Why We Still Need Newsmagazines

News divisions still need newsmagazines. In the Los Angeles Times, Matea Gold explains why: “Newsmagazines remain substantially more affordable to produce than scripted series — costing around one-third to one-half the price — and can be counted on to deliver a consistent, if older, audience despite their smaller numbers. They serve as platforms for some of the network’s big stars, such as Diane Sawyer and Katie Couric. And when big stories break, the programs can be quickly turned into crash instant-news specials, buttressing the network’s journalistic resources.”

Chris Vlasto, senior investigative producer for Primetime, says: “You need to have that avenue to tell a longer story. Otherwise, it’s just going to be talking heads on cable television.”