sam Donald- first to call from a television . son both began calling his office a full year and Barnes was familiar with the program. She knew a half before his retirement, asking for inter- it to be a one-subject hour typically, not a quick views. Powell agreed to a few interviews imme- turnaround interview program. Barnes dubbed diately after his retirement, but then he fell Littman “poor Barbara” because Barnes felt she silent for the two and a half years that it took did not have a fair shot. Littman called three him to write his autobiography. He did not want times to make her pitch. to do any interviews until his book was Karen Burnes of ABC’s 20/20 took a differ- released. ent approach. She offered to fly to Denver, with During that time, Walters kept up the pres- no cameras, to meet with Hoster and just talk. sure. She would call Colonel Smullen every six to The lawyer recalled the ABC News producer eight weeks. She wrote to Powell. (See Appendix saying, “I understand how difficult this is. I 1 for copy of letter.) won’t pressure her.” Barnes felt Hoster should Walters remembers she often saw Powell at move more quickly. social events: “There was never a dinner I didn’t A booker from another TV magazine called mention the interview. He’d say, ‘I’m not doing at least five times. He offered to send anything until the book comes out.’” Powell of past stories his program had aired on similar said he told Walters, “you’ve got to give me a cases. Barnes told him that wasn’t necessary raincheck.” because she was familiar with the program’s “It got a little uncomfortable,” Walters track record. She thinks the booker took her confessed, recalling a point at which there was remarks as a commitment. Barnes found him to no need for her to remind Powell what she be “aggressive to the point of being obnoxious.” wanted. He would look at her and only say, “I Barnes had dealt with Dateline producer Ty know.” She would reply, “Yes, I know.” (Trans- West, and decided to track him down in Los lation: I know you can’t right now, General, but Angeles. He was covering the O.J. Simpson civil when you do, I’m the one.) trial. Barnes told herself, “if Ty West is free, that Walters told me, “Early on, Powell was not would give Dateline the inside track.” Ty West that big a ‘get.’ But as time passed, the bigger was not free. Anyway, Barnes felt NBC News had ‘get’ he became.” There were serious rumblings gained a reputation as taking a “softer” news about a possible run for the Presidency. In this approach. She saw Hoster’s interview as hard age of the anti-politician, Powell-mania was news: “we didn’t need a tender-loving care story.” beginning to take hold. Sam Donaldson of ABC’s PrimeTime Live Walters made a proposal like no other. She left at least two messages on Barnes’ answering offered to do an hour-long profile on Powell machine. She remembers his message was “nice (unprecedented on 20/20) that would include and folksy.” trips to Jamaica where his parents were born; to Sam Donaldson? Nice and folksy? (Trust Fort Benning, home of the infantry and a start- me. Sam can be very nice and folksy.) Donald- ing place for his career; and to the South Bronx son is a veteran reporter who knows how to get neighborhood where he grew up. the story. As co-anchor of PrimeTime Live, he is Powell wanted to select a TV interview a major player in the “get” game. offer that would serve his book’s promotional That program, and the others like it, have and business interests. Also, on a personal level, radically changed the “get.” he told me he felt he had a commitment to Wal- Moreover, they have affected the longer lead ters. He felt she was a “patient, persistent and “get” of authors, shattering, once and for all, the understanding ‘getter’.” On that basis, he said sedate self-image of publishing. when the decision had to be made, “Barbara Walters leapt out in neon lights.” Random House Publisher Harry Evans felt Walters was

Connie Chung 9 his first choice, as well. Walters would get the was a lovely New York evening but there was a first interview. problem in the punch bowl. Sweet Barbara Wal- But first, there were some ground rules. ters showed why she is one the tough ladies of Powell made it clear to Walters that he did not all time.” discuss his positions on issues in his book and Barbara Walters remembers it was 10:30 or had no intention of doing so during their inter- 11:00 p.m. when the principals sat down at a view(s). table. Time’s Jim Gaines insisted Powell do an After a couple of their location shoots, interview and talk about issues. He told me he Walters (who had gotten to know Powell quite said, “I have to have an interview with Powell well by this point) told him, “If you don’t touch and I don’t care if we step on Barbara Walters’ on the issues, people are going to say you are interview.” Walters, who had just convinced just flacking your book. We are giving you an Powell to talk to her about issues, was adamant: hour.” Powell succumbed to Walters’ persua- she would agree to Time interviewing Powell sion. By the time their lengthy interview took but, she told Gaines, “the interview could cover place, he answered questions about running for everything in the book but leave the issues to President and, for the first time, stated his posi- me.” tions on affirmative action, abortion, the death Powell recalls, “I had a wonderful time lis- penalty, school prayer, and gun control. tening to them. It was fun to watch them fight.” Meanwhile, in January, 1994, twenty-one Gaines lost his temper. He told me, “I was months before Powell’s book came out, Time quite angry. There was a lot of shouting.” Wal- magazine bought the North American rights to ters said Gaines turned against her and was run excerpts for a hefty $150,000 in cash, with a downright “nasty.” couple of free advertisements thrown in. According to Harry Evans, General Powell Everything was moving along with mili- was the “magic elixir in the end.” Powell’s cap- tary precision until two weeks before the book sule summary of how he ended the bickering came out and the Walters exclusive was to air, ran as follows: “I would give Time an interview and one week before Time was to run its exclu- to restore the value of their arrangement and sive cover story. compensate for the Newsweek scoop. But if Newsweek blew everyone out of the water. questions came up on issues, I would go The magazine hit the stands with Colin Powell dummy.” As Evans put it, Powell knew just on the cover and an eight-page layout on the how far to go with answers without jeopardizing still unreleased book. Somehow, Newsweek had Walters’ exclusive. gotten a copy of excerpts of Powell’s book. The Everyone ended up happy. magazine was careful to describe the book accu- The Time interview included questions rately but never publish a direct word from it, to about a run for the and touched a avoid legal troubles. bit on welfare reform, campaign finance reform Time’s editors were furious. The rug had and Medicare. The answers were vague enough been pulled out from under them. As Random so Walters had no complaints. Powell said of House publisher Harry Evans put it, Time’s himself, “the artful dodger was able to get Jim Gaines felt “de-balled.” through it.” The twelve-page spread, including Time editors paid $150,000 for the rights, and the book excerpts, led to a front-page, above the Newsweek scooped them. fold, Sunday New York Times story by R.W. Evans had a crisis on his hands. His deal Apple. Time magazine was thrilled. (Any time a with Time was in jeopardy. There was a clause TV or print story or interview is picked up by that basically said if anything went haywire, the venerable Times, news organizations feel Time would only be obligated to pay half— they’ve been validated. They can declare, “we $75,000—for rights. made news.”) That September 18, 1995 issue Time magazine needed something to make was one of Time’s best sellers of the year. its issue different. Jim Gaines demanded an With the New York Times story as ammu- interview with Powell (which was not part of nition, Evans called Time’s editors to say Ran- the original deal for its scheduled cover story), dom House deserved to be paid in full. Time otherwise Time would not put Powell on the agreed. cover. Barbara Walters aired her Powell hour, What ensued was a contentious made news and scored a 14 rating and 26 share. meeting. Random House had thrown Powell a 19.4 million viewers watched. 20/20 was ranked book party that night. Powell remembers, “It number eleventh in the week’s programs, ahead

