Television news pioneer Connie Chung's new memoir reveals behind-the-scenes dynamics during her groundbreaking career in broadcast journalism.
According to Fox News, Chung claims her CBS Evening News co-anchor Dan Rather made dismissive remarks when she joined the broadcast in 1993, including telling her to "start reading the newspaper."
The memoir, titled "Connie," details Chung's historic role as both the second woman after Barbara Walters and first Asian American to anchor a major network news broadcast. Her appointment to co-anchor CBS Evening News alongside Rather in 1993 came as the network sought to boost declining ratings.
Despite the groundbreaking nature of her position, Chung describes experiencing challenging workplace dynamics and alleged sexist behavior.
Chung writes that while Rather publicly welcomed her to the broadcast, his private interactions painted a different picture.
Beyond the newspaper comment, Rather allegedly told Chung that he would "cover the stories out there in the field" while she could "read the teleprompter." The memoir describes Rather as being "wound tight" with "no sense of humor" and harboring "an inherent bias regarding women."
Rather's alleged attempts to undermine Chung's journalistic credentials extended beyond direct interactions. According to the memoir, he questioned her abilities among their colleagues. When Chung departed CBS in 2005, Rather denied involvement in her exit, telling The Washington Post that her removal "came as a surprise to us."
The workplace dynamics described by Chung extended beyond her relationship with Rather. She coins the term "big shot-itis" to describe the behavior of male anchors in television news, citing examples like Bryant Gumbel's contract stipulations regarding co-anchor Jane Pauley's on-air greetings.
Despite the challenges, Chung's influence on broadcast journalism remains significant. Her tenure helped pave the way for women and minorities in network news. The memoir reveals that parents have named their daughters after her, and women have thanked her for breaking glass ceilings in the industry.
Following her CBS tenure, Chung joined ABC News as a co-anchor and correspondent for "20/20," working alongside Barbara Walters and Diane Sawyer. Her career included securing major interviews, notably with NBA star Magic Johnson after his HIV-positive diagnosis in 1991.
Rather, now 92, maintains an active presence on social media with notably left-wing views. He left CBS in 2006 following controversy over a discredited story about then-President George W. Bush's National Guard service.
Connie Chung's memoir "Connie" details her experience as a pioneering figure in broadcast journalism, focusing on her time at CBS Evening News from 1993 to 1995. Through her account of workplace dynamics with Dan Rather and other colleagues, she illuminates the challenges faced by women and minorities in network television news during that era.
Her story remains relevant as a historical record of changing dynamics in broadcast journalism. While Chung describes her firing from CBS as "devastating," she maintained a resilient attitude throughout her career, noting that she "never ran to the ladies room and cried" because she believed "there was no crying in baseball."
