The sudden announcement Tuesday of Dan Rather's exit from the "CBS Evening News," coming nearly two years before his contract was to end, leaves no clear successor in an already troubled news operation.
The search for Rather's replacement gets underway as the network is bracing for a report from independent investigators that many expect will be critical of the outgoing anchor and the legendary news division.
The hope is that new blood could help revive the No. 3-ranked "CBS Evening News," which has struggled to retain viewers in an increasingly fragmented media landscape.
A frequently cited short list of potential heirs for the 73-year-old Rather, who will leave in March, includes a pair of internal candidates: John Roberts, the White House correspondent who many believe has the inside track, and Scott Pelley, a correspondent for the Wednesday edition of "60 Minutes."
Leslie Moonves, co-president of CBS parent company Viacom Inc., said in an interview that, in addition to the "usual suspects," the network might also consider some long-shot candidates. He declined to provide names, although CBS' Russ Mitchell and MSNBC's Lester Holt have occasionally been mentioned in connection with the "CBS Evening News" job.
Andrew Heyward, CBS News president said: "This is not a shock to us, so we have a process in place. While the timetable may be short by industry standards, we can certainly have an orderly transition. We have good options." He wouldn't comment further about the timing or who is on the list.
The announcement of Rather's departure comes the week before Tom Brokaw turns the "NBC Nightly News" anchor chair over to Brian Williams. Moonves said Brokaw's retirement, along with Rather's exit, marked the end of a chapter for broadcast TV news.
"It's a different era now, with both Brokaw and Rather leaving," Moonves said. "When they came in, there was no CNN, no Fox News. People didn't get their news on the Internet."
But there's another important factor affecting the choice of a successor. In September, "60 Minutes" aired a story that examined whether President Bush received favorable treatment during his Vietnam-era military service.
Critics raised numerous questions about documents used in the report, and Rather became the focal point in the ensuing national controversy.
The network tapped former U.S. Atty. Gen. Richard L. Thornburgh and former Associated Press executive Louis D. Boccardi to investigate the incident. Their report is expected next month.
