Anchorman bows out under cloud of criticism

Dan Rather echoed a word he once used every night to sign off the “CBS Evening News” – courage – in ending the programme for the final time after 24 years as one of America’s best-known television news anchors.

In a brief statement at the end of the broadcast, Rather paid tribute to September 11 terrorist victims, tsunami survivors, American military forces, the oppressed, those in failing health and fellow journalists in dangerous places.