CBS 2 News Coverage Of Crash Of Flight 587

Unbelievably, New York has suffered another tragedy just one day after the two month anniversary of the attacks on America. This time an American Airlines Airbus A300, Flight 587, crashed at 9:17am, just three minutes after takeoff, into the residential neighborhood of Belle Harbor, Queens. The flight took off from John F. Kennedy International Airport and was bound for Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. It is not believed to be terrorism-related, but rather an engine problem is likely the cause of the crash. 260 people were onboard the airplane, and there are at least six people reported missing on the ground.

Minutes after the crash, CBS 2 News broke into regular programming with a special report. Michael Pomeranz and Cindy Hsu anchored the coverage all morning long, and a Metro camera shot of the smoke filled the screen. David Diaz provided constant updates from the newsroom. Jennifer McLogan, the first CBS 2 News reporter near the scene, reported via telephone. Then at 10:15, CBS 2 provided the first live camera shot from Belle Harbor, which was picked up by cable news networks CNN and Fox News Channel. CBS 2's full team of reporters were soon reporting from the scene, the area airports, and in the Broadcast Center. By 11:15, CBS 2 began using special graphics created for the tragedy. Just after 1:00, Todd McDermott took to the anchor desk along with Cindy Hsu. Angela soon joined him at around 2:00. Two minutes after 3:00, the anchor team was Dana Tyler and Ernie Anastos. An hour later, CBS 2 began to use a special opening animation, soon accompanied by a theme and the announcer. The regular 5:00 anchor team of Todd McDermott and Angela Rae came on at 4:59, and Dana Tyler and Ernie Anastos returned to the desk at 5:58. A special one-hour edition of the CBS Evening News with Dan Rather started at 6:30. By 7:30, CBS 2 was back on with another special report updating viewers on the ongoing situation.

Michael O'Looney To Report From Europe

This past weekend CBS 2 began to air promos for Michael O'Looney's trip to Europe. He will travel to France, England, and Germany and will report on how Europe is fighting terrorism. O'Looney will also interview Interpol's top detectives. His reports will start Thursday night at 11:00 on Nightcast.
(Thanks to Kevin for the "CBS 2 Information Network" snapshot!)

CBS 2 Weekend News

Sunday, 11/11/01, 9:05am CBS 2 Weekend News
It has now been exactly two months since the devastating attacks on America, and this morning CBS 2 News continued with its special Sunday morning newscasts at 8:00. Cindy Hsu and Hazel Sanchez anchored from the newsdesk. Craig Allen had the weather forecast, and Debbie DuHaime reported on the traffic. This evening, for the first time in many weeks, CBS 2 will have an early weekend evening newscast at 6:30 (the 6:00pm Saturday and 6:30pm Sunday newscasts have recently been preempted by college and professional football).

Doctors Taking Your Questions Again

This evening on CBS 2 News, doctors were once again on hand to take viewers' questions via the phones, and also questions from cbsnewyork.com. Dr. Eric Braverman (PATH Medican), Dr. Jordan Glaser (Staten Island University Hospital), and Dr. Robert Labinson (St. Clare's Hospital) joined anchors Ernie Anastos and Angela Rae in the CBS 2 Information Center. The phone line, 1-866-INFO-TWO, was open until 6:30pm.

CBS 2 News's Coverage of Campaign 2001

This evening, CBS 2 News has comprehensive coverage of Campaign 2001. Covering the New York City Mayoral race are David Diaz at Bloomberg headquarters on the West Side, and Marcia Kramer in Midtown reporting on Green. In New Jersey covering the campaign for Governor are Aimee Nuzzo with McGreevey's team in East Brunswick, and Vince DeMentri at Schundler headquarters in Plainsboro. Jennifer McLogan reported on the vote for Nassau County Executive from Carle Place, Long Island. For up to the minute election information, log on to cbsnewyork.com.

YES Network and CBS 2 Agree to Broadcast Yankees Games

A CBS 2 Press Release:

CBS 2 and YES Network have reached a three-year, exclusive, over-the-air agreement to broadcast New York Yankees games beginning in 2002, it was announced today by Tony Petitti, Vice President and General Manager, WCBS-TV and Leo Hindery, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of YES Network. The agreement begins with the 26-time World Series Champion New York Yankees home opener in April 2002. CBS 2 will broadcast a minimum of 20 contests each season, including the team’s match-ups on Memorial Day and the Fourth of July. The station’s complete New York Yankees broadcast schedule to be announced at a later date features games with the New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, Seattle Mariners, Cleveland Indians, Baltimore Orioles and San Francisco Giants, among other top teams. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

“This announcement marks an important day in the history of WCBS-TV,” said Petitti. “It is a privilege to be associated with the New York Yankees, professional sports most famous tradition and team. At the same time, we are excited to be partnering with YES as they launch their newly created network. We look forward to working with YES, and the New York Yankees, well into the 21st century." "YES Network is committed to having an over-the-air broadcast partner for some of its New York Yankees games, and we are thrilled that that partner will be WCBS-TV and its wonderful parent, Viacom,” said Hindery. “We are confident that WCBS-TV will uphold the tradition and legacy of the New York Yankees.”

