NEWSWEEK: Matt Lauer and Tim Russert on Wish List of Outsiders That CBS Has Considered as Possible Successors to Anchor Dan Rather

NEWSWEEK: Matt Lauer and Tim Russert on Wish List of Outsiders That CBS Has Considered as Possible Successors to Anchor Dan Rather

		The December 6 issue of Newsweek (on newsstands Monday, November 29) focuses on the quest for new drugs to improve memory. Newsweek's special report also looks at stem-cell research, efforts to combat resistance to antibiotics, and post traumatic stress disorder in Iraq war veterans. Also, exclusive interviews with Ariel Sharon and new PLO leader Mahmoud Abbas. Plus, Karl Rove's future, the search for Dan Rather's replacement, and an exclusive report from the New Zealand set of 'King Kong.' (PRNewsFoto) NEW YORK, NEW YORK USA

NEW YORK, Nov. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- The names of NBC's "The Today Show" co-host Matt Lauer and "Meet the Press" host Tim Russert are on a wish list of outsiders that CBS has considered as successors to Dan Rather, who announced last week that he would step down in March after 24 years in the anchor chair, Newsweek reports in the current issue. (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041128/NYSU004 ) For now, according to senior officials of parent company Viacom, CBS execs have decided to move on to other potential candidates. Among them are two oft-mentioned internal prospects: CBS's chief White House correspondent John Roberts and "60 Minutes Wednesday" correspondent Scott Pelley. But the fact that CBS is even considering Lauer and Russert, two of broadcast journalism's biggest stars, is a sign of CBS chairman Leslie Moonves's determination to dramatically overhaul CBS News in the wake of Rather's departure, reports Senior Writer Johnnie L. Roberts in the December 6 issue of Newsweek (on newsstands Monday, November 29). According to the Viacom sources, the lagging ratings for "CBS Evening News" and the embarrassment of the "60 Minutes II" report about President Bush's Vietnam-era service in the National Guard (which Rather later acknowledged was based on forged documents) has presented Moonves, who is also a Viacom co-president, with the opportunity to revamp the news operations, Roberts reports. CBS News has languished in third place for years. Until recently, the corporate bosses held off attempting to renovate CBS News, according to high- ranking Viacom sources. "They considered it sacred territory," says one source, adding that they had feared major changes would generate a backlash at CBS News and lead to the kind of unwanted headlines generated by their efforts to persuade Don Hewitt to relinquish control of "60 Minutes." Roberts reports that the overhaul won't necessarily stop with naming new on-air personalities or off-camera producers, according to the Viacom sources. Andrew Heyward, CBS News president, will come under renewed scrutiny and may be asked to resign, the Viacom sources say. "We don't comment on rumor and speculation," said Gil Schwartz, a CBS spokesman. (Article attached. Read Newsweek's news releases at http://www.Newsweek.com. Click "Pressroom" at bottom of page.) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6594608/site/newsweek /