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PEOPLE & ARTSSaturday 3 October 2015
Former ABC News president now goes in front of camera
DAVID BAUDER This Sept. 30, 2015 image released by Bloomberg, shows David Westin, anchor Bloomberg Televi- fect them. For Bloomberg’s
AP Television Writer sion’s new morning show, “Bloomberg Go,” which debuts Monday, Oct. 5, 2015, at 7 a.m. audience, stories like the
NEW YORK (AP) — As ABC Iran deal and presidential
News president in 2006, Associated Press politics can impact how
David Westin appointed they do business.
Charles Gibson anchor at ABC often required him he’s been running his own dig at “Good Morning “We’re trying to create the
of the network’s flagship to be the subject of on-air investment firm and con- America.” The broadcast smartest morning televi-
“World News.” Nine years interviews, like when Pe- sulting, most prominently morning shows have al- sion program for arguably
later, Gibson returned the ter Jennings died and Bob for Yahoo.“Whenever I ways been hybrids of news the smartest viewers in the
favor. Woodruff was injured in went on the air, somebody and entertainment, with world — leaders of busi-
He recommended Wes- Iraq. would say, ‘you know, you ratings pressure only getting ness, finance and govern-
tin for a job as anchor of “I actually suggested to him should do this,’” Westin more acute, he said. “Go” ment,” Smith said.
Bloomberg Television’s new years ago that he ought said, “and (I’d say) sure, won’t be rated (Bloomberg Since Bloomberg feeds
morning show, “Bloomberg to replace me on ‘Good sure. The thought of it plant- believes the Nielsen ratings a strong market in video
Go,” which debuts Mon- Morning America’ — you’d ed in my mind, but it was poorly reflect its audience streams of business con-
day at 7 a.m. After many make more money and not something I aspired to. because so many people tent, the show is being de-
years behind the scenes in you wouldn’t have to fire If I were 22 again, maybe watch in offices). Success signed to be bite-friendly
television, Westin will step people,” Gibson said. I would think about doing will be measured by more for a busy audience: a
in front of the camera for Westin, 63, had faced skep- that, but I’m not 22.” engaged viewership — 10-minute interview with a
three hours each weekday tics when appointed ABC At Bloomberg, he said that people turning up the vol- CEO, for example, may be
morning. He and co-an- News president in 1997. “I want to do the news pro- ume on desk-top screens doled out in two-minute in-
chor Stephanie Ruhle will A corporate lawyer who gram that I always wanted that might otherwise be crements.
talk about the day’s news had clerked for the U.S. Su- to put on the air and, for muted. Westin called many of the
filtered for a business audi- preme Court, he had no various constraints, never While general audiences anchors who worked for
ence. TV news experience. Since got to.” may be interested in the him upon getting the job —
Justin Smith, chief execu- leaving ABC News in 2010 That’s not an intentional news, it usually doesn’t af- Gibson, Ted Koppel, Diane
tive of Bloomberg Media, Sawyer, George Stepha-
was considering revamping nopoulos. He already has a
the network’s morning line- new appreciation for things
up when he kicked around they once told him that he
ideas over lunch with the never quite understood.
now-retired Gibson. When He remembers offering
the talk turned to anchors, Stephanopoulos advice
Gibson asked, “how willing not to overstuff interviews,
are you to step outside the to concentrate on mak-
box?” ing a few strong points.
“We were looking for some- Now he’s finding that time
thing out of the box,” Smith moves quickly on-air and,
recalled. “That was the in practice shows, has fall-
founding principle of our en into some of the same
search.” traps. Gibson said Westin
Gibson suggested Westin, will also face an adjust-
and he checked a lot of ment in not being the boss.
boxes: smart with wide- Anchoring is a unique skill,
ranging tastes, knowledge- requiring him to keep the
able about business and mechanics of a show mov-
television and familiar to ing, talk intelligently on
company founder Michael many topics and look re-
Bloomberg. Westin’s job laxed doing it. q
NYC celebrates 150th anniversary of ‘Alice in Wonderland’
NEW YORK (AP) — New The events are coordinat- orary degree was awarded is showcasing its Alice ar- brings to life the book’s
York City is marking the ed by the Lewis Carroll So- to Alice Liddell Hargreaves, chive of dance, theater quirky characters Oct. 11
150th anniversary of “Alice ciety’s Alice150 Week cele- on whom the fictional and music materials and to Nov. 8.
in Wonderland” with an ar- bration, which also includes character was based. will hold screenings of Alice The author of “Two Alice
ray of events celebrating readings and conferences. The school is also present- films through Jan. 16. Statues in Central Park” will
the adventures and char- Through Nov. 21, the Gro- ing “Through the Looking On Oct. 10, visitors to the conduct walking tours of
acters in the beloved chil- lier Club, a society for book Glass Darkly,” a one-man Sony Wonder Technology the park’s statues Oct. 9.
dren’s tale. lovers, looks at how the show starring Andrew Sel- Lab can create their own And last but not least is “150
There’s no shortage of many translations of the lon on Oct. 6-7 that depicts animated wonderland us- Years of Wonderland,” of-
wonderful offerings to re- book have been able to in- a private meeting with the ing Alice illustrations and fered through Oct. 12 at
introduce fans of Lewis terpret Carroll’s wordplay, book’s author. characters. It will also the Morgan. It features
Carroll’s 1865 book to the puns, nonsense and cultur- Bobst Library at New York screen two “Alice in Won- original drawings, rare edi-
White Rabbit, the Caterpil- al references. (“Curiouser University has an assort- derland” films, the 1951 tions, historic photos and
lar, Queen of Hearts, Mad and curiouser!”) ment of Alice ephemera Walt Disney version and the other Alice artifacts from
Hatter and Cheshire Cat A Columbia University ex- in an exhibit called “Go 2010 Tim Burton adapta- the museum’s collection
— from an exhibition at the hibition, open through Jan. Ask Alice: Alice, Wonder- tion. plus the original manuscript
Morgan Library & Museum 29, features memorabilia land and Popular Culture” An “Alice in Wonder- from The British Library, on
to a walking tour of two Al- from its 1932 centennial through Dec. 11. land” musical by the off- view in New York for the first
ice statues in Central Park. celebration, when an hon- The New York Public Library Broadway Players Theatre time in three decades.q
