// BEGIN editorial data var i = 0; var TVAnchorTimeline = new Array(); TVAnchorTimeline.ID = "TVAnchorTimeline"; TVAnchorTimeline.ID_WB = 14605041; TVAnchorTimeline.sPubDate = "9/6/2006 12:38:00 AM GMT"; TVAnchorTimeline.navsectionID = "3032450" TVAnchorTimeline.appFmt = 2; TVAnchorTimeline.appWidth = 460; TVAnchorTimeline.appHeader = ""; TVAnchorTimeline.appFooter = "By Michael Ventre"; TVAnchorTimeline.appNavStyle = 3; TVAnchorTimeline.appLayout = 1; TVAnchorTimeline.copyMargin = 9; TVAnchorTimeline[i++] = new Array("","1938: Birth of broadcast journalism","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); TVAnchorTimeline[i-1].body = "March 13, 1938: Famed war correspondent William L. Shirer refers to this date as “the birth of broadcast journalism.” It is the day after the Nazis marched into Austria. CBS asks Edward R. Murrow, stationed in Vienna, to arrange a network of reporters in Europe to provide radio coverage of Hitler’s advances. Murrow and Shirer not only have to assemble a team of newspaper reporters to contribute their voices, but also to come up with enough shortwave radio transmitters to make it happen. They do."; TVAnchorTimeline[i++] = new Array("","1948: First anchor, but called 'host'","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); TVAnchorTimeline[i-1].body = "Aug. 15, 1948: Douglas Edwards becomes the first host of a regular evening TV newscast, although the term “anchor” would not be used until 1952 when CBS news head Sig Mickelson uses it to describe Walter Cronkite’s role in the network’s political convention coverage for television. Edwards opens each broadcast with his signature line, “Good evening, everyone, from coast to coast.”"; TVAnchorTimeline[i++] = new Array("","1954: Walter Cronkite comes on scene","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); TVAnchorTimeline[i-1].body = "March 15, 1954: Walter Cronkite is assigned to host “The Morning Show” on CBS with Jack Paar, to compete with NBC’s already established “Today” show."; TVAnchorTimeline[i++] = new Array("","1956: 'Goodnight, Chet'","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); TVAnchorTimeline[i-1].body = "Oct. 29, 1956: NBC debuts its “Huntley-Brinkley Report,” co-hosted by veteran newsmen Chet Huntley and David Brinkley, which replaces the \"Camel News Caravan\" hosted by John Cameron Swayze. The newscast becomes known for its signature closing exchange, “Goodnight, Chet.” “Good night, David.”"; TVAnchorTimeline[i++] = new Array("","1962: Cronkite as anchor","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); TVAnchorTimeline[i-1].body = "April 16, 1962: Walter Cronkite takes over the anchor chair of “The CBS Evening News” from Douglas Edwards."; TVAnchorTimeline[i++] = new Array("","1963: News time doubles","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); TVAnchorTimeline[i-1].body = "Sept. 2, 1963: CBS expands its evening news broadcast from 15 to 30 minutes."; TVAnchorTimeline[i++] = new Array("","1963: JFK assassination","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); TVAnchorTimeline[i-1].body = "Nov. 22, 1963: Cronkite is the first anchor to break the news about the death of President John F. Kennedy. Rather and Jennings are on the scene in Dallas as reporters covering the story."; TVAnchorTimeline[i++] = new Array("","1968: Cronkite on Vietnam","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); TVAnchorTimeline[i-1].body = "Feb. 27, 1968: Upon his return from Vietnam after covering the aftermath of the Tet Offensive, Cronkite makes a candid and dramatic assessment about the war in which he declares, “We are mired in stalemate.” Many believe it causes an important shift in public opinion about the war. "; TVAnchorTimeline[i++] = new Array("","1981: Cronkite passes torch to Dan Rather","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); TVAnchorTimeline[i-1].body = "March 6, 1981: Cronkite retires. On March 9, Dan Rather takes over as anchor at CBS."; TVAnchorTimeline[i++] = new Array("","1982: Chancellor