Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, November 19, 1995 TAG: 9511210037
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A11 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: FRANKFORT, KY. LENGTH: Short
``I don't know what will happen - it could tear `60 Minutes' apart,'' Rooney told The State Journal, visiting town for a book signing.
Rooney, whose commentary tonight focuses on the controversy, wasn't disagreeing with the decision to pull the story: ``If I didn't think they had a point, I would walk off.''
CBS has steadfastly refused to comment on any aspect of the story.
The New York Times reported Nov. 9 that CBS News managers spiked an interview with a former tobacco company executive because they feared, in part, they would be held legally responsible for violating the man's confidentiality agreement with Brown & Williamson, where he used to work.
The show ran a different tobacco story, and media critics accused CBS News of buckling under the mere threat of costly litigation by an aggressive, well-heeled adversary.
On Thursday, The Wall Street Journal reported several seeming weaknesses in the original story: The source was paid $12,000 as a consultant on a ``60 Minutes'' report in 1994; he had been promised that his interview wouldn't air without his permission - but never gave that permission; and CBS had made a highly unusual agreement to pay his legal costs if a libel lawsuit resulted from the story.
by CNB