CBS News Prez to be Forced Out?

The New York Daily News reports that Andrew Heyward, CBS News president during the network's scandal over bogus documents meant to damage Bush, may be on the way out. His contract is up at the end of the year, and many have interpreted the words of CBS Chairman Les Moonves to mean Heyward is on the rocks.

Moonves was quoted in The New York Times Magazine as saying, "We have to break the mold in news," "I want to bomb the whole building" and that Heyward might not be able to "lead a revolution."

Others are speculating that another factor is the fallout from the soon-to-be-released book by fired 60 Minutes producer Mary Mapes.

Also a possible factor, I'm told, is the expected fallout from fired producer Mary Mapes' memoir when it's published Nov. 8 and serialized in Vanity Fair. I hear that the book will cast Heyward unfavorably in the George Bush-National Guard controversy that forced Dan Rather from the anchor's chair.

Andrew Heyward has lasted for a comparatively long time as president of the news division. So long, in fact, that according to his official biography, his tenure "is the second-longest of any president in the 47-year history of CBS News." Dan Rather was known for forcing out presidents he didn't like, and Heyward demonstrated an ability to soothe the anchorman's ego.