10 The Business of “Getting the Get” of every other news magazine. she also called Eric Schmitt at the New York The Powell autobiography, An American Times. Schmitt obliged her with the name. Journey, came out the next day and eventually Maguire called Susan Barnes and left a netted $1.4 million for Random House. message pitching a Donaldson interview for According to Jim Kelly, Time Deputy Man- PrimeTime Live the next night. aging Editor, “What Time learned from this is, When Donaldson arrived at the office at today, it doesn’t make sense to pay so much for 9:30 a.m., Jennifer Maguire called to tell him first serial rights to a book. For one, there is a she and the executive producer had discussed it, greater chance today of the book being leaked and this “get” (if successful) would be his. “For and two, publishers have been cutting back the me?” he asked sweetly. “Yes, for you,” an window when print magazines are allowed to amused Maguire replied. publish.” Kelly said publishers see more value Donaldson called Barnes at least twice and in putting their authors on television. “Now, all left messages. Barnes remembers his messages these shows are what they are interested in.” as being “pretty effective, very funny. He said, ‘I Now, Kelly said, “the highest we’ve paid know you’re inundated but I want to make my for book rights is $25,000.” He said for Time’s pitch.’ He was obviously familiar with the sex- cover story on Mary Schiavo, former Transporta- ual harassment story.” Barnes could tell she tion Department Inspector General, Time was “didn’t have to educate him.” only given a 3-day window. She had to appear on Next, a name, address and phone search on 60 Minutes first and on Oprah next. (Oprah the Internet for Brenda Hoster. Bingo. The Inter- Winfrey’s book club phenomenon has caused net yielded an address and phone number in El every publisher and author to look to her first. Paso, Texas. The New York Times never men- Exposure on Oprah can turn any book into an tioned where she lived, only where she worked: instant best seller.) “We only paid $15,000 for in Santa Teresa, New . A quick look at a book excerpt rights,” said Kelly, “10% of what map revealed Santa Teresa just across the bor- we paid for Powell.” der, a short hop from El Paso. Must be right. Maguire passed the number on to Donald- Sam Donaldson Makes His Pitch son. Back to Tuesday, February 4, 1997, the day Donaldson called Hoster twice and left the New York Times ran its front-page story messages on her answering machine. “I thought detailing Brenda Hoster’s allegations against if I could talk with her directly, I could make a Sergeant Major Gene McKinney. ABC’s Prime- persuasive case,” Donaldson said. Time Live Co-Anchor Sam Donaldson heard the Hoster recalled that in his message, Don- story on the radio at about 7 a.m. and read about aldson expressed a “real personal interest in my it in the New York Times. His wife, Jan Smith, story since he had covered several sexual harass- said, “Boy, this is a story you all should go ment stories. He was very knowledgeable. He after.” Donaldson told her, “I’m sure we are.” said he knew what I was going through. He Why? According to Donaldson, “Because of Jen- knew that his was not the only offer. He was nifer Maguire.” very reassuring. Very polite. He was convincing Maguire is PrimeTime Live’s Editorial Pro- that he should be the one. Persistent, but not ducer in charge of booking and story develop- obnoxiously so. I really got the feeling ‘this guy ment. When she saw the Sergeant Major’s is on my side’—that tone.” accusations on the front page of the New York Basically, “He really sold it,” she said. Times, she thought, “This is a good story for Meanwhile, the Maguire team was search- Sam because he’s done several stories on sexual ing for Hoster’s employer, a dentist in Santa harassment. When it’s that competitive, it’s eas- Teresa. They tried Santa Teresa information. No ier to sell if the interviewer has a track record luck. The operator said, “I can’t tell you who and a body of work.” the dentists are.” During her daily 8 a.m. conference call Maguire told her staff to ask the local hos- with PrimeTime’s Executive Producer Phyllis pital where to go for a toothache. It turned out McGrady, they agreed to go after the story for there were just two dentists in town. Done. Donaldson. Donaldson called and asked to speak to the Maguire vaguely remembered reading dentist. A nice woman said he was busy with a about a lawyer who specialized in these kinds of patient. Donaldson tried his best, Hoster cases, but couldn’t recall the name. As she and remembered, even invoking his local-boy (El her staff searched through old articles and notes, Paso) credentials. All for naught: the dentist

