Katie Couric’s departure marks changed world

The Island Now

The imminent departure of anchor Ms. Katie Couric in the end, may not have any impact on the ratings for CBS Evening News.

Previous generations grew up around the television set, learning about events of the day. Everyone had their favorite: Walter Cronkite, Roger Mudd, Dan Rather and Bob Schaffer (CBS); Chet Huntley and David Brinkley or Tom Brokaw (NBC); and Frank Reynolds, Max Robinson, Howard K. Smith, Harry Reasoner, Barbara Walters and Peter Jennings (ABC).

Today’s generation has many more alternatives to select from including all news radio, cable new stations such as CNBC, CNN and FOX, PBS, BBC, the Internet and bloggers. A growing population of new immigrants support their own television stations.

Local ABC, CBS and NBC affiliates have access to satellite broadcasts that duplicate many of the same stories carried by their national news broadcasts. Even local independent stations such as News Twelve, Fox 5, WOR 9 and WPIX 11 have access to satellite feed. Many local news stations sometimes send reporters to other parts of the nation and world for on the spot coverage.

Our view of the world has changed over time. This may be due to the big three networks no longer having a monopoly on the news. New anchors may not make a difference in who tunes in. How fortunate we are to live in a free society with a wealth of information news sources to select from.

Larry Penner

Great Neck

 

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