Liz Smith | 09/18/2009 12:00 am

Liz Smith: Older Americans Like to Watch Older Male Anchors

In response to: First came Katie Couric, and now we have Diane Sawyer. Is gender bias in television journalism a thing of the past?

The gender bias in television when it comes to women anchors is that older Americans who watch the news seem to like to get their news from older men. So really, after Barbara Walters and Connie Chung tried and weren’t even given a break, what’s the news there? Then we have Katie, who works hard but news giving, I fear, isn’t her strong point. That I think Diane Sawyer was just born for the job and the job is coming late will be interesting.

I really welcome her. If anybody can pull a lady rabbit out of a hat, it will be Ms. Sawyer. It isn’t females of the gender who are dying on TV; it’s TV itself.

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"Older" carries with it, "experience", whether it’s a man or a woman. Barbara Walters does what she does well, though she’s gained her reputation as a "sob sister". Consider the questions she poses when interviewing. I never took Connie Chung seriously & evidently, neither did those who hire anchors. Diane Sawyer is another case entirely. It’s about time. She has experience, smarts & class. I’ll miss Charlie Gibson very much, but look forward to Diane’s debut on World News. I am also tired of all the anchors who think it cool to flaunt the cleavage, hair extensions & lip gloss. Sure, they get attention from male viewers, but I think that the eye candy should be saved for other media.

By Carole Del Monte on 09/18/2009 6:17 am

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A "sob sister" is a rather unfair characterization. She knows how to interview and as is often the case, she gets to the heart of the matter with a person about something personal in their lives, be it alcohol, drug dependency, perhaps a criminal incident in their earlier lives, dysfunctional family relationships, death of someone important in their lives and that often illicits an emotional response. The fact that the interviewee comments that she made them cry is because the nuance of a question, often triggers a long-forgotten memory or a recent private event in their lives.

By Carol Harrison on 09/18/2009 7:57 pm

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Definition of a sob sister: "A journalist, especially a woman, employed as a writer or an editor of sob stories". I realize that there is an audience for this type of interview, but I think it’s intrusive, & it makes me feel uncomfortable. It’s a hell of a way to make a living. I also resent it whenever the camera pans in to the face of someone affected by a tragedy, to catch their tears & misery. I still don’t think that Barbara Walters has the background or experience to carry World News Tonight. She’s a remarkable woman & I enjoyed reading her autobiography, but she belongs in the "Entertainment" category.

By Carole Del Monte on 09/19/2009 1:26 pm

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I no longer watch network news, so I don’t really care. I was watching Bob Shieffer, but Katie started. I watch MSNBC.

By Shera Sutherland on 09/18/2009 7:44 am

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Bob Schieffer RULES!

By David Cuthberr on 09/18/2009 9:42 am

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Katie Couric was the last person I wanted to host CBS Evening News. John Roberts should have gotten it, or Harry Smith, or Russ Mitchell. Not Katie! I suffered through the sitting on the desk with her legs crossed, and other cute little touches. When the critics started taking shots at her, she paid attention. Now I actually think she is doing a great job and I watch every night via DVR. Way to go, Katie!

By Scottie Parker on 09/18/2009 9:57 am

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Maybe it’s because we don’t want women to look serious. I’m going to love having two women anchors.

By Laura Ward on 09/18/2009 12:03 pm

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Anchors says men, women anchors says that men are usually anchors. I hope the day comes when anchors as a profession, matters more than gender. First Katie Couric and now….Diane Sawyer. Gender should not be an issue when it comes to anchoring the 6 o’clock evening news. I don’t watch the big three….CBS, NBC or ABC nor MSNBC or CNBC. I only watch CNN. Women anchor CNN from a.m. to p.m. six days a week. Age in women who are anchors….should not be a factor. Viewers, particularly certain demographics, seem to like men anchoring the 6 o’clock news slot. Why…..viewers, women and/or men may prefer men to women, is beyond me.

By Carol Harrison on 09/18/2009 7:51 pm

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It will be interesting to see Diane Sawyer in the job, I think she is a good choice and should have had the job when Gibson got it.

There is just something about Katie I can’t put my finger on it but I don’t really care for her personally, so I can’t watch her.

I like Brian Williams, that is who I watch but I’ll give Diane a look see.

By Norma Grooms on 09/18/2009 1:52 pm

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If this was the case, wouldn’t Diane Sawyer have been promoted to the spot instead of Charlie Gibson a few years back? And, if we’re all so ready, why are white men still the predominant faces we see on networks and cable?

http://www.punditmom.com/2009/09/katie-couric-and-diane-sawyer-are-no-ne…

By Joanne Bamberger on 09/18/2009 4:21 pm

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Thank God for Barbara Walters and Diane Sawyer and Ms. Chung, and the so many other female news casters. My parents generation felt comfortable with Male news anchors, but when I was growing up and raising my children I was so happy to see a female face and perspective on the world and local events. Women are more analytical then men I believe and they put a spin on the news that men just can’t. I must say thank you to Barbar Walters because she is the "First Lady of Journalism.

By Deniseann Taylor on 09/18/2009 9:05 pm

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"…they put a spin on the news that men just can’t."

I don’t want anyone, male or female, "spinning" the news. That’s why I don’t watch any news at all; I listen to BBC and Deutsche Welle news on NPR (National Public Radio) via our MPBN (Maine Public Broadcasting Network). These are the only sources left (that I know of) that present the news in an unbiased manner, with no position voiced or inferred. I am left with a report of occurrences (including who, what, when, where, how, and sometimes why) to draw my own conclusions — good old-fashioned journalism at its best. As Jack Webb’s character, Detective Joe Friday, used to say on the radio drama, Dragnet, "Just the facts, ma’am."

By Obediah Fults on 09/20/2009 6:09 am

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Obediah by "Spin" I meant that their point of view would be vastly different then a man’s. Women wear more "hats" in our society then men, Were Daughters, Sisters, Mothers, Wives, Housekeepers, Financially responsible for the care and paying of the bills (in most homes, not all), were the Peace keepers and the glue that keeps the family together. Most men go to work, and come home, eat dinner, and watch TV (not all, but most do), on their wkends they do the "honey do list jobs" and if were lucky we might get rewarded once or twice a month with a nite out with our man.

That’s how I’ve seen it as a kid, teen, wife, mother, in my circle of friends and family it is just as I described above. Also when extra money was needed, it was the wife/mother who got a second job, (Avon, Mary Kay, Tupperware), as I said this is what I’ve seen repeatedly over and over again in my life and those of my friends, family, and the women of my church.

By Deniseann Taylor on 09/20/2009 8:42 am

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Deniseann, no point of view belongs in news reporting. That’s what editorials are for! Americans have become so accustomed to news as entertainment and as opinion pieces, that most don’t even recognize the subliminal lift of an eyebrow or eye-roll as being editorial any more. A news reporters job is not to comment on the news, it is to report it. Cronkite should never have removed his glasses when JFK died. That was the beginning of the end.

By Obediah Fults on 09/20/2009 10:56 am