Appearing on the July 28, 2009 broadcast of The Late Show with David Letterman, Couric speaks about modern era news standards and the role the Internet has played in the evolution of news. Click the rt. arrow below to play the audio clip.

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Katie Couric, CBS News anchor, “It’s a very different environment, standards have been lowered. I think, partially because in some cases the Internet. And in other cases the need for 24 hour news. So sometimes sources can’t be checked. Things get on the air -that opinion often passes as fact.”

Letterman, “How can the Internet be charged with lowering the (standards) bar”

Couric, “Well, I think it’s the democratization of the media, which is a good thing. I think the more people who have voices the better. I just think there are many opinions out there without portfolio and it’s hard to, I think, sometimes differentiate people who are knowledgeable, experienced, understanding of the news vs. people who are just spouting their opinions.”

Letterman, “Is this an ongoing philosophical conversation you have with CBS News? Do we (Letterman also appearing on CBS) bend a little bit because this is the way things are?”

Couric, “No, I don’t think our (CBS News) standards have changed at all.”

Letterman, “And do you think that perhaps that would be detrimental to you and the organization?”

Couric, “If we lowered our standards?”

Letterman, “If we lowered our standards, yeah?”

Couric, “Yes I do. I mean, you know, hopefully people still want to have credible, accurate, news sources.”

Ms. Couric, with all due respect, and I sincerely mean that, how could anyone in your position of power believe that CBS News is either credible or accurate? To be credible there can be no secrets. You must also not be afraid to ask any specific person any specific question. To be accurate, every angle of every important news story would receive equal attention to detail and editing.

It’s rare that I post the same audio clip into a piece that can be found on another piece within this site. However, this clip is from a former CBS anchor speaking on the issue of, asking tough questions and not allowing the question to go unanswered.

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Let’s be totally honest here Katie. You and I both know that certain issues, persons or agents of influence are denied or restricted from objective coverage on CBS News.

The people aren’t interested in Texas Congressman Ron Paul or, professor/former federal banking regulator William K. Black… Who cares if certain New York CEO’s, CFO’s and COO’s are guilty of committing accounting fraud? Why did former Senator Phil Gramm feel so strongly about gutting the Glass-Steagall Act? and who’s money was behind the gutting? Why did Fannie Mae or Freddy Mac even concern themselves over liability language in the GFLA? and who’s money went south to defeat former Georgia Governor Roy Barnes? Could some of these same “money” sources who campaigned and financially supported deregulation (S-900) also become recipients of hundreds of billions of future US tax obligation (TARP/Bailout Funds)?

These are just a few questions that on rare occasion go asked? How could the governed (meaning you and I) ever give our consent if we’re always kept in the dark? CBS News has the talent and the ability to report the truth and nothing but the truth. What they and other major news media organizations seem to lack is the will.

And finally, the size or value of ones media portfolio has no bearing on what questions are being asked of whom. At this particular site, we ask the questions that the mainstream press would rather ignore. That’s not opinion but fact. If you still believe that your organization (CBS News) is credible and not what this site believes it to be, an elitist-controlled purveyor of propaganda, simply scan this entire site and take note of all of our unanswered questions. Once collected, give these questions to your finest reporters and tell them to get ‘real’ answers.

In other words, don’t tell me that CBS News has high standards, show me!

Steven Thompson, Admin
Freedom From The Press