Marty Shapiro wrote:


When was the last time the anchor at a major TV station actually went into
the field as a reporter? Years ago that was still done, but at any network
station in a major market today do any of the anchors ever go out an cover
a story any more? I don't think so. They have become actors who just read
the news. Once they stop covering stories and just read them, they have
stopped being journalists.

20 years ago, anchors did still cover stories and were reporters, editors,
etc., especially at the smaller stations and to a lesser extent, but still
to some extent, at the major stations. Are the news departments today
still independent or do they report to the entertainment department?


I watch both LA and NY network station's local news from time to time
off the dish. I've seen virtually all of the anchors out "in the field"
from time to time, usually during sweeps.

All the major network's news departments are still independent at least
in name and none answer to entertainment though they are not as
independent from management as they once were.