Charles Gibson took the helm of World News on Monday, May 29, 2006. Here’s the AP’s one-year anniversary story.
It suggests a number of theories for Gibson’s recent ratings wins. Among them: the broadcast has “experienced leadership tested by tragedy;” “Gibson is surrounded by strong reporters;” he is “closest in age and look to the Peter Jennings and Tom Brokaw mold;” and Couric’s arrival “caused evening news viewers to switch around.”
Then there’s this paragraph, not attributed to anyone: “Off-screen, Princeton man Gibson is more buttoned-down than Williams, a genuinely funny man with modest roots. On-screen, it plays to the opposite. Williams is more likely to sound like he’s talking at you, while Gibson is talking with you…”
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