In January 1995, the Connie Chung's interview with the parents of then Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich was broadcast "in context". 'The Los Angeles Times' reported, "(It) was the interview that caused a furor that crossed the political spectrum." The interview shown in the 'Eye To Eye' new time slot (9pm), attracted 10.9% households ratings and 16% audience share. The first half of the program was up against the sitcom 'Seinfeld' which attracted 23.2% households ratings and 33% audience share.
At the time, Eric Ober of CBS insisted, "I am confident of our journalism on this story, but I don't think we should have released those quotes (of what Kathleen Gingrich's son said)
about just one element in the story. The timing may cause conservatives to think we were out to 'get' Gingrich - but in no way was that the case."
Bryce Nelson, a professor of journalism at the University of Southern California, maintained, "It doesn't have anything to do with ideology. It was the quest for gossipy journalism. They would have done it no matter what party."
Everette Dennis, executive director of the Freedom Forum Media Studies Center at Columbia University told 'The Los Angeles Times', "For a conservative critic like Rush Limbaugh, this flap will be a great example to reinforce their belief that the media are liberals who are out to get a conservative like Newt Gingrich. I'm sure that CBS released those quotes for the simple reason of hyping the story and getting a good rating - but the timing, the day before the Speaker was inaugurated, looks like they were trying to spoil a very important day for him."
Jenn Shreve of 'Salon' website reported, "In January 1995, the Republicans were in full gloat mode after reclaiming the House and Senate. You couldn't turn on the TV or listen to the radio without hearing the voice of a jubilant, promise-wielding House speaker named Newt Gingrich."
Connie Chung was criticized for using "cheap, journalistic trick." On radio talk shows and in cyberspace bulletin boards, voters opposed Connie's "just between you and me" technique.
In defense, Connie Chung argued, "There's been more talk about how Mrs. Gingrich came to tell us what she says is her son's five-letter opinion about the First Lady than about her son's opinion himself. Mrs. Gingrich was sitting before three cameras and television lights with a microphone on. It was clear that what she said would be broadcast."
In 1989, Connie Chung's agent, Alfred Geller, successfully negotiated for Connie a reportedly $2 million-a-year job at CBS based on her enormously marketable quality. The daughter of Chinese immigrants who came to Washington in 1945, Connie Chung received a degree in journalism from the University of Maryland in 1969 and in 1971, started her TV news journalism. At the time Connie reportedly did not seem to mind making enemies in high places to get the whole story.
In 1993,
Connie Chung became the nation's first Asian American TV network co-anchor, seated to the left of veteran newscaster Dan Rather.
CBS News was one of America's most revered network newscasts. However due to "sagging ratings", the network decided to restore to the solo status on the flagship newscast in 1995. At the time, Connie Chung's contract with the network had less than a year remaining.
It was understood the network had offered Connie the job of weekend anchor as well as substituting for Dan Rather when he was absent. Connie, who was married to Maury Povich, former host of Fox's 'A Current Affair', stated at the time, "In 1995 I just think it's inappropriate for the only woman on the three major network programs to have anything less than full and equal status."
Of Connie Chung's role on 'Eye To Eye', one CBS staffer told 'The Washington Post', "It's schizophrenic. One day you tell her to go chase after Tonya Harding (February 1994, Lillehammer) and do a lot of celebrity interviews, and the next day she's a hard-news person with a great deal of weight. You are creating an identity crisis as to who Connie Chung is."
Andrew Heyward conceded, "There is a potential image problem there that obviously I'm concerned about." David Zurawik of 'Baltimore Sun' added, "The truth is that both CBS and Chung are to blame for the fact that her exploits as a prime-time newsmagazine interviewer made her seem too lightweight for the more serious evening newscast."
Of 'Eye To Eye', Connie Chung told 'The Washington Post' in 1993, "We don't think we need to be different just to be different. It's good stories, well told. But since there are so many (newsmagazines) on the air, it's important for us to distinguish ourselves. For one thing, we're going to be topical - news of the day or of the week, we'll try to do. We'll see how well.
"Pieces will be taped in advance. It's likely that we'll tape the program itself the day of, unless it is a really big story and we think we ought to do it live. We are going to vary the length of the pieces. Most of the programs are three pieces and a kicker. People are such channel surfers. Maybe we can drag them back when they leave. We're going to hope they come back, anyway."
David Zurawik of 'Baltimore Sun' continued, "But, while CBS urged her to get interviews with the likes of Harding and Faye Resnick (author of a controversial book about Nicole Brown Simpson) to hype the ratings of 'Eye To Eye', it is Chung herself who so embraced the tabloid sensibility and mindless celebration of celebrity. Never once in recent years did she question any of it. She was only too happy to be measured by what she and many other newsmagazine anchors call 'gets' - exclusive interviews with a Harding or a Resnick when they are hot."
