CBS staff members are now leaking like crazy to the big media press covering Rathergate in order to get their version of the story out. I'll have an update about CBS News' response in a much more indepth post, but I think it important to note that the fingerpointing has begun (always a bad sign).

The Washington Post (annoying reg. req.) (In Rush to Air, CBS Quashed Memo Worries)

None of the analysts, including the fourth, James J. Pierce of California, provided the network with a written report before the broadcast. Howard [a 60 Minutes executive] said Mapes told him the analysts' concerns had been addressed. [emphasis added]

On Tuesday, Sept. 7, as Rather sat down in a CBS studio with former Texas lieutenant governor Barnes, the top brass was turning its attention to the explosive story. Heyward, the news division chief, met with Senior Vice President Betsy West; executive producer Howard, who had taken over in June after shifting from the program's Sunday edition; Mapes; senior broadcast producer Mary Murphy; and Esther Kartiganer, whose job is to ensure that interviews are not edited in a misleading way.

"All of us asked questions," Heyward said.

"We asked core questions -- about reliability, authenticity, motivation, could the source have had access to the documents," West said. The executives were satisfied by Mapes's answers, and she began writing the script. [emphasis added]

Of course, nothing yet answers the questions I've raised about CBS News response to the scandal. Was Mapes in charge of CBS News spokespeople? Was Mapes in charge of hiring Glennon and Katz as "experts" for last Monday's CBS Evening News broadcast? Did Mapes write the CBS Evening News stories defending the broadcast with advocacy instead of reporting?

See also, the LA Times (annoying reg. req.) (In the Rush for a Scoop, CBS Found Trouble Fast).