Mark Pasetsky's Cover Awards

The Center for Media and Public Affairs at George Mason University, where researchers have tracked network news content for two decades, found that ABC, NBC and CBS were tougher on Barack Obama than on Republican John McCain during the first six weeks of the general-election campaign, reports the L.A. Times.

During the evening news, the majority of statements from reporters and anchors on all three networks are neutral, the center found. And when network news people ventured opinions in recent weeks, 28% of the statements were positive for Obama and 72% negative.

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When Senator Barack Obama heads for Iraq and other places overseas this summer, it will be a full-court press by the major network anchors including NBC’s Brian Williams, ABC’s Charles Gibson, and CBS’ Katie Couric.

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I’m not going anywhere - don’t worry!

“I DON’T want to die. I love what I’m doing. I love Viacom. I love CBS. And so I don’t want to die. I have a will to live. The same will to win that I’ve always had. And, I’m gonna fight death as long as I can. I like it here. I don’t want to go anywhere else,” said Sumner Redstone, the head of Viacom and CBS. (Reports Page Six via CNBC’s Business Nation.)

Posted by: Mark Pasetsky

NBC is getting closer and closer to replacing Jay Leno with Conan O’Brien.

This will either be the biggest f&*k&p in history or pure genius by Jeff Zucker.

Only time will tell.

The Hollywood Reporter runs down a list of options for Jay Leno - who pretty much can do whatever he wants:

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(Image via Splash)

“This is a tragic loss for journalism and for all who were privileged to know him,” said Walter Cronkite, the retired anchor and managing editor of ”The CBS Evening News.”

BREAKING NEWS

While Larry King just inked a deal through 2011, he did not secure his 9 p.m. hour, according to Newsday.

This means Katie Couric can get the coveted time period when she reportedly leaves CBS.

We’ll have to wait and see!  But that would be a good move for Couric especially after her recent ratings disaster.

Time to pop the champagne for CBS Early Show interim executive producer Rick Kaplan, who as you know replaced the much loved Shelley Ross?

Not just yet!

An industry insider tell us that a release sent out by CBS today, titled “The Early Show Post Increases In Key News Demographics and Total Viewers for the Week of March 17,” is missing one key point.

CBS ”forced some of its local stations to drop their local newscasts for the revamped CBS Early Show.  By virtue of that (move), more viewers had to watch the CBS Early Show,” says the tipster.  Now that’s one way to boost ratings.

For the complete press release, make the jump!

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Will Katie Couric Finally Get to Host a Debate? 

The New York Times Reports today that CBS is in the running for an upcoming debate between Democratic Presidential Candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

Could this be the moment that jump-starts Katie Couric’s super slow start as anchor of the CBS Evening News?   Can it help the troubled CBS Early Show?

“There is a sense in the campaigns that it is CBS’s turn,” said one official to the New York Times.

Even CBS executives are expressing some optimism. “We’re getting a lot of positive signs,” said Sean McManus, the president of CBS News.

Will it happen?  I say the more debates the better! 

(NY Times)