TW MAIN 04-14-08 A 21 TVWEEK 4/10/2008 9:13 PM Page 1 A CHAT WITH CHARLES OSGOOD TELEVISIONWEEK April 14, 2008 21 THE CBS NEWS VETERAN, MUSICIAN AND POET IS HONORED BY NAB ... PAGE 33 RTNDA@NAB SPECIAL SECTION NewsproTHE STATE OF TV NEWS TODAY’S NEWS RTNDA President Barbara Cochran said journalistic TVTV NEWS’NEWS’ ethics will be a main topic this year. RTNDA AIMS TO CROSS ALL PLATFORMS MOSTMOST Conference Places Priority on Digital 1010 By Daisy Whitney When the Radio-Television News Directors Association kicks off its annual conference in Las Vegas this ◗ How to go week, the themes will be similar to POWERFULPOWERFUL digital, Page 26 Familiar Names and a Bit of Shock Value those at the Nation- ◗ The economy al Association of Crop Up on Our Annual List of Top Dogs takes center Broadcasters con- vention next door. By Michele Greppi stage, Page 28 Top of mind for It is time for the annual drumroll, tah-dah and to-do as TelevisionWeek ◗ RTNDA@NAB both the journal- unveils its list of the 10 Most Powerful People in TV News. schedule high- ists who attend With the roster comes the annual asterisk signifying that while it is RTNDA and the painstakingly assembled, the selection and ranking process is both earnest lights, Page 27 industry execu- and admittedly unscientific. tives who frequent NAB is the digi- To extensive research, add backstage drama and gossip that had us tinker- tal transition. ing and rethinking until past deadline last week, thanks to a barrage of head- The annual RTNDA conference is lines about CBS News and Katie Couric and a dribble-down-the-chin-juicy co-located with NAB in the Las Vegas New York Times Magazine profile of MSNBC’s tin-eared Chris Matthews, who convention center. The RTNDA con- has everyone talking about him—and not in a good way. You’ll see that we ference is slated to run April 13-16 have taken advantage of the political Zeitgeist to add a little more shock value and is expected to draw about 1,300 than usual at the end. While most of the news players listed here are very attendees, on par with last year. familiar, it’s some of their key players who are new to our spotlight. Continued on Page 30 Continued on Page 22 NEWSPRO ONLINE: Newspro, TelevisionWeek’s signature section highlighting the state of broadcast journalism, is also available online. Check TVWeek.com’s Newspro section for expanded versions of stories, and use our interactive features to leave feedback and thoughts on these stories along with your story tips and suggestions for future sections. TW MAIN 04-14-08 A 22 TVWEEK 4/10/2008 9:21 PM Page 1 22 April 14, 2008 TELEVISIONWEEK NEWSPRO 1. STEVE CAPUS Title: NBC News president Tenure: 2½ years Rank last year: 2 Why he was chosen: The NBC News ship, which last year seemed to have sprung a few worrisome leaks, is once again sailing upright and steady as she used to go. “NBC Nightly News With Brian Williams” is edging out ABC’s “World News With Charles Gibson” with more regularity. The “Today” show is once again making it look easy to be No. 1, no longer letting ABC’s “Good Morning America” see it sweat as it did during close weeks last year when “Today” would find ways to eliminate some of its more vulnerable segments from the David Westin Nielsen ratings’ scrutiny. During the first quarter of this year, “Today” led by 1.2 million viewers. MSNBC.com Channel is making money, bility. While “Good Morning Ameri- is the leading television news money, money by racking up rat- ca” and “World News” may not have organization Web site. Perhaps ing$, rating$, rating$ day in, day the sense of momentum they had most tantalizing is the success NBC out, year after year. The network last year, they are vigorous and News has had in this long, dramatic created in his image is consistent- competitive. The revived “Night- and lucrative political season by ly among the 10 most-watched line,” the international aspirations making MSNBC “The Place for Poli- channels in the cable world (sec- in which Mr. Westin has become an tics.” The cable channel may finally Steve Capus ond-place CNN is in the low 20s adroit player/booker and the have found its voice—brash and and third-place MSNBC seldom growth of “This Week With George brass ballsy at day’s end—and a for- even makes the Top 30). However, Stephanopoulos” into a consistent mula that makes it a valuable plat- the names are spelled correctly. It’s FNC has been oddly low-profile silver medalist in the Sunday news- form for (and not just a way of not the only