Network News Chiefs Stress Commitment, Warn of Cost

Network news chiefs told Congress today their commitment to news and public affairs programming remains strong and independent of corporate entanglements, but added that “we no longer have the luxury” of ignoring the cost of reporting the news.

The heads of the major network news divisions, appearing before an unusual congressional inquiry into their news operations, denied allegations that they have sacrificed the public interest in pursuit of profit.

They also disputed suggestions that ownership by a corporation interested in influencing the news, such as a major defense contractor, would color the news.

If any such owner tried to dictate news judgment, ABC News President Roone Arledge said, “you would see the entire news organization resign en masse. And I would be at the head of it.”

The hearing was unusual because of the First Amendment implications of a congressional inquiry into news gathering. Rep. Dan Coats (R-Ind.) said he found the hearing offensive, adding:

“I suspect that had we asked the print media to attend a similar hearing, . . . I don’t think anybody would be at this (witness) table. I think there would be a sense of outrage that this committee was even holding this hearing.”

In their testimony, the network news directors said the networks have been hit by rising costs and falling revenues that have pinched all operations, not just news.

NBC News President Lawrence K. Grossman said network news, “as a public service, has largely been shielded from the cost control imperatives that are central to other businesses. We continue to enjoy that status.”

“But our costs have been escalating so rapidly that we no longer have the luxury of not focusing on them,” he added.

Arledge agreed, saying, “We are all in a business supported by advertising dollars, and I know of no rule that journalists do better work or reporting by knowing that money can be consistently lost.”