Finding Real Journalism in the Midst of '90s Sensationalism

The Newsmagazine

I don't really like the news. Oh, don't get me wrong. I love hearing about world events, and I'm a big fan of CNN. I've even been known to pick up a newspaper once in a while. But the 'news' today is way different from the news of the past. News today always seems to be suplimented by Hollywood stories, the stuff 'Hard Copy' pushes. That's why I like Dateline NBC and 20/20. Those TV newsmagazine accentuate what real journalism is all about.

No, there will never be another Edward R. Murrow. Or another Charles Krualt. Even the Walter Cronkites of this world have diasapeared. But my generation, those of us who weren't aquanited with those great newsmen, are content with our Jane Pauleys and Diane Sawyers and Sam Donaldsons.

To start off, I should mention that I've only been watching these news programs for two or three years, so if I'm misguided in the following information, feel free to email me and send a correction. Okay, here goes nothing. 20/20 and Dateline NBC air on different networks, usually at about 10 o'clock at night.

Primetime Live began in 1989 and, despite stiff competition from Dateline NBC, Primetime holds its own. The show is anchored by Diane Sawyer and Sam Donaldson. Each newsman has an impressive list of credits and continues to provide cuting-edge and hard-hitting reports on world news and stories of interest.

Primetime Live recently merged with 20/20 in order to strengthen ABC's news division. The final broadcast of Primetime Live included updates on stories the show had done since it's start in the late 80s. And, sadly, the last time I heard Sam Donaldson give his funny sign-off signal, "...join us next time for 'Primetime Live'! That man gets a little too jazzed about his work:)

20/20, that other ABC newsmagazine staple, is hosted by Hugh Downs and Barbara Walters. I don't watch this one as much as Dateline and Primtime, simply because I can't stand Barbara Walters. But this is still an excellent show, mainly because of Downs' steady professionalism and the great correspondant reporting.

Jane Pauley is the principal anchor of Dateline NBC, which is currently the hightest-rated newsmagazine on television today. Stone Phillips is her co-host, and the show continues to rake in the awards, (and ratings) each time Dateline hits the airwaves. Jane is much more professional and friendly than Barbara Walters, and she's a good friend of David Letterman. I find her style of interviewing to be compassionate and throuough, much like Diane Sawyer.

Stone Phillips may looks a little young (when compared to Sam Donaldson and Hugh Downs), but he deserves the position of principal anchor of Dateline NBC. Stone made his way onto network telvision when he gained attention from his work on 20/20 and Good Morning America. He's won countless awards for his work on Dateline, and once interviewed Russian President Boris Yeltsin aboared the president's private airplane, something which no American reporter had yet done.

Well, that's all I have to say about newsmagizines. Check out the VERY hard-to-find homepages of these fine programs, and let's continue on this magical journey that is my whoredom.

Dateline NBC A fine page that thoroughly recounts all the major stories of previous Dateline broadcasts. I like the design of this site.

20/20 Another okay homepage brought to you by ABC. You can find out a lot about 20/20s long history.

All logos, pictures, ect, are copyright: NBC, and ABC.