CBS Reports

''CBS Reports'' is the umbrella title used for documentaries by CBS News which aired starting in 1959 through the 1990s. The series sometimes aired as a wheel series rotating with ''60 Minutes'' (or other similar CBS News series), as a series of its own, or as specials. The program aired as a constant series from 1959 to 1971.

Origin

''CBS Reports'' premiered on October 27, 1959. Brooks, Tim & Marsh, Earle. (1979). '' The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946–Present''. Ballantine Books, p. 95. It was intended to be a successor to Edward R. Murrow's influential '' See It Now'', which had ended 15 months prior, and employed several members of the ''See It Now'' production staff. For the remainder of 1959 and through 1960, ''CBS Reports'' was broadcast on an irregular basis as a series of specials.

The network gave ''CBS Reports'' a regular primetime slot in January 1961, at 10 p.m. (EST) on Thursdays. That placed it against two "tremendously popular" established shows, '' The Untouchables'' on ABC and '' Sing Along With Mitch'' on NBC.Harding, Henry. (1962, April 28-May 4). ''For The Record''. TV Guide, New York State Edition, p. 14-1. Consequently, ''CBS Reports'' was pre-empted by a high number of CBS affiliates that aired local programming in its timeslot.

When the networks announced their Fall 1962 schedules, ''Sing Along With Mitch'' and ''The Untouchables'' had been moved from the Thursday 10 p.m. timeslot. However, CBS also decided to move ''CBS Reports'' to Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. (EST), explaining that "the earlier hour will permit more young people to watch the program." But that move again put the program up against two "consistent rating leaders," '' The Virginian'' on NBC and ''Wagon Train'' on ABC.

''CBS Reports'' continued to lead the network's Wednesday primetime line-up until Fall 1965, when the network placed '' Lost In Space'' in the 7:30 p.m. Wednesday timeslot and moved ''CBS Reports'' to Tuesday at 10 p.m., opposite '' The Fugitive'' on ABC and NBC's ''Tuesday Night at the Movies''.

Revivals

The ''CBS Reports'' banner was brought back into use in 2009, with the series ''CBS Reports: Children of the Recession''. Instead of being a stand-alone documentary, the new incarnation consisted of reports across all CBS News platforms. Katie Couric led coverage. The series of reports won the a Columbia School of Journalism Alfred DuPont Award. In January 2010, a second Couric-led series aired, ''CBS Reports: Where America Stands''.

When the CBSN streaming service rebranded to one bearing the CBS News name in January 2022, it was also announced that the ''CBS Reports'' banner would return once again, starting on February 25. Gayle King will host the first new documentary aired under that banner, and all documentaries previously under the CBSN Originals banner will be updated to CBS Reports.

Notable episodes

''CBS Reports'' received a Peabody Award in 1960 for the episode " Harvest of Shame", which examined the lives of migrant workers in the United States. ''CBS Reports'' also received Peabody Awards for ''Storm Over the Supreme Court'', ''KKK - The Invisible Empire'', ''The Poisoned Air'', ''Hunger in America'', ''The Battle for South Africa'', '' The Boston Goes to China'', '' The Vanishing Family - Crisis in Black America'', ''D-Day'', and for Roger Mudd's interview with Ted Kennedy.

1961's '' Biography of a Bookie Joint'', which documented an illegal bookmaking establishment in Boston, was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Program of the Year. Boston Police Commissioner Leo J. Sullivan was forced to resign after the episode, which showed members of his department visiting the gambling establishment.

'' CBS Reports: The Homosexuals'', which aired in 1967, was the first time homosexuality was presented on a national network broadcast. "The Homosexuals" was praised for debunking negative stereotypes, but also condemned for generalizations and promoting other stereotypes. LGBT activist Wayne Besen called "The Homosexuals" "the single most destructive hour of antigay propaganda in our nation's history." ''Gay Power, Gay Politics'', which aired in 1980, was also criticized for unfairly misrepresenting a number of sexual issues, reinforcing stereotypes, and making homosexuals appear as threats to public decency.Alwood, Edward (1998). Straight News. Columbia University Press CBS later apologized for manipulating the soundtrack of a speech made by San Francisco Mayor Dianne Feinstein the first time that the LGBT community had received an apology from a major news organization.

In 1982, General William Westmoreland sued George Crile III, Mike Wallace, and CBS for libel after the network aired '' The Uncounted Enemy'', which contended that Westmoreland had manipulated intelligence reports about enemy strength in order to create the impression of progress. Westmoreland dropped his lawsuit, '' Westmoreland v. CBS''; however, CBS lost its libel insurance over the case.

References

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1959 American television series debuts
1950s American documentary television series
1960s American documentary television series
1970s American documentary television series
1980s American documentary television series
1990s American documentary television series
2000s American documentary television series
2010s American documentary television series

American television series revived after cancellation
Peabody Award-winning television programs