When The News Becomes The Story

With news anchors the latest celebrities to leave their posts amid sexual-misconduct allegations, for many Americans, the betrayal feels personal.

- James Hibberd

IT’S ONE THING WHEN IT’S A HOLLYWOOD PRODUCER, SOMEBODY most Americans would barely recognize. It’s another when it’s a star, some actor usually seen only in an occasional film or on a TV show. But the most recent string of sexual-misconduct allegations has resulted in the firing of news personalities many viewers rely on every day. Today anchor Matt Lauer and CBS This Morning cohost/ PBS interview master Charlie Rose (both of whom have apologized after being accused of sexual harassment by multiple women) were not merely famous and successful; they were also considered by millions to be comforting and authoritative. The Writer’s Almanac host Garrison Keillor (who was let go after an incident he called “complicated”) was a grandfatherly daily radio presence. Fox News’ top-rated Bill O’Reilly—who settled claims of harassment (which he said were unfounded) by multiple women, including one for $32 million— exited earlier this year.