recent strategy that and sotto voce in the most por- maker show competition lends ABC amortizing expenses of) NBC News. reads like a page out of a Fox News 2. ROGER tentous political year in memory News a comforting air of tradition Invaluable asset: His fellow playbook—even if the political despite the presence of Karl Rove even as it digs for the pot of gold at MSNBC alumnus, Phil Griffin, the points of view are poles apart. in Fox News’ pundit pack. the end of the digital rainbow that NBC News senior VP in charge of Nitpicking: Chatty Kathie Lee Invaluable asset: His fierce teases all news organizations. both “Today” and MSNBC. Mr. Gifford for “Today”? Does this por- AILES determination to succeed makes Invaluable asset: Dave Davis, the Griffin has been given a lot of tend a spinoff for the fourth hour? Titles: Chairman and CEO of folks reluctant to write off the Fox executive VP overseeing ABC News (tight) rope with MSNBC, whose Shouldn’t it? Sunday’s New York Fox News, Fox Business Network, Business Network, which did not programs, has more than lived up to prime-time lineup tied CNN in the Times Magazine profile of Chris Fox Television Station Group come out of the box six months his reputation as a smart, decisive key news demo of 25- to 54-year- Matthews reveals a lot of sharp Tenure: Launched Fox News ago showing any of the razzle- executive with much-needed peo- olds in March. Even when some- elbows, but makes clear that the Channel in 1996 dazzle Fox News Channel dis- ple skills. Add in his visibility and one at MSNBC has to apologize, man who once was a fresh face Rank last year: 1. played from the get-go. The wob- accessibility and you’ve got a big the incident gets a lot of ink and now is his own worst enemy. Why he was chosen: Fox News bly financial sector and economy morale boost. haven’t helped the channel, Nitpicking: Just once, could ABC which was conceived as “busi- hire a male correspondent who ness-friendly.” Still, Mr. Ailes and doesn’t look like a clone of Mr. his team of senior VPs Kevin Westin? Magee and Neil Cavuto have not been able to take advantage of the Dow Jones and Co. brands News Corp. Chairman Rupert 4. TIM Murdoch purchased for $6.5 bil- lion last year. Nitpicking: The prime-time lineup, while as popular as ever— RUSSERT “The O’Reilly Factor” and “Hanni- Titles: Managing editor/mod- ty & Colmes” still top the cable erator of “Meet the Press” and sen- news ratings—seems less than ior VP/Washington bureau chief potent politically this season. for NBC News Except for veteran Shepard Smith, Tenure: Since 1991 there is no next-generation break- Continued on Page 24 though talent in the Fox stable. 3. DAVID WESTIN Title: ABC News president Tenure: 11 years Rank last year: 4 Why he was chosen: He’s a sur- vivor—the longest-tenured current TV news organization leader by far. He has finally established a line of Roger Ailes succession. There’s an atmosphere Tim Russert of competitive confidence and sta- Project8 3/27/08 1:52 PM Page 1 TW MAIN 04-14-08 A 24 TVWEEK 4/10/2008 9:25 PM Page 1 24 April 14, 2008 TELEVISIONWEEK NEWSPRO Nitpicking: Mr. Russert’s loyalty to people used to making familiar POWERFUL points in a familiar way can some- Continued from Page 22 times make his roundtables seem Rank last year: 5 fusty, especially in a presidential Why he was chosen: If it’s an campaign year like this when a election year, it must be a particu- woman and an African American larly good one for Mr. Russert, for man have changed the political whom “term limits” is an alien landscape and the race and gen- concept. When his current 10-year der conversations forever. contract expires in 2012, he will have been the moderator of “Meet the Press” for 21 years. He’s been the “Meet” man for more than a 5. JIM Keith Olbermann quarter of the 60 years that make the show the longest-running pro- gram in TV history and a veritable Sean McManus institution in the political capitol WALTON/ of the free world. His “Meet the 6. KEITH Press” audience, often more than the most outrageous—and often tenure at CBS Sports made him 4 million viewers strong before the JON KLEIN non-doctrinaire—things with an familiar and reassuring to the CBS show is even made available OLBERMANN almost straight face. affiliates whose support he has online, enjoys a 40% ratings lead Titles: CNN Worldwide presi- Title: Host of “Countdown With Nitpicking: His bully-boy per- needed as he made nitty-gritty over the closest competition, dent and CNN/U.S.