Connie Chung 11 could not come to the phone, nor did he ever that CBS and NBC both offered jets at the open- call Donaldson back. Hoster was more amused ing of their pitches. Donaldson’s team only dis- than annoyed with Donaldson’s attempt to pull cussed substance: the track record Donaldson teeth. had with sexual harassment stories and, as The relentless Donaldson tried by long dis- Hoster put it, “Donaldson’s convincing personal tance to find his old friends in El Paso, hoping interest.” they could go to the dentist’s office and help Was the fact that Donaldson called person- him. No luck. The numbers he had for them ally a factor? Hoster and Barnes both said they were too old. were not “star struck” by him. His personable PrimeTime Live Producer Maguire called approach was appealing. the ABC News Denver Bureau and discovered Donaldson, who actually interviews fewer that producer Mary Marsh had already spoken “gets” than PrimeTime Live Co-Anchor Diane to Susan Barnes. Barnes had called her back and Sawyer, says, “I’m not in the race for the big the attorney had agreed to do an interview for ‘gets.’” But this time, he got one. ABC’s World News Tonight with . As it turned out, ABC did fly Hoster and Maguire asked Marsh to take a letter from Don- Barnes to Washington, D.C. by private jet. Get- aldson when she did the interview and not to ting away from the media hoard in their respec- leave until Barnes called Donaldson back. tive hometowns was appealing. PrimeTime Maguire called Donaldson and directed him Live’s Jennifer Maguire, fearful that competing to write a letter. The never shy Maguire launched networks would try to “steal” Hoster, asked a forward, “here’s what you should say.” The even producer to meet them at the airport, ride with less shy Donaldson said, “I trust you, but I know them to the hotel and make sure they were how to write a letter! I can write my own letter.” safely tucked in their rooms. This would nor- “I deserved it,” she later told me, “he does mally be the kind of job for a production assis- know.” (See Appendix 2 for copy of letter.) tant, but Maguire did not have one to spare. It was well into the afternoon of Front- Fortunately for Maguire, the producer was will- Page Day and still no return call from Barnes. ing to help. Maguire was getting anxious. At 5 p.m., Donaldson conducted a fifty- By late afternoon, Barnes finally called minute interview with Hoster. At 10 p.m. (an Donaldson back. “She was laughing,” Donald- incredibly quick turnaround), it aired. The nine son said. Barnes characterized Donaldson as minute, fifteen second story included not only “corny as hell but refreshing, charming,” again Hoster but interviews with Barnes, a friend of invoking the hometown connection. Hoster’s who Hoster confided in, California Sen- Donaldson told me, “You can act like a big ator , photographs of Hoster, dog, but I think butter and egg works best. I and pictures of Sergeant Major McKinney. guess there’s a time when you have to throw Earlier in the day, Donaldson wrote and your weight around. Most of the time we [jour- faxed letters to Sergeant Major Gene McKinney, nalists] are expected to be arrogant. But in these Army Secretary Togo West and Defense Secretary cases, I come on like Mr. Humble . . . the guy William Cohen requesting interviews. All who needs help finding the bus stop.” declined. (See Appendix 3 for copies of letters.) Hoster and Barnes were ready to discuss their choice. Donaldson’s Double “Get” Both Hoster and Barnes agreed they loved Donaldson, Maguire and Nancy Ambrose Donaldson’s voice mail messages. They agreed of ABC’s This Week, co-anchored by Sam Don- he was knowledgeable. Hoster hesitated, “But aldson and , had also pitched he can be abrasive. The last thing I need is Hoster to appear that Sunday on the ABC News someone picking me apart.” Barnes assured interview program. Hoster she didn’t think Donaldson would do Hoster decided she couldn’t just stick her that. Hoster said, “But he can be real tough on toe in the water. If she was going to be inter- people.” Hoster said her preference was to talk viewed for prime time television, she might as to a woman but “Donaldson really sold himself well make the rounds. to me. That really meant something to me.” She and Barnes accepted. ABC then agreed There were other factors. Donaldson and to put them up in a hotel for the remainder of his producers wanted to do the interview for the the week, knowing that Hoster and Barnes next night but they did not offer a Lear jet as might well be interviewed by other news organi- part of their pitch. Barnes didn’t like the fact zations at ABC’s expense. ABC felt it was worth

12 The Business of “Getting the Get” the cost since Hoster had committed to the net- suspension. West: “We’ve considered it, and we work’s Sunday program. will undoubtedly consider it again.” Donaldson: In a whirlwind of telling her story, Hoster “Still open?” West: “Still an open question.” ended up doing about a half-dozen interviews Donaldson later told me, “Togo West is a with other news organizations in the next two political animal. He knew the gig was up.” days. The first after PrimeTime Live was not on Meanwhile, Master Sergeant Phil Prater, ABC’s morning program, but on NBC’s. NBC’s McKinney’s public affairs advisor, was watching Today Show had pitched an interview with Katie This Week. He called McKinney and said, “It Couric. ABC’s had doesn’t look good. The handwriting’s on the wall.” pitched an interview with Charlie Gibson. Hoster Prater was right. The next day McKinney chose Couric because “I felt she was personable was suspended. on sensitive issues.” In fact, Hoster told her Without the storm of publicity, would lawyer she would do the morning interview, McKinney eventually have been suspended? “only if Couric did it.” Possibly. But Secretary West’s appearance on Thursday, February 6, the day after the This Week, coupled with Donaldson’s persistent Hoster PrimeTime Live interview aired, This questioning, provided the nudge. A shining Week got a commitment from Army Secretary example of a “get” driving the news. Togo West to appear live as well. He had yet to sit down and formally answer questions about How To Lose a “Get” Gracefully the Hoster/McKinney case. A net “get” for This CBS News correspondent Scott Pelley had Week. spent the night in Hoster’s hometown of El Paso. On Friday, West’s office told This Week that He thought Barnes was ready to hop on a Lear to West had not known that Hoster was also appear- be at Hoster’s side during an interview for the ing and might bail out. Donaldson is sure West CBS Evening News and possibly 48 Hours. was informed, and told West’s office, “We’re As he sat in his hotel room, he was sur- going to say you agreed to do the interview but prised to see Hoster pop up on ABC’s Prime- backed out.” Time Live. That night, he called Barnes. She West’s public affairs advisor strongly urged returned his call from her hotel room in Wash- the Secretary to honor his commitment. West ington, D.C. “What caused you to go with took her advice. ABC?” Pelley asked. Barnes explained, and Pel- ley has since kept in touch with her. How a “Get” (Secretary West) Affects Pub- According to Barnes, the scenario with lic Policy another getter was less civilized. Brenda Hoster was the first guest on ABC’s The booker from another TV magazine This Week. whom Barnes had described as “aggressive to Hoster said she couldn’t understand why the point of being obnoxious” called and left Sergeant Major Gene McKinney was still on the Barnes a message. “I trusted you and you abused job, while the Aberdeen drill sergeants, also my trust,” she quoted him as saying. She added accused of sexual misconduct, had been immedi- that he called her home and “berated my hus- ately relieved of their duties. band.” Barnes’ subsequent call to one of his The next guests on This Week were superiors prompted a letter of apology, which Senator and Sena- read in part: tor , members of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Donaldson asked “[It was] relayed to me that you were upset after them if McKinney should be suspended, as the some of my phone messages. I completely agree Aberdeen drill sergeants had been. Both said they with you. In the heat of the moment after finding thought everyone should be treated the same. out about the “PrimeTime” interview, I behaved When Army Secretary Togo West appeared inappropriately. I apologize for anything that may as the final guest, Donaldson pressed him on the have annoyed or upset you or your husband. Please McKinney suspension issue. At first, West said, understand that it was rash behavior in a moment “We’re in a country where allegations are not of frustration - completely out of character for me, proven fact, where charges are not convictions, as anyone on [my program] can attest. . . . I would where accused, no matter the seriousness of the like to learn from this experience.” charge, are not assumed guilty until proven guilty.” The pressures from higher-ups to get a But Donaldson pursued the question of “get” are enormous, as they obviously were for

