CBS Commentator Off Base with Criticism

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) June 2, 2008 --
Dallas, Texas (June 2, 2008) - CBS legal analyst Andrew Cohen’s blanket denunciation of the public relations profession on this week’s Sunday Morning broadcast should be an embarrassment to CBS News.
“As this is being written, CBS reporters at the network and owned and operated stations are relying on media relations professionals to help them do their jobs,” said David S. Margulies, president of the Margulies Communications Group.

“The modern media, with its limited budgets and staffing, could not function without the assistance of the public relations professionals in government and industry that Cohen accused of lying to their audiences,” said Margulies. “If these sources are really so undependable, then why do CBS reporters attend briefings in Washington and Iraq and repeat much of the information they receive in their broadcasts? Enterprise journalism would grind to a halt if journalists had to spend their time rounding up information that is compiled for them every day by public relations professionals.
“In today’s complex and litigious society, our goal is to put out accurate information,” said Margulies. “Scott McClellan’s point was that he presented inaccurate information because he was lied to by top government officials.
“Surely CBS does not endorse a commentary that labels every member of a profession as a liar,” said Margulies. “I’m sure the irony of an attorney making the charge was not lost on the program’s audience.

“Sunday Morning is one of the finest news programs on television,” said Margulies. “How the editors could allow Cohen to deliver a commentary that is this sophomoric is difficult to fathom.”
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Contacts: Bryan Matthews (214) 368-0909

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