"With all the news - good and bad, but mostly bad - generated by the Tony Dokoupil-led "CBS Evening News," it's hard to believe it has only been a week since he took over as anchor. Hand-picked by new CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss - whose own brief tenure has drawn well-deserved criticism - Dokoupil has had a series of questionable moments, from stumbles over which story was airing next to a cringeworthy and bizarre "salute" to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and comments about the anniversary of the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol."
"Dokoupil said on air, "President Trump today accused Democrats of failing to prevent the attack on the Capitol, while House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries accused the president of 'whitewashing it.'" Media reporter Oliver Darcy wrote for his Status newsletter, "Dokoupil's breathtaking both-sides framing of an attack carried out by a mob of ardent Trump followers sparked swift and widespread criticism, both inside and outside CBS News." CNN media reporter Brian Stelter wrote in his "Reliable Sources" newsletter, "Some high-profile CBS News staffers were aghast ... when Dokoupil's brief mention of the Jan. 6 anniversary was a both-sides mess." Stelter added, "Very Fox-y, right?" Mehdi Hasan, the veteran journalist and founder of Zeteo, tweeted, "Literally the worst kind of 'both sides' journalism. What an embarrassment." And The Bulwark's Sarah Longwell had this interesting comment on X: "Trump is getting exactly what his rich buddy paid for.""
Tony Dokoupil began as anchor of the CBS Evening News and quickly attracted criticism for on-air stumbles, an odd salute to Marco Rubio, and a controversial framing of the Jan. 6 anniversary. Journalists and media commentators labeled Dokoupil's description of the attack as a both-sides presentation and compared it to Fox-style coverage. Media figures expressed astonishment and described the segment as embarrassing. Bari Weiss placed Dokoupil in the role after a short, criticized tenure, and outside funding and leadership changes at the parent company are cited as contextual factors.
Read at Poynter
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