Connie Chung 13 this booker. The necessity to “deliver,” to sat- Result #1: Diversion of Resources isfy the appetite of a high-stakes magazine pro- When I worked as a correspondent for CBS gram, drove the booker to regrettable excess. News out of the Washington bureau in the early Barnes’ comment: “It will be a cold day in 1970s, I was assigned to cover Watergate. So hell before I work with him.” were a half-dozen or more CBS News correspon- dents. (We not only competed with other news Results: The Effect On News organizations to get interviews and information, Why do prime time television news maga- but we also competed with each other.) CBS zines pursue “gets?” In my experience, the News Washington Bureau Chief William Small process takes a substantial amount of time and diverted resources from other stories because effort. The pursuit can involve many trips to Watergate deserved the coverage. The presi- meet with the subject or the person’s liaison. dency was at stake. With so much competition for the same exclu- Few calls are as clear, however. Today, sive, is all that effort for one story worth the PrimeTime Live Co-Anchor told payoff? And what is the payoff? me she and her colleagues at ABC News “They are incredibly important,” according laughed to discover that five letters from her to Neal Shapiro, Executive Producer of Dateline. network alone were sent to each juror in the “It’s the big interview that causes viewers to O.J. Simpson criminal trial. “It’s embarrassing,” find you and watch. It’s the difference between a Sawyer told me, “what it says about diverting 12 share and a 20 share. resources.” Not that ABC News was alone in its Phyllis McGrady, Executive Producer of overkill. Neal Shapiro of Dateline said 14 people PrimeTime Live, explained it this way: “The from NBC News were sent to dur- numbers [ratings] you get from the ‘gets’ help ing the last weeks of the Simpson trial. you do other stories. I’m in a time period in Vicki Gordon, Executive Story Editor at which people want entertainment. [‘Gets’ are CBS News, is responsible for getting stories and helpful] in order to stay in your time slot. 20/20 interviews for all CBS news programs. Gordon and 60 Minutes are more established. People believes while some “gets” may be “juicy and will watch no matter what.” fun to watch, they are junk food versus a good 60 Minutes Executive Producer Don dinner. They obscure some of the bigger, more Hewitt called “gets” the “most disgusting important stories. The proliferation of talk and thing” on TV. “This is all about the day 60 Min- prime time magazines has jacked up the value utes became a profit center. The news mag- of a story. It’s hard to step away from it. It takes azines had to perform as well as the courage to walk away. Getting the ‘get’ becomes entertainment shows they replaced. It’s called a game unto itself.” the ratings game. They are now on the prime Result #2: Internal Network Overkill time schedule. They’ve got to get a rating, so ABC’s Diane Sawyer believes that “nothing they won’t be a drag on the company.” has changed [in the news business] except the Marvin Kalb, Director of the Joan Shoren- numbers. There is no new Faust in there. The stein Center on the Press, Politics and Public difference is the quantity.” Policy at Harvard University, is even more criti- The result of the frenzied competition for cal. “The ‘get’ epitomizes the dilemma of TV “gets” is that anyone who is thrust into the news in prime time. News magazines must live news now automatically taps a handler: a in the culture of prime time television that is lawyer, an agent, or a publicist. As Barbara Wal- dominated by entertainment, sensationalism, ters puts it, “Even murderers have lawyers and hype, and glorification of stars. Modern TV agents. They are very media-smart.” Tom Shales news is entertainment. It’s not a search for agrees, “People are more media-wise. They are news, it’s a search for ratings.” more agile at ducking the press. Usually, what- “I hope its 51% news and 49% ratings,” ever they are in the news for is going to be more adds Washington Post critic Tom Shales, “but traumatic than news crews swarming around the two things are not necessarily antithetical. them.” When the onslaught begins, however, Getting ratings is not a bad motive.” even the most seasoned handler has his or her Whatever the motive, “gets” have had a hands full. profound impact on the journalists who pursue them and the news organizations that air them. They also raise difficult questions about the public interest and journalistic integrity.