retires","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); TVAnchorTimeline[i-1].body = "April 2, 1982: John Chancellor retires as anchor of the “NBC Nightly News” – a position he held since 1970 after taking over for Huntley and Brinkley -- and is replaced by the team of Roger Mudd and Tom Brokaw."; TVAnchorTimeline[i++] = new Array("","1983: Peter Jennings' debut","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); TVAnchorTimeline[i-1].body = "Aug. 9, 1983: Peter Jennings takes over as sole anchor of “ABC World News Tonight.” He had been operating out of the network’s London bureau as one of three anchors along with Frank Reynolds and Max Robinson since 1978, until Reynolds’ untimely death causes ABC to change the format."; TVAnchorTimeline[i++] = new Array("","1983: Tom Brokaw takes over","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); TVAnchorTimeline[i-1].body = "Sept. 5, 1983: Tom Brokaw becomes the sole anchor of the “NBC Nightly News” after having shared duties since 1981 with Roger Mudd, who leaves the show to host “Meet The Press.”"; TVAnchorTimeline[i++] = new Array("","1986: 'Kenneth, what is the frequency?'","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); TVAnchorTimeline[i-1].body = "Oct. 5, 1986: Rather is attacked while walking along New York City’s Park Avenue to his apartment by a man who simply asks, “Kenneth, what is the frequency?”"; TVAnchorTimeline[i++] = new Array("","2004: CBS retracts National Guard story","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); TVAnchorTimeline[i-1].body = "Sept. 20, 2004: CBS retracts its story involving President George W. Bush and his National Guard service after the authenticity of documents come into question. The incident is said to hasten Rather’s departure from the network."; TVAnchorTimeline[i++] = new Array("","2004: Brokaw's goodbye","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); TVAnchorTimeline[i-1].body = "Dec. 1, 2004: Tom Brokaw makes his last broadcast as anchor of the “NBC Nightly News.”"; TVAnchorTimeline[i++] = new Array("","2005: Rather steps down","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); TVAnchorTimeline[i-1].body = "March 9, 2005: Dan Rather steps down as anchor of “The CBS Evening News” after 24 years. Bob Schieffer is named to replace him on an interim basis."; TVAnchorTimeline[i++] = new Array("","2005: Jennings' farewell","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); TVAnchorTimeline[i-1].body = "April 1, 2005: Peter Jennings anchors the news for the final time. Four days later, he informs viewers in a taped message that he has lung cancer."; TVAnchorTimeline[i++] = new Array("","2005: Lung cancer claims Jennings","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); TVAnchorTimeline[i-1].body = "Aug. 7, 2005: Charles Gibson announces Jennings’ death."; TVAnchorTimeline[i++] = new Array("","2006: Bob Woodruff injured by Iraq bomb","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); TVAnchorTimeline[i-1].body = "Jan. 29, 2006: ABC News anchor Bob Woodruff and his cameraman suffer serious injuries from a roadside bomb while riding in an American military convoy in Iraq. Woodruff and Elizabeth Vargas had been named in December as co-anchors to replace Jennings."; TVAnchorTimeline[i++] = new Array("","2006: Charles Gibson takes over","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); TVAnchorTimeline[i-1].body = "May 29, 2006: Charles Gibson becomes sole anchor of “ABC World News Tonight,” taking over from Woodruff, who is still recuperating from his injuries, and Vargas, who resigned and went on maternity leave."; TVAnchorTimeline[i++] = new Array("","2006: Katie Couric steps up","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); TVAnchorTimeline[i-1].body = "April 5, 2006: After much media speculation, it is announced that Katie Couric will leave NBC’s “Today” show and take over as anchor and managing editor of “The CBS Evening News.” She is the first woman to solely anchor a major network evening newscast."; // END editorial data