Arthur Hailey - Evening News

The matter of budget cutting was something else. It was an area where all networks were vulnerable to their conquerors and everyone knew it, including Leslie Chippingham. The News Divisions in particular had become fat, overstaffed and ripe for pruning.

When it happened at CBA News—the result of the demanded cost economies—the process was painful, mainly because more than two hundred lost their jobs.

The firings produced cries of outrage from those left jobless, and their friends. The print press had a bonanza, with newspapers running human interest stories slanted sympathetically toward the economy wave's victims—even though, quite frequently, print publishers exercised the same kind of economies themselves.

A group within CBA News, all of whose members were on long-term contracts, sent a letter of protest to the New York Times. The signatories included Crawford Sloane, four senior correspondents and several producers. Their letter lamented that among those abruptly unemployed were veteran correspondents who had served CBA News for most of their working lives. It also pointed out that CBA overall was in no financial difficulty and that the network's profits comparedfavorably with those of major industrial companies. The published letter was discussed and quoted nationwide.

The letter and the attention accorded it infuriated Margot Lloyd-Mason. Once more she sent for Leslie Chippingham.

With the Times open in front of her she railed, "Those overpaid, conceited bastards are part of management. They should be supporting management decisions, not undermining us by public bellyaching.”

The news president ventured, "I doubt if they consider themselves management. They're news people first and are unhappy about their colleagues. And I may as well tell you, Margot, so am I."

”The network head impaled him with a glare.”I've enough problems without any from you, so forget that brand of garbage. See to it that you ream out the people who signed that letter and let them know I expect no more disloyalty. You may also inform them that their kind of double-dealing will be remembered at contract renewal time which reminds me—some of the amounts we're paying news people are insanely exorbitant, especially for that arrogant son of a bitch Crawford Sloane.

”Subsequently, Leslie Chippingham relayed a softer version of Margot's comments, reasoning that he was the one who had to hold the News Division together, something that was becoming increasingly difficult.

The difficulty was compounded a few weeks later when a new proposal by Mrs. Lloyd-Mason was announced through a CBA internal memo. The intention was to create a political action fund to pay for lobbying in Washington on behalf of CBA network Money for the fund would be contributed "voluntarily” by network executives and deducted from their salaries. Senior personnel in the News Division would be included The announcement pointed out that the arrangement conformed to a similar one within the parent company, Globanic Industries.

The same day the announcement arrived, Chippingham was near the Horseshoe when a producer asked him, "Les, you're going to fight that political action shit for all of us, aren't you?”

From several feet away, Crawford Sloane interjected, "Of course he is. Les would never agree to anything which had the News Division asking for political favors instead of reporting them. We can all rely on him for that.”

The news president found it hard to tell whether or not there was irony in the anchorman's voice. Either way, Chippingham recognized he had another serious problem, originating through Margot's ignorance—or was it plain uncaring?—-about news integrity. Should he go to her and argue against the political action fund? He doubted, though, that it would make any difference since Margot's main objective was clearly to please her Globanic masters and advance her own career.

In the end he solved his problem by leaking the story, along with a copy of the internal CBA memo, to the Washington Post. He had a contact there whom he had used before and who could be trusted not to reveal a source. The resulting Post report, which was picked up by other papers, ridiculed the idea of involving a news organization in political lobbying. Within days the plan was officially abandoned—according to rumors, on the personal orders of Globanic's chairman, Theodore Elliott.

Once more the CBA network president sent for Chippingham.

Coldly, without greeting or preliminaries, she asked, "Who in the News Division gave my memo to the Post?”

"I have no idea, “he lied "

Bullshit! If you don't know for sure, you have a damn good notion.”

Chippingham decided to keep quiet, though noting with relief that it had not occurred to Margot he himself might be responsible for the leak.

She broke the silence between them.”You have been uncooperative ever since I came here.”

“I'm sorry you feel that way because I don't believe it's true. In fact, I've tried to be honest with you.”

Ignoring the disclaimer, Margot continued, "Because of your persistent attitude I've had inquiries made about you and have learned several things. One is that your job is important to you at this moment, because financially you can't afford to lose it.”

“My job has always been important to me As to financially important, isn't that true of most people? Perhaps even of you. Chippingham wondered uneasily what was coming.

With a thin, superior smile the network chief said, "I'm not in the middle of a messy divorce action. You are. Your wife wants a large financial settlement, including most of your joint property and, if she doesn't get it, will produce evidence in court of a half-a-dozen adulterous relationships which you were careless about concealing. You also have debts, including a big personal bank loan, so you desperately need a continuing income; otherwise you'll be a personal bankrupt and the next thing to a pauper.

Raising his voice, he objected, "That's insulting! It's an intrusion on my personal privacy.”

Margot said calmly, "It may be, but it's true."

Despite the protest, he was jolted by the extent of her knowledge. He was in a near-desperate financial bind, in part because he had never been able to manage his personal money and across the years had not only spent his substantial salary as it came in, but had borrowed heavily. He had also never been able to resist the temptations of other women, a weakness that Stasia, his wife of twenty years, had appeared to accept—until three months ago. Then, without warning, Stasia's pent-up rage and stored-up evidence exploded into a ferocious divorce action. Even with that to contend with, he had foolishly started another affair, this time with Rita Abrams, a CBA News producer. He hadn't intended it to happen but it had Now he found it exciting and wanted to go on. But the thought of losing his job frightened him

"Now listen to me carefully, “Margot said.”It isn't hard to replace a News Division president and if I need to, I will Before you even know what's happening, you'll be out on your ass and someone else in. There are plenty of candidates for your job, here and at the other networks. Is that clear?”

Chippingham said resignedly, "Yes, it's clear.”

"However, if you play ball with me, you'll stay on. But News Division policy will be the way I want it. Remember that And one more thing: When I want something done which you don't like, don't waste my time with crap about news ethics and purity. You stopped being pure—if you ever were—when you didn't use those follow-up pieces about Theo Elliott's taxes.”Margot gave her thin smile again.”Oh yes, I know about that. So you've been corrupted already and a few more times won't make any difference. That's all, You can go.”