14 The Business of “Getting the Get” When Sergeant Major Gene McKinney was impact on me,” Korten said. “I ate the cookies formally charged by the Army with sexual mis- and threw away the fruit.” conduct and indecent assault on May 7, three Korten shared lunch with Barbara Walters, months after Brenda Hoster made her charges literally. He ate half of her sandwich. “I was public, Hoster’s civilian lawyer, Charles Gittins, hungry,” Korten explained. She was in Washing- received 100 telephone calls from reporters from ton, D.C., where Korten’s firm is located, to 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., and 50 calls the next day. interview Katharine Graham of the Washington “It was out of control,” Gittins told me. The Post about her autobiography, and arranged the result, he said, is that, “You don’t call anyone meeting with Korten. “She made a straight back.” After meeting with Gittins and others, pitch,” Korten remembers, adding, “She’s the McKinney decided to make a statement to most charming person in the entire nation.” reporters and cameras but did not answer ques- Since that time, the Ramseys have met tions. Gittins handled those. with a group of reporters but set conditions on While a “get’s” decision to engage a han- what they would talk about. That could have a dler may be understandable, it can also raise distinct impact on whether some news organiza- eyebrows. The most eyebrow-raising act of a tions still want to interview them. Korten and “get” in recent memory was the decision by his firm no longer represent the Ramseys. John and Patricia Ramsey to hire a crisis man- The Ramsey “get” leads to the question of agement firm, Rowan and Blewitt, only days pressures on the anchor and the sticky issue of after their six-year-old beauty queen daughter, conditions and concessions. JonBenet, was found murdered in their home the Result #3: Changing Role of the Anchor day after Christmas last year. Pat Korten, of the Barbara Walters told me, “The least pleas- public relations firm, said that after the Ram- ant part of the job is the competition. All of us seys were interviewed on CNN on New Year’s hate booking. I hate talking to people when Day, “the rest of videoland went crazy.” “The friends and colleagues are going after them. It’s next day,” Korten remembers, he was “del- debilitating.” PrimeTime Live Co-Anchor Diane uged.” As he put it, “the race was on.” Sawyer told me, “If you don’t watch out, the “The thing that astonished me, given the staff will come to you with six lawyers to call fact that I had been in this business . . . 15 years on an average Monday morning.” in journalism and 15 years in public relations . . . What is it about the process of pursuing an was the number of people from the same damn exclusive interview that can be so abhorrent to network and the same show calling.” He said he some? Is it the pilgrimage we must make to received 75 to 80 calls a day for the first several meet with the interviewee, the negotiating, the weeks. In the first month, he received calls from groveling, the feeling we are ingratiating our- different people at each of the following news selves? organizations or programs: 23 from ABC News, “‘Gets’ have changed the role of the 20 from NBC News (not including CNBC and anchor,” NBC’s Neal Shapiro said. “They put MSNBC), 18 from CBS News, 17 from CNN, much more stress on them. Because the compe- nine from Fox, nine from the Denver Post, eight tition is so fierce, you [the anchor] end up sell- from the Rocky Mountain News, seven from the ing yourself and your show. What are my Boulder Daily Camera, seven from American competitors doing? Are they writing letters? Journal, six from Inside Edition, five from Larry Calling? Going out to visit? In the booking King Live, four from People Magazine, two from trenches, God knows what people say. They Hard Copy, two from , plus start dissing other programs. It quickly becomes Leeza, Geraldo, Rolanda, and radio personal. You have to bond with people and talk show host Alan Combs. Korten said a extend yourself. Is that what journalism is all National Enquirer reporter checked into his about? It was ‘get the facts and cover the story.’ hotel avidly trying to find him. It didn’t take so much of your own personality.” “What happens,” Korten said, “is you don’t Now, the news division top brass will ask, return calls to each person.” “Why didn’t we get this and why didn’t we At times such as these, it helps to have a get that?” well-known name. The anchor of a broadcast “The ritual,” Diane Sawyer said, “has cuts through. Bribery, on the other hand, doesn’t. everybody by the throat. [Everything] you Korten remembered coming home one night to have to go through: the lawyer, the publicist, find a network morning news program had sent the audition process. Lawyers give you other fruit, cookies and other goodies. “It had no

Connie Chung 15 people’s letters and [have you listen to] their According to Howard Kurtz of the Wash- phone calls. It’s Room 101 in [’s] ington Post, NBC also negotiated with the 1984; you sell out the last thing you most Enquirer to buy the home videos and pictures. believe in. There is a temptation to say coded In the end, American Journal, a syndicated things that tip your journalistic hand. Even tabloid program, bought the videos and pictures when you don’t do it, you don’t like the fact and got the first TV interview with the woman. that you get into that temptation. You have to Tabloid newspapers and broadcast pro- resist. You don’t want to even feel you’re grams do pay for interviews, but other news tempted to say it. There are all sorts of tempta- organizations claim they do not. What the oth- tions in that room. In that moment, you’re not ers are willing to do openly (and consider legiti- the same.” mate) is pay for expenses related to the 60 Minutes’ said, “You , I’m interview, i.e., airfare, hotel, and meals. in the ‘get’ business, but I don’t like it. I won’t The grey area involves any spoken or send flowers or a cake. For me it’s phony to send unspoken understanding that interferes with a total stranger some flowers.” Bradley’s problem serious, objective journalism. No one disputes with “gets” is on a more basic level. “You put that there is a symbiotic relationship between yourself up to be rejected. If someone chooses the interviewer and the interviewee. “Both sides someone else over you, you will ask: ‘Where did have to feel they have something to gain by I fail? What did I do wrong?’ It’s not about that, entering into this contract,” the Washington but we can take things too seriously. It’s not the Post’s Tom Shales said. “It’s not necessarily neg- end of the world.” ative.” He cautions: “[But] you don’t turn over Sawyer’s basic problem is time. “I don’t any editorial process to them [either]. That’s think it [‘get’-getting] is corrupting of our busi- anathema to a serious journalist.” ness. It’s corrupting of our time. If you are failing Sam Donaldson said of his interview with to do original reporting because you’re spending Brenda Hoster, “It was supportive of her story. I your time on courtships, if you spend your believed her then and now. I don’t think I owed resources on ‘the get,’ are you putting your her that. If she started backtracking, the broadcast at risk? What did you intend your antenna would go up. If she had contradicted broadcast to be?” The key, Sawyer believes, “is a herself, then we would have run it.” sense of proportion, a sense of moderation.” She Walter Cronkite believes, “Most celebrity has sought a solution with her newly-signed con- interviews are done as quid pro quo. They are tract: an agreement that the network will try to seeking publicity. They are in the cat bird’s seat, help coordinate the “get” process. For her, that selecting the interviewer who will do them the means, “the whole universe of us got sucked most good.” He sees no value in most of them. into it. Now, I will control it. I will not let it Diane Sawyer’s interview with Michael control me. I am responsible for what interests Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley came under fire me. My best ideas that make me happy are ones by media critics because the hour-long program coming from rocking, from floating, blanking, included airing a music video from Jackson’s not from following any pack anywhere.” current album. Sawyer said, “There were no Result #4: Conditions and Concessions concessions.” Later, a half-hour When the first hit that a 63-year- music special appeared in ABC in prime time, old woman gave birth, it was obvious that but network executives said there was no con- someone was going to go after that exclusive. nection. The National Enquirer reportedly paid a healthy Result #5: Tabloid vs. Legitimate News sum for rights to home movies and the first Tom Shales believes a serious result of the interview with the world’s oldest mother. “get” phenomenon is a “blurring of what is PrimeTime Live Executive Producer Phyllis tabloid and what isn’t. When the New York McGrady considered purchasing the home Times, the National Enquirer and CBS are all videos from the National Enquirer (which beating down the same door, that troubles me. would have included an opportunity to inter- It’s harder to tell legitimate news shows from view the woman) but decided against it. “The the we’ll-do-anything-for-a-story tabloid show. National Enquirer has broken stories and their The O.J. story was a ‘get-getters’ paradise for facts have proven right but, in the end, purchas- weeks and months running. Serious journalists ing rights from them [the Enquirer] still gives were elbow to elbow with tabloid [journalists]. you pause,” McGrady explained. Tonya Harding was the same way. News is

