Donaldson Covers Convention for an Audience of Web Surfers

Sam Donaldson developed his reputation as an ABC News correspondent through his brash interviewing style--barking impertinent questions at then-President Ronald Reagan or guests on ABC’s Sunday discussion show “This Week.”

These days, however, provided barely enough time to conjure up more than a low growl within limited network coverage of the political conventions, Donaldson has found a venue to let loose his full voice--albeit in the still-fledgling realm of cyberspace.

In L.A., as at the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia, Donaldson is hosting a live Webcast that begins after ABC News’ prime-time coverage ends and concludes before “Night-line.” While playing to only a few thousand Web surfers--a small house compared to the millions who have watched him on ABC over the years--Donaldson is happy to plant his flag now, seeing the Internet program, which launched in September, as the inevitable direction news is heading.

“I’m more enthusiastic today, about this project, than I have been in years about my work,” Donaldson said during a session with reporters Tuesday.

“We are the pioneers, in one sense. . . . At some point, I’m convinced all communication will go over the World Wide Web.”

There are already certain advantages. The smaller audience currently available is liberating, freeing network news personnel from the same level of commercial concern regarding ratings.

“It lets Sam be Sam,” said Robert Murphy, senior vice president of multimedia for ABC News. “It removes a lot of the barriers you have to put around yourself when you’re doing a [network] broadcast.”

Donaldson acknowledged the Internet is years away from competing with traditional media, but he sees a future where networks will simply post content on Web sites and consumers will pull it down as easily as they flip on the television.

Whether that future is five or 10 years away is anybody’s guess, but citing CBS’ Mike Wallace as inspiration, Donaldson suggested time is on his side. “Under the Mike Wallace rule--he’s 82, I’m only 66--I can wait,” he said.