After 40 years in the news business, there are those of us who knew a different world. The girls like Connie Chung were sweet and sexy as well as professional; the guys like Pat O’Brien were cool as a cucumber.
There was a time when, if some cub reporter didn’t hit on you, you’d almost seem like a loser.
Those were the days and nights when the newsroom was a haze of smoke and many a good glass was had at Roy’s Restaurant and Simply Blues after the 11:30 debriefing. It was exciting. We had our heroes like Walter Cronkite, Bob Schieffer, Lesley Stahl, Bill Stout, Charlie Kuralt, Barry Petersen, Martha Teichner and Anthony Mason—not to mention “60 Minutes” keeping up the gold standard at the Tiffany Network. Some iconic pros are still around and if you want to check out their work, they’ve all been rounded up on “Sunday Morning” at 6:30 a.m. Sunday mornings, showing what premiere journalism and storytelling is all about.
I worked with talented but disgraced host Charlie Rose, in a perfectly proper professional environment. I worked at NBC but had no interaction with Matt Lauer, and at Fox, I could only view the dark presence of Bill O’Reilly from afar.
While I am a solid soul sister with the #metoo movement, I was shocked by allegations against Tom Brokaw. Come on, people. I say it’s gone too far. Dozens of NBC female employees agree, siding with the versatile and much-honored Brokaw.
When I was a young writer/producer at CBS, I had the opportunity to meet my idol Uncle Walter (with a chaperone). We all took in a Vegas show. Beforehand, fans lined up for Walter Cronkite with their cocktail napkins for his John Hancock, which he performed with grace and charm. Later, I had a spin on the dance floor and was given a red rose. At no time did I feel threatened.
It was just a major highlight in the life of a young journalist. I knew Walter adored his wife and there was nothing beyond that.
Class, no class, I’ve seen it all, but never anything along the lines of the complaints we’ve been hearing about. So, Malibu Seen says be smart, you take every case on its merit.
And that’s the way it is.