16 The Business of “Getting the Get” news. You just have to try to keep your dignity Ed Bradley wasn’t as convinced when 60 and do it in the most decorous way. What sepa- Minutes producer Amy Cunningham first pro- rates serious news departments from tabloid is posed doing an interview with Jones. “Don what questions are asked.” [Hewitt] was all excited,” Cunningham said, For Joan Konner, publisher of the Colum- “but Ed didn’t want to do it. He thought the bia Journalism Review and former dean of the whole thing was tawdry. I had to work on Ed.” Columbia School of Journalism, the problem Cunningham pitched the interview after she isn’t just the story selection, it is “how do you read an article on Jones in the American Lawyer play the story, how long, where, how much. The and just before Jones’ case was to be argued blowing out of proportion of sex, violence, and before the U.S. Supreme Court. The thrust of mayhem—that’s the low end. There is excessive the article and her pitch: they believed Anita coverage today. If you are giving ‘x’ number of Hill; why don’t they believe Paula Jones? The minutes to Tonya Harding, I’m not getting what conventional wisdom was shifting regarding the I need to know [that day].” validity of Jones’ allegations and Cunningham Diane Sawyer, who interviewed Tonya wanted to report the media story. Harding before I did, observed, “It was not Bradley told me, “It was a story I resisted. I tabloid, it was a wonderful story, if intelligently wasn’t sure we should do it. I thought it had a done. Proportion is the key.” big, potential tawdry factor. I told Amy, ‘Con- Mike Wallace said my interview with vince me.’” Bradley quoted Cunningham as say- Tonya Harding was fine but too much was made ing to him, “You think it’s tawdry, [but] the of the story. “To send the co-anchor of the CBS Supreme Court is considering her case!” At one Evening News to Portland to follow her around point, Bradley even pointed to a sign at his assis- like a supplicant—we wrapped her up, we tant’s desk that read, “What part of NO do you owned her. I found that embarrassing.” not understand?” Cunningham went off and I was surprised when Walter Cronkite told negotiated the interview with Jones’ lawyer. me he thought Tonya Harding was a legitimate “Amy got it,” Bradley said. By the time Bradley interview. “She was a figure in the news in a flew to the West Coast to do the interview, he very much watched public event, the Olympics. had come around. It aired in March of 1997. To look at her personality, motivation, charac- Jones’ lawyer, Joseph Cammarata, told me ter, the question of remorse or lack of same, he never knew about Bradley’s reluctance. The that’s a legitimate story. It’s not too tawdry or Monday after the interview aired, Bradley called tabloid.” Cunningham to say, “nice job.” Bradley felt it If he were still anchoring the CBS Evening was handled well because the story never News, I asked Cronkite, could he see himself included specifics of what Jones claims Clinton getting “gets?” “No, not on the Evening News,” did. he said initially, adding that he is “opposed to anchors jumping around the world.” Conclusions “I was as much the managing editor [of the What is the collective wisdom on the get- Evening News as its anchor] and as such, you ting of “gets?” How steep is the downside? Is can’t go scooting around every time there is an there an upside? What insights did I glean from interview to do,” Cronkite went on. “I’d want colleagues, seasoned “getters” all, on the game someone to do the interview for the program. as it is played and won? But, if I were in a dual anchor situation, I might • There is nothing fundamentally wrong be spared from that. I acknowledge that the with going after “gets.” As Walter Cronkite put prominence of the anchor can be exceedingly it, “The fact that we go after newsmakers is a helpful in getting the interview and it is a wor- legitimate part of the news business. There’s thy use of the anchor’s position if this was the nothing new about it.” And there is nothing only way to get the interview. If no one had got- wrong with wanting to be first, even if it is just hold of a Tonya Harding, for instance, yes.” for bragging rights. Certainly viewers don’t Can you imagine Walter Cronkite inter- know you are first unless you make a point of viewing Tonya Harding? Bless him. He is still telling them. my hero. • The real issue is degree. With so much Cronkite also said he believes Paula Jones competition today, the real question becomes: (who accused then Governor of sex- to what lengths will journalists go to get an ual advances) is “a front-page figure, a threat to interview? Veteran news executive William the presidency, a legitimate figure in our news.” Small asks, “Are you willing to compromise

