Salant, CBS, and the Battle for the Soul of Broadcast Journalism: The Memoirs of Richard S. Salant

During Salant's tenures as president of CBS News (1961-1963 and 1966-1979), in an era when Americans increasingly came to depend on TV news for a better understanding of their turbulent times, CBS ruled TV journalism. The Evening News, anchored by Walter Cronkite, was expanded from 15 minutes to 30 minutes, becoming in 1967 the top-rated news program in the nation. Although Salant died in 1993, the Buzenbergs have transformed his 3000-page manuscript into a crisply written, absorbing memoir. Salant was a voracious memo writer, and his exacting but congenial memos, interspersed throughout, not only help bring him to life but demonstrate what he considered news. In addition to providing a behind-the-scenes account of how CBS handled coverage of such momentous events as the Vietnam War and Watergate, the book delves into the politics of what was still William Paley's CBS. Although Paley was a staunch supporter of the news division, other executives were not, and Salant found himself battling for air time and defending the budget of the money-losing unit. Salant does not disparage his adversaries, but writes with the fairness and balance that he wanted to make the signature style of his programming. What resonates most powerfully here is his passion for quality TV journalism. (Oct.)