CNN President Jon Klein demonstrated his true commitment to solid news values (not!) when he let loose with his feelings about the first woman to solo-anchor a nightly news broadcast show in an interview withThe Philadelphia Inquirer's Gail Shister: "He’s high on new 'CBS Evening News' anchor Katie Couric. 'I love her on the air. It’s refreshing to see a woman in that role, and it gives them a star with fire in the belly.'"
But then he continued to say more, as he moved his focus from Couric's belly to other of her body parts. Shister continues: "In a dubious distinction he’ll most likely regret making, Klein anoints Couric as 'the sexiest of the news anchors. The shoulders don’t hurt, and the legs have to be considered.'"
I wonder what the National Organization of Women and other guardians of feminist p.c. will have to say in reaction to these words. If Roger Ailes had said this, imagine the screams of "sexism" and "male chauvinist pig" that would be heard across the land. But maybe CNN, which is so p.c. most of the time, will get a pass--just as Ted Turner always gets a pass.
Klein has a right to his opinions, of course, but in wandering off into "lookism," Klein spoiled what should have been his message of the day: That Lou Dobbs is moving to a seven-night-a-week format.
