TVNewser NAB blogger Simon Marks reports:

Dan Rather, the Former Anchor and Managing Editor of the CBS Evening News, issued a clarion call on the broadcast networks to prioritize international coverage during his appearance at NAB.

Arguing that "American journalism needs a spine transplant," Rather told the RTNDA/NAB Super Session on "The Shape of Things to Come" that "at a time when the United States needs more foreign coverage than ever, there's less of it."

Rather said broadcast network coverage of sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America is "awful." For this, he said, there is "no excuse."

"International coverage will continue to shrink unless those of us who believe in it and believe it's important can make the case to the leadership and the ownership that this is a public serivce. It may not help the demographics and the ratings, and it may get you cursed out of the country club, but it's the kind of coverage you need if you're going to have integrity."