Former anchorman Dan Rather sued his former employer CBS for $70 million Wednesday, alleging that the network had fired him to appease the White House following a faulty report on President George W. Bush in 2004.
Rather, who was fired by CBS in June 2005, said he was treated unfairly following lack of airtime on 60 Minutes to respond to his report on Bush’s supposed preferential treatment in the National Guard.
The lawsuit has garnered criticism because of the tardiness of legal action so long after the firing, and rightfully so, considering the lack of accountability that went into checking background information.
Despite Rather’s allegation that CBS fired him under pressure by the Bush administration, the fact remains that his reporting in the story made the journalism profession take a big step back in reporting the facts as they happen rather than recklessly pointing fingers.
As a journalist, Rather’s responsibility for the factual information behind the story was severely lacking, especially since the so-called facts lacked necessary verification – the very backbone of reporting.
While Rather alleges that a private investigator hired by CBS uncovered information that would absolve him of wrongdoing, this is also a source of speculation, especially considering the grounds for the firing.
The $70 million suit brought forth against CBS Chief Executive Officer Leslie Moonves, Viacom investor Sumner Redstone and former CBS News President Andrew Heyward is not the way to reestablish credibility.
While Rather’s case is unique in the sense that he is not only a public figure, but continues to be involved in the media as a newsman at cable channel HDNet, and that alone gives him an added responsibility to back up his claims with verifiable evidence to win his case.
At this point, given his history in the past two years, Rather doesn’t appear to have much hope to regain the clout he once held as a journalistic legend.
On the surface, instead of building up his reputation from a once reliable source of nightly news, Rather’s actions appear to be a publicity stunt as a disgruntled ex-employee.
Without actual evidence to support his claims, as the New York Times reported, it appears that Rather is heading into familiar territory with the latest round of accusations against CBS.