Connie Chung 17 your journalistic standards because you’re so Postscript thirsty to get the story?” Reporters need to walk *On October 1, 1997 Sergeant Major Gene a fine line: sympathetic enough to “get” the McKinney appeared in his first television inte- interviewee but not so tame that they become view on the premier of the CBS prime time the person’s mouthpiece. Small’s advice: “Avoid magazine program, Public Eye with Bryant journalistic compromises. Don’t make a fool of Gumbel. yourself or the interviewee and don’t jump on On March 13, 1998, McKinney was acquit- the bandwagon of whatever is hot.” ted of all charges involving sexual misconduct, • Coordination within network news divi- but was convicted of one obstruction of justice sions can help limit the overkill and restore civ- count. ilized behavior. This is Diane Sawyer’s suggestion for relieving some of the insanity of the “get” phenomenon. Sawyer doesn’t want to put her broadcast at risk by spending excessive amounts of time pursuing exclusives. At the same time, she’s philosophical. “We’re always in cycles and phases,” she says. “Maybe this is a cycle in which people got a little distracted.” • News organizations ignore stories at their peril. This is the everyone-else-is-doing it phenomenon and it is self-perpetuating. William Small says, “If you turn your back on a story, you lose audience, because others are not ignor- ing the story, and you create a big morale prob- lem [in your newsroom].” • There are no easy solutions to the prob- lems created by “gets,” in part because the pub- lic isn’t demanding any changes. “The public will say it’s terrible that the press would pick on this person,” Tom Shales says. “On the other hand, they are dying to know about it. The pub- lic loves this stuff. They don’t want to see how the sausage is made, they just want to eat the sausage.” Marvin Kalb’s solution is simple and to the point. “If you want to do serious news, get out of the neighborhood (prime time television).” • Even “gets” have their positive side. Neal Shapiro notes that under “the old system, it would be two to three weeks before someone in the news might be seen on television. White- water figure James McDougal plea-bargained on Monday, [and] he was on Dateline Tuesday. The public does get served. The public does gain. And people are looking to news magazines to give them the news. No one else can give news- makers 20 minutes to talk.” Like Tom Shales, Shapiro believes the only way any changes will occur is if “the public stops watching because they are appalled by what we did to get an interview. They will pun- ish us. But they will never do that. Some anchors may say ‘we won’t do it anymore’ but somebody will. Somebody will.”

18 The Business of “Getting the Get” APPENDIX I

Barbara Walters

February 7, 1994

General Colin Powell, USA (Ret)

Dear General Powell:

As I am sure you remember, you were kind enough to promise last year that you would do your first major interview after leaving office with me for 20/20. You then decided you did not want to do any interviews prior to the publication of your autobiography.

I hope that the book is coming along well and that we might start thinking about when we might do an interview based on your book. We would give it an enormous amount of time and attention, as well as a huge audience. I promise it will be a wonderful send-off for the book. Can you give me any idea of when this might be possible?

I am writing this rather official letter because I do not want to pounce on you every time we meet socially. I would hate for you to think, “Here she comes again.” But I so much look forward to doing this interview with you.

With warmest personal wishes to you and Mrs. Powell,

As ever,

Connie Chung 19 APPENDIX II

February 4, 1997

Ms. Susan Barnes

Dear Ms. Barnes:

We at PrimeTime want to interview your client Brenda L. Hoster for our program tomorrow night. We think what happened to her is both shocking and, sadly, all too common. Her decision to come forward publicly performs a great service.

We think airing her story on PrimeTime, with our ability to reach more than twenty million people, will also perform a service. She and you will make the decision as to whether she should do a television interview. Allow me to make the case why it should be with us.

My producer Shelley Ross and I have done a number of stories about sexual harassment. In June of 1992, we did a two part story about "Tailhook" which President Bush watched. The next day he fired his Navy Secretary. We did a long report early last year about the Okinawa rape case and other cases involving U.S. Naval personnel. We featured the story of Admiral Joseph Prueher who had been nominated to be Chief of all U.S. forces in the Pacific but who, as Commandant of Midshipmen in Annapolis, had tried to “hush up” the chaining to a urinal of a female midshipman. Two days before our story aired, his nomination was rushed through the Senate ahead of schedule in order to “save" it. We did a story in 1993 about a sado sexual initiation rite of new members of the U.S. Marine Corps drill team which resulted in the discontinuation of that practice. And two years ago, Prime Time did, at my suggestion, a full hour on the subject of sexual harassment in the work place.

My point is, we understand this problem and approach it with sensitivity. Our record says we aren't just "after the ratings” but after a change in attitudes toward sexual harassment. Please call me so that we can discuss this further.

Best regards.

Sincerely,

Sam Donaldson

20 The Business of “Getting the Get” APPENDIX III

February 4 1997

Sergeant Major Gene C. McKinney

Dear Sgt. Maj. McKinney:

We are interviewing Sgt. Maj. Brenda L. Hoster (Ret.) for our PrimeTime program tomorrow. In that connection, I am requesting an interview with you concerning her allegations of sexual harassment by you when she was on active duty.

We want to give you a chance to address these allegations to whatever extent you desire.

Because of our deadlines for tomorrow, we need to do the interview as early in the day as possible. I shall call your office early in the morning to discuss this.

Best regards.

Sincerely,

Sam Donaldson

Connie Chung 21 February 4, 1997

The Honorable Togo West The Secretary of the Army

Dear Mr. Secretary:

We are interviewing Sgt. Maj. Brenda L. Hoster (Ret.) for our PrimeTime program tomorrow. In that connection, I am requesting an interview with you concerning her allegations of sexual harassment when she was on active duty to air as part of our report.

I know of your commitment to zero tolerance when it comes to sexual harassment in the Army. You have eloquently expressed it in discussion of the on-going investigation into such allegations at Aberdeen and elsewhere. Indeed, Sgt. Maj. Hoster's attorney tells us she was impressed with your answers to our questions on This Week a few Sundays ago. I am also requesting an interview with Secretary Cohen to get his view.

Because of our deadlines for tomorrow, we need to do the interview as early in the day as possible. I shall call your office early in the morning to discuss this.

Best regards.

Sincerely,

Sam Donaldson

22 The Business of “Getting the Get” February 4, 1997

The Honorable William Cohen The Secretary of Defense

Dear Mr. Secretary:

We are interviewing Sgt. Maj. Brenda L. Hoster (Ret.) for our PrimeTime program tomorrow. In that connection, I am requesting an interview with you concerning her allegations that the Army moved to cover up sexual harassment of her when she was on active duty.

I know of your commitment to zero tolerance when it comes to sexual harassment and other forms of personal abuse in the military. Your public expression of outrage concerning recent disclosures of physical hazing in the Marine Corps speaks to that. Your view of how to deal with Sgt. Maj. Hoster's allegations is most important. I have also requested an interview with Army Secretary Togo West to get his view.

Because of our deadlines for tomorrow, we need to do the interview as early in the day as possible. I shall call your office early in the morning to discuss this.

Best regards.

