Sam Donaldson: R.I.P. TV Network News

Former ABC News reporter/anchor Sam Donaldson has flipped his wig over network news:

Former ABC News reporter/anchor Sam Donaldson is ready to say the last rites for network news because it will soon lose its dominant position as Americans’ primary source of news. “I think it’s dead. Sorry,” he said during a breakfast panel Tuesday at the National Association of Broadcasters’ convention in Las Vegas. “The monster anchors are through.”

Donaldson was always one of the more refreshing TV reporters. Yes, he was not exactly shy and his personality came out of the TV screen and strangled viewers (much as Presidents wanted to strangle him). And he delighted in being a reporter, loved the fact he was out there doing it and was one. But not in a sanctimonious, corn-pone way like the (late) Dan Rather. You could sense the sincerity and excitement in every pore.

His one quality was being bluntly honest in his assessments. And he was here, too:

Even though 30 million viewers still turn to networks news each night and garner ratings well above CNN and Fox News, networks news operations long ago lost their role as the sources Americans rely on during time of major breaking news, said Donaldson

“God forbid, if someone shot the President, which network would you turn to? It will be cable, the Internet–something other than General Hospital being interrupted.”

And he’s RIGHT. More:

Increasingly, viewers will continue turning to alternative sources for everyday news as well, he said.

RIGHT again.

Donaldson was joined on the panel by CNN political analyst Jeff Greenfield and CBS Sunday Morning’s Charles Osgood., both of whom were less pessimistic about network news’ future.

“If it’s dying, it’s dying a very slow death,” Greenfield said. Although the network news monopoly was “smashed” by cable, broadcast news will redefine itself, thought he didn’t yet know how.

Osgood said the network news can remain competitive with other platforms but must be constantly reevaluated to remain competitive–a fact that makes him glad he’s at the tail end of his career rather than the beginning. “It used to be when we wanted to make a show more appealing to more people, the first thing we did was design a new set.”

The difference here is that Greenfield and Osgood, both excellent newsmen and commentators, are still closely tied to networks. They see things from the perspective of someone on the inside, looking out; Donaldson sees things more from the perspective of someone on the outside, looking in.

Which probably makes him more candid — and accurate — than ever.