CBS News Chief Speaks About Changes, Future

The president of CBS News reassured Los Angeles-based staffers Friday that the network wouldn’t back away from hard news reporting, despite a devastating independent report this week that examined a flawed “60 Minutes Wednesday” story on President Bush’s military service.

But Andrew Heyward, who spent two hours meeting with about 20 correspondents, producers, editors and other employees at CBS Television City in Hollywood made it clear that the report -- along with Dan Rather stepping down as anchor in March -- would bring changes to the legendary news division.

The gathering was one of a series of meetings Heyward planned over several weeks to deal with the fallout from the report. One attendee said staffers were forthright in their questions, with some expressing anger and concern about the future of CBS News; Heyward responded by being “very upbeat and not defensive.”

“This is a double whammy for us,” said the staffer, speaking on condition of anonymity. “It’s not just the report, it’s also Dan Rather stepping down. It’s a time of great uncertainty.”

The network was sent reeling Monday when it released an unsparing 224-page report from an independent panel, which concluded that “a myopic zeal” led CBS to rush a Sept. 8 story that alleged Bush received preferential treatment during his years with the Texas Air National Guard. The story relied on copies of four typed documents purportedly written by Bush’s commander in 1972 and 1973, which critics challenged as bogus.

The panel, led by former Atty. Gen. Richard L. Thornburgh and former Associated Press executive Louis D. Boccardi, said there were numerous flaws in verifying the documents. It also faulted CBS for misstatements and putting forth a “strident defense” of the story when questions were raised.

Producer Mary Mapes was dismissed and three other staffers who worked on the story were asked for resignations: “60 Minutes Wednesday” Executive Producer Josh Howard, his top deputy Mary Murphy, and Betsy West, CBS News senior vice president of prime time.

Heyward is the highest-ranking executive in the news division and, according to the report, tried to investigate the reporting process before and after the story was aired. Some staffers expressed unhappiness Friday at the dismissals and questioned why Heyward was spared. Heyward told the group he understood why such questions might be raised but that the ultimate decision on who stayed rested with CBS chief Leslie Moonves.

Heyward “got a lot of very angry and suspicious questions, and he handled them well,” the staffer said. “It was a very forthright exchange.”

Spokeswoman Sandy Genelius said Heyward “wants to make sure CBS news staffers have an opportunity to talk about the report with him personally.”

Reached later by telephone on his way back to the East Coast, Heyward confirmed the meeting had taken place and said he would speak with the Washington bureau Tuesday, but declined further comment.

Heyward and Moonves have sought staff input on the future of the “CBS Evening News” after Rather steps down. The network is exploring ways to produce a “more flexible” newscast, with possibly longer feature or investigative segments and fewer brief news reports, staffers say. However, a CBS spokeswoman said no decisions had been made.

Another open question is the fate of “60 Minutes Wednesday,” which was expected to be Rather’s postanchor perch. Moonves was quoted in the New York Times on Friday as expressing doubt about the future of the show given its relatively low ratings. Moonves declined a request for an interview for this story.

CBS will meet with reporters Tuesday at the Television Critics Assn. meeting in Universal City, where Moonves is likely to face questions about the report and search for a new anchor.