Bernard Shaw shares his thoughts on stepping back from CNN

Bernard Shaw has been with CNN since the network's inception

(CNN)-- CNN's Bernard Shaw stepped away from his anchor duties Wednesday night, February 28. He has been a familiar face to CNN viewers throughout the network's 20-year history. The award-winning journalist and anchor looks back at his career.

Chat Moderator: Welcome to CNN.com, Bernie Shaw. We are very pleased to have you with us today.

Bernard Shaw: Hello, and I am ready to converse with you!

Chat Moderator: You announced your decision to "step back" last year. Now that the moment is finally here, what are you feeling?

Bernard Shaw: I am feeling deeply reflective, and I know that it will be a long time before I fully adjust to this quantum change in my life. I am looking forward to the one-hour tribute CNN will have on Inside Politics today at 5:30 p.m. EST.

Question from chat room: Congrats, Bernie! When will your book be complete?

ALSO CNN's Bernard Shaw: A newsman's career     GALLERY 20 years of memories    VIDEO Watch the tribute to anchor Bernard Shaw and his 20 years at CNN Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) CNN anchor Bernie Shaw bids a fond farewell to his colleagues as he retires Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) CNN founder Ted Turner sees off longtime anchor Bernie Shaw Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) CNN's Bruce Morton looks back at the on-air career of Bernard Shaw, who is leaving the network to write an autobiography Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)     AUDIO Shaw announces to CNN viewers that he is "stepping back" 1200K/120 sec. AIFF or WAV sound Shaw reports from Iraq as the Gulf War begins (January 17, 1991) 86K/8 sec. AIFF or WAV sound     MESSAGE BOARD Farewell Bernard Shaw

Bernard Shaw: Random House Publishing has been waiting nine years for my autobiography manuscript. I am hoping that it can be written and published within a year and a half. And thank you very much for the congratulations.

Question from chat room: How has news collection and processing changed during your years at CNN?

Bernard Shaw: The pace of delivering news has intensified and quickened. Also, the mere distribution of news has changed in a most remarkable way, namely, this medium in which we are communicating, meaning the Internet. It is a real marvel.

Question from chat room: Good afternoon, Mr. Shaw! How tough was it for you to break into the news field?

Bernard Shaw: I do not know how to gauge the toughness, other than to say that I started as a hired hand at a Chicago radio station, working in the newsroom, editing wire machine copy and generally helping out. It was a foot-in-the-door situation and a process of working my way up.

Question from chat room: Mr. Shaw, good luck to you in the future! What was your favorite interview on CNN?

Bernard Shaw: At this moment, I cannot tell you. I suppose the reason for that is that in 20 years I've interviewed hundreds and hundreds of people. Clearly there were some big names involved in the process -- big names meaning newsmakers: senators, presidents, heads of government, politicians, entertainers, religious leaders, and citizens from all walks of life. But I'm hard pressed to tell you my most favorite interview.

Question from chat room: Bernie, losing you on CNN is like losing Johnny Carson all over again! Are you going to take any kind of vacation? We'll miss you!

Bernard Shaw: My, that is the tallest of compliments! Thank you very much. I won't vacation soon, namely because of a few parties being thrown for me and some awards I have to accept. But I hope to be able to stretch out in April.

Question from chat room: Bernie, you can always come and chat with us.

Bernard Shaw: Thank you very, very much!

Question from chat room: Bernie, you are a LEGEND. What plans do you have --besides a writing a book -- to keep yourself involved in the news business?

Bernard Shaw: CNN and I hope to have a relationship clearly less hectic than the one that is closing out. We are discussing having me return to anchor news specials, to do reporting from time to time, and to sit in as a guest. We're still trying to decide exactly how all of this will happen and when. But otherwise, my general answers to the news will be fed just by doing what you do, and that is to read newspapers, follow the news on the Internet, television and radio, and to read magazines and books.

Question from chat room: Bernie, all of us fans wish you the very best in your future endeavors and will always remember your frightful first night in Baghdad when the bombs started falling! Thanks for sharing that and many other experiences with us!

Bernard Shaw: Thank you very much. The Gulf War experience is always present in my thinking, basically because of the horrific nature of war. In these reflective final days at CNN, I have been thinking about my friend and colleague, John Holliman, who is no longer with us, and about Peter Arnett, who is doing freelance journalism.

The mere fact that I'm alive is due to what I think saved us, the first night and following days of the bombing and air attacks on Baghdad. Those two factors that saved us were God and some extremely well trained and disciplined American pilots.

Question from chat room: What are the major news events that you recall being the most impacted by?

Bernard Shaw: I rank as number one the 1985 Geneva summit between General Secretary of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbechav and United States President Ronald Reagan. The two most powerful men in the world got down to the business of reducing their nation's nuclear arsenals.

That summit had a critical importance to every human being on the planet. Apart from that, it would take some hours of study to evaluate the major stories I have covered and to properly rank them.

Question from chat room: Mr. Shaw, your quality of journalism is famous. Do you feel that young journalists are as dedicated to getting it right, or are they concerned with getting it fast?

Bernard Shaw: Thank you for the compliment. I think young journalists, seriously involved in their work, are truly superb. I think that their commitment is as solid as that of past serious journalists. Today's young journalists, as a group, I would rank as being better prepared and better educated. I have no fear for journalism and the younger women and men who are practicing it.

Question from chat room: Obviously, Judy Woodruff and you have been good friends during the years. What are your feelings towards leaving her "alone" in the anchor seat?

Bernard Shaw: Judy Woodruff, dependably, is one of the best network television journalists ever. She is not being left alone by me. I think she will show all of us that being solo is as it should be.

Chat Moderator: Do you have any final thoughts to share with us today?

Bernard Shaw: It is gratifying for me to join you today. As I said earlier, I look forward to appearing on CNN from time to time. Thank you very much.

Chat Moderator: Thank you, Bernie Shaw, for joining us today!

Bernard Shaw: You're very welcome.

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Bernard Shaw
CNN's Bernard Shaw: A newsman's career
March 2, 2001

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