With still an hour to go before the news would be reported on the CBS Evening News Tuesday, the coverage of Dan Rather's departure suggested the media history spanned by his 56-year career.
Especially, perhaps, on cbsnews.com, where a liftout in the article announcing the news quoted the former anchor on his Texas childhood: "We didn't own a TV set, and we didn't know anybody who did."
The network's 1,300-word account of Rather's departure included links to the official CBS statement (PDF), the note Rather released to Jim Romenesko (PDF) challenging the official statement, and the latest entry on the network's PublicEye, the blog created by the network "to bring transparency to the editorial operations of CBS News." Not exactly the kind of package you would haven gotten from the CBS News of old.
There was plenty of coverage by mainstream media, and, by early evening, Technorati had accumulated 45,591 links to Rather-related blogs -- that upstart new media creation that played such a central role in his undoing as a network newsman.
At Poynter on Tuesday, Library Director David Shedden added an update to the timeline he created when the controversy over Rather's coverage of President Bush's National Guard service erupted in 2004. In light of Rather's pledge to "do the work I love elsewhere," we can stay tuned for further updates.
Some links and resources on the story:
Dan Rather Timeline and Resources
By David Shedden
Latest Coverage
Romenesko
"Dan Rather" standing search
Google News
By Amy Gahran
"I leave CBS News with tremendous memories," says Rather
Romenesko
Dan Rather Reportedly Considering Offer From HDNet
AP story posted by Fox News
Rather reaches agreement to leave CBS News after 44 years
CBS story linked by Romenesko
CBS, Rather to cut ties
Dallas Morning News
Timeline: The unraveling of Rather's Report
Poynter Online
