Mark Roberts wrote:

I never understood why the networks had to have their own bureaus
and their own correspondents when their affiliate stations, in most
areas, had perfectly capable news departments.

During the days of NBC Monitor, there were lots of reports from affiliate
stations. Likewise with Mutual. But CBS and ABC seemed to not like dealing
with the affiliates much at all, stringers yes, but not affiliates.

I guess the network
felt it got a better quality product that way.

I remember when ABC Radio had Peter Cleaveland stationed at KGO specifically
to do network takes on Bay Area stories. We never heard him except on the
network news. I'm sure he was a nice guy and all, but I don't remember his
news coverage being any better than that of Ray Tannehill or others of the day
who did news locally at KGO.


Now newspapers don't cover radio at all.

Well, times have changed, of course. The newspapers do cover TV to an
annoying degree.