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November 22, 2008 11:43:38 AM CST

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Rather's 'Tart' Comment makes CBS Chief Sour

Posted Jun 12, 07 10:10 PM CDT in Business,  Arts & Living 

(Newser) – CBS chief Leslie Moonves returned fire on Dan Rather today, calling his criticism of Katie Couric "sexist."  In a telephone interview with MSNBC Monday, Rather had accused his unsuccessful successor of taking the nightly news and "dumbing it down, tarting it up." Rather cited Couric for playing up celebrities at the cost of war coverage.

While Couric's jump from day to night and from NBC to CBS initially engaged audiences, ratings began to slump soon thereafter. Moonves told an audience at Syracuse University  he "absolutely" has confidence in Couric, the first solo female news anchor, and believes she will bring younger audiences to CBS. Moonves asked Couric's critics to "give her a break."

Source Breitbart

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P 500 companies to provide a full picture of executives' compensation - including stock options, bonuses and perks such as country club memberships. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles, file)   (Associated Press)
This photo supplied by ABC shows former television news anchor Dan Rather in a scene from an episode of "Dirty Sexy Money" which is on ABC's fall television schedule, announced Tuesday, May 15, 2007....   (Associated Press)
CBS News anchor Dan Rather will step down from his position of anchor and managing editor of CBS Evening news in March 2005. Rather is shown at the 2003 GQ Men of the Year Awards, held at the Regent W   (KRT Photos)
Katie Couric exits the CBS television studios after the airing of her first broadcast as anchor of the CBS Evening News Sept. 5, 2006, in New York. CBS Corp. Chief Executive Leslie Moonves shot back...   (Associated Press)
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