Added Petitti, “CBS 2 has taken major steps towards its goal of being the leader in the local marketplace. We’ve acquired the most sought-after syndicated programs “Weakest Link,” “Who Wants to be a Millionaire,” and “Dr. Phil,” and now we’ve added the New York Yankees. With our primetime growth, a regenerated news division, and the most comprehensive lineup of sports programming, CBS 2 is well on its way to developing vast new audiences and unique sources of revenue for the station.”

New York Yankees games broadcast on CBS 2 will be produced by YES’s executive vice president, production and programming, John Filippelli. The YES Network (Yankees Entertainment and Sports Network, LLC), beginning in March 2002, will offer New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania viewers New York Yankees baseball, sports news and information, entertainment programming and other collegiate and local event coverage to fill out its 24 hour/7 day per week schedule.

CBS 2 News Sunday Morning

This morning was CBS 2's eighth edition of their Sunday morning newscast. At the anchor desk were Michael O'Looney and Hazel Sanchez. Craig Allen had the weather forecast, and Don Piccin reported on the traffic. There will be at least three more of these one-hour Sunday morning newscasts at 8:00 as CBS 2 tries to increase its weekend presence. Starting tomorrow, Lou Young reports from the Middle East on CBS 2 News at 6:00 and on Nightcast at 11:00 in his reports, "Assignment Mideast."

Ask The Doctors on CBS 2

CBS 2 once again invited doctors into the Information Center in Studio 43 to take phone calls from viewers. At 4:00, Cindy Hsu asked the team of doctors (Dr. Eric Braverman from PATH Medical and Dr. Robert Crupi from Flushing Hospital) about what kinds of questions they were getting. Todd McDermott talked with the two doctors on CBS 2 News at 5:00. As always, the number to call was 1-866-INFO-TWO, and the phone lines were open until 6:30pm.

CBS 2's Lou Young To Report From Middle East

A CBS 2 Press Release:

Who are our fiercest enemies and are our newest allies really our friends are some of the questions CBS 2’s Lou Young will attempt to uncover when he travels to the heart of the Middle East on a search for answers to the growing number of questions of the American people. Young’s schedule includes visits to Egypt, Jordan, Dubai, Kuwait and Israel, where he will interview intelligence officials, heads of state, religious moderates and extremists, among others. His reports will be broadcast during CBS 2’s 6PM and NIGHTCAST newscasts beginning on Monday, Nov. 5. As Young follows the terror trail of the world’s most wanted men, he will bring to life the stories of those people living everyday with the threat of terrorism, and gauge their reaction to the United States’ retaliatory strikes to one of the nation’s darkest days in history.

A four-time Emmy Award-winner, Young joined WCBS-TV in June 1994. He has served as a reporter in the New York market since 1981. His credits at CBS 2 include reports on the 2000 presidential election, the inauguration of George W. Bush, the recovery efforts of Swissair Flight 111, school shootings in Littleton, Colo. and Conyers, Ga., and investigative reports on the abuse of prescription drugs, and food safety as part of CBS-2’s “Eat at Your Own Risk” series. Additionally, Young also reported from New York and Miami on the international struggle between the U.S. and Cuba involving Elian Gonzalez.

Cliff Cohen serves as Executive Producer, ASSIGNMENT MIDEAST. Joel Cheatwood is Executive Vice President for News, Viacom Television Stations and WCBS-TV News Director.

Anthrax Answers From The Doctors At CBS 2

The CBS 2 Information Center had another round of "Ask The Doctors" this evening on its 4:00, 5:00, and 6:00 newscasts. This is the third time CBS 2 has had a team of four professionals to take viewers' questions. The panel today included Dr. Tucker Woods (Long Island College Hospital), Dr. Erika Schwartz (Internal Medicine; she was in the Info Center on October 19th), Professor Thomas Johnson (Long Island University), and Dr. Darrell Looney (Brookdale Hospital). The hotline to call was 1-866-INFO-TWO, or 1-866-4636-896. Kirstin Cole talked to the doctors about what viewers were asking them, and what their responses were. The phone lines closed at 6:30pm.