Sincerely,

Sam Donaldson

Connie Chung 23 APPENDIX IV Interviews Conducted by the Author for this Paper

Susan Barnes, Brenda Hoster’s Lawyer Diana Olick, CBS News Correspondent Craig Bengtson, former CBS News Producer Thomas Patterson, Bradlee Professor of Govern- ment and the Press at the John F. Kennedy Ed Bradley, 60 Minutes Correspondent School of Government, Harvard University Norman Brokaw, Chairman and CEO, William Scott Pelley, CBS News Correspondent Morris Agency, Inc. Harry Phillips, PrimeTime Live Producer Joseph Cammarata, Paula Jones’ Lawyer Colin Powell, Former Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Walter Cronkite, former CBS News Anchor Staff Amy Cunningham, 60 Minutes Producer Master Sergeant Phil Prater, Sergeant Major Gene McKinney’s Public Affairs Advisor Sam Donaldson, PrimeTime Live Anchor Dana Priest, Washington Post Reporter Harry Evans, former Publisher, Random House Colonel Marianne Rowland, Former Public Jim Gaines, former Time Managing Editor Affairs Advisor to Army Secretary Togo West Charles Gittins, Sergeant Major Gene McKin- James Rubin, Senior Advisor to Secretary of ney’s Lawyer State Vicki Gordon, CBS News Executive Story Editor Diane Sawyer, PrimeTime Live Anchor Lieutenant Colonel William Harkey, Army Pub- Rowan Scarborough, Washington Times lic Affairs Officer Reporter Ed Hersh, ABC News Producer Eric Schmitt, New York Times Reporter Don Hewitt, 60 Minutes Executive Producer Elaine Sciolino, New York Times Reporter Mark Hooper, CBS News Assistant Bureau Tom Shales, Washington Post Critic Chief, Dallas Neal Shapiro, Dateline Executive Producer Brenda Hoster, Retired Army Sergeant Major William Small, Veteran News Executive Walter Isaacson, Time Managing Editor Colonel John Smith, Army Chief of Public Marvin Kalb, Director of the Joan Shorenstein Affairs Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Colonel Bill Smullen, Colin Powell’s Executive Harvard University Assistant Jim Kelly, Time Deputy Managing Editor Mike Wallace, 60 Minutes Correspondent Joan Konner, Publisher of Columbia Journalism Barbara Walters, ABC News Anchor Review and Former Dean of Columbia School of Journalism Pat Korten, Former Public Relations Representa- tive for the Ramseys Jennifer Maguire, PrimeTime Live Editorial Pro- ducer David Martin, CBS News Correspondent Phyllis McGrady, PrimeTime Live Executive Producer

24 The Business of “Getting the Get” RECENT PUBLICATIONS FROM THE SHORENSTEIN CENTER

DISCUSSION PAPERS “From Bhopal to Superfund: The and the Environment,” Sanjoy Hazarika. September, 1994. Discus- sion Paper D-17. $2.00 “Hispanic Voices: Is the Press Listening?,” Jorge Quiroga. January, 1995. Discussion Paper D-18. $3.00 “Paint-By-Numbers Journalism: How Reader Surveys and Focus Groups Subvert a Democratic Press,” Alison Carper. April, 1995. Discussion Paper D-19. $2.75 “The Nigerian Press Under the Military: Persecution, Resilience and Political Crisis (1983-1993),” Adeyinka Adeyemi. May, 1995. Discussion Paper D-20. $3.75 “Post-Communist Eastern Europe: The Difficult Birth of a ,” Bernard Margueritte. August, 1995. Dis- cussion Paper D-21. $3.25 “The Next War: Live?” Barrie Dunsmore. March, 1996. Discussion Paper D-22. $3.50 “The Foreign News Flow in the Information Age,” Claude Moisy. November, 1996. Discussion Paper D-23. $2.50 “Spreading the Word: The KGB’s Image-Building Under Gorbachev,” Jeff Trimble. Feburary, 1997. Research Paper D-24. $3.00 “Journalism and Economics: The Tangled Webs of Profession, Narrative, and Responsibility in a Modern Democ- racy” Richard Parker. May, 1997. Discussion Paper D-25. $2.00 “Junk News: Can Public Broadcasters Buck the Tabloid Tendencies of Market-Driven Journalism? A Canadian Experience,” William John Fox. August, 1997. Discussion Paper D-26. $2.00 “Shoah in the News: Patterns and Meanings of News Coverage of the Holocaust,” James Carroll. October, 1997. Discussion Paper D-27. $2.00 RESEARCH PAPERS “Transmitting Race: The Los Angeles Riot in Television News,” Erna Smith. May, 1994. Research Paper R-11. $2.75 “Ownership of Newspapers: from Positivist Social Science,” C. Edwin Baker. September, 1994. Re- search Paper R-12. $2.75 “The Future of Global Television News,” Richard Parker. September, 1994. Research Paper R-13. $2.75 “The Media, the Public and the Development of Candidates’ Images in the 1992 Presidential Election,” Dean Alger. October, 1994. Research Paper R-14. $2.50 “Busted By the Ad Police: Journalists’ Coverage of Political Campaign Ads in the 1992 Presidential Campaign,” Michael Milburn and Justin Brown. July, 1995. Research Paper R-15. $3.00 “Framing Identity: The Press in Crown Heights,” Carol B. Conaway. November 1996. Research Paper R-16. $3.00 “The Wisdom of the War Room: U.S. Campaigning and Americanization,” Margaret Scammell. April, 1997. Research Paper R-17. $3.50 WORKING PAPERS “Real-Time Television Coverage of Armed Conflicts and Diplomatic Crises: Does it Pressure or Distort Foreign Policy Decisions?” Nik Gowing. June 1994. Working Paper 94-1 $12.50

“Discourse and its Discontents,” Frederick Schauer. September, 1994. Working Paper 94-2. $10.00

Please direct any publication inquiry or request to: The Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics, and Public Policy John F. Kennedy School of Government Harvard University Cambridge, MA 02138 ATTN: Publications Telephone: (617) 495-8269 • Fax: (617) 495-8696 Web Site Address: http://ksgwww.harvard.edu/~presspol/home.htm

Connie Chung 25