On reflection, Howard Rosenberg remarked, "What you note most about their split is how much more attention it is getting compared with the CBS News budget slashing cuts of several years ago. The attention now lavished on them as individuals affirms in bright neon just how personality driven TV news has become. It affirms that the industry's relentless P.R. has worked, that we have become as impressed with the celebrities who deliver the news as with the celebrities who make the news."
In 1997, Connie Chung became one of the few reporters to have worked at all the Big Three networks (NBC, CBS and ABC). Speaking to 'Washington Magazine' in 1999, Connie Chung expressed, "I was away from television for almost two and a half years (1995-97). When I came back, I found the competition much worse. Before, the arena was pretty much limited to big-name 'gets'. Now it's spread to the kind of stories you find on the back pages of a newspaper. Just about any story we think about doing, whether we've read it in a newspaper, heard it on the radio or come upon it through word of mouth - by the time you get there, every other network, cable station and talk show is already racing to the scene."
Of 'Eye To Eye', Andrew Heyward told 'The Washington Post', "The program is built around her, her personality … People who try to be different for the sake of being different often get into trouble. I'm a big believer in authenticity as a kind of an indicator of success in television. News in particular has a way of revealing the inner personality. I know it sounds oxymoronic, but Connie is an accessible star. She's glamorous, but you wouldn't be threatened if she came into your living room. If you opened the door and Dan was there, you might be excited, but, you know, it's a little scary. Whereas with Connie you'd say, 'Come in.'"
It was understood the network had offered Connie the job of weekend anchor as well as substituting for Dan Rather when he was absent. Connie, who was married to Maury Povich, former host of Fox's 'A Current Affair', stated at the time, "In 1995 I just think it's inappropriate for the only woman on the three major network programs to have anything less than full and equal status."
Of Connie Chung's role on 'Eye To Eye', one CBS staffer told 'The Washington Post', "It's schizophrenic. One day you tell her to go chase after Tonya Harding (February 1994, Lillehammer) and do a lot of celebrity interviews, and the next day she's a hard-news person with a great deal of weight. You are creating an identity crisis as to who Connie Chung is."
Andrew Heyward conceded, "There is a potential image problem there that obviously I'm concerned about." David Zurawik of 'Baltimore Sun' added, "The truth is that both CBS and Chung are to blame for the fact that her exploits as a prime-time newsmagazine interviewer made her seem too lightweight for the more serious evening newscast."
Of 'Eye To Eye', Connie Chung told 'The Washington Post' in 1993, "We don't think we need to be different just to be different. It's good stories, well told. But since there are so many (newsmagazines) on the air, it's important for us to distinguish ourselves. For one thing, we're going to be topical - news of the day or of the week, we'll try to do. We'll see how well.
"Pieces will be taped in advance. It's likely that we'll tape the program itself the day of, unless it is a really big story and we think we ought to do it live. We are going to vary the length of the pieces. Most of the programs are three pieces and a kicker. People are such channel surfers. Maybe we can drag them back when they leave. We're going to hope they come back, anyway."
David Zurawik of 'Baltimore Sun' continued, "But, while CBS urged her to get interviews with the likes of Harding and Faye Resnick (author of a controversial book about Nicole Brown Simpson) to hype the ratings of 'Eye To Eye', it is Chung herself who so embraced the tabloid sensibility and mindless celebration of celebrity. Never once in recent years did she question any of it. She was only too happy to be measured by what she and many other newsmagazine anchors call 'gets' - exclusive interviews with a Harding or a Resnick when they are hot."
On reflection, Howard Rosenberg remarked, "What you note most about their split is how much more attention it is getting compared with the CBS News budget slashing cuts of several years ago. The attention now lavished on them as individuals affirms in bright neon just how personality driven TV news has become. It affirms that the industry's relentless P.R. has worked, that we have become as impressed with the celebrities who deliver the news as with the celebrities who make the news."
In 1997, Connie Chung became one of the few reporters to have worked at all the Big Three networks (NBC, CBS and ABC). Speaking to 'Washington Magazine' in 1999, Connie Chung expressed, "I was away from television for almost two and a half years (1995-97). When I came back, I found the competition much worse. Before, the arena was pretty much limited to big-name 'gets'. Now it's spread to the kind of stories you find on the back pages of a newspaper. Just about any story we think about doing, whether we've read it in a newspaper, heard it on the radio or come upon it through word of mouth - by the time you get there, every other network, cable station and talk show is already racing to the scene."
Of 'Eye To Eye', Andrew Heyward told 'The Washington Post', "The program is built around her, her personality … People who try to be different for the sake of being different often get into trouble. I'm a big believer in authenticity as a kind of an indicator of success in television. News in particular has a way of revealing the inner personality. I know it sounds oxymoronic, but Connie is an accessible star. She's glamorous, but you wouldn't be threatened if she came into your living room. If you opened the door and Dan was there, you might be excited, but, you know, it's a little scary. Whereas with Connie you'd say, 'Come in.'"
