new york magazine

New ABC World News Tonight anchor Charles Gibson took the helm on Monday and already he's in a bit of hot water. In a question-and-answer style interview printed in New York magazine, Gibson appears to suggest that issues in Africa are not worth covering. When asked whether he'll be traveling as much as his rival, Brian Williams, who reported from Africa late last month on the issues of poverty and AIDS, Gibson answered, "Now he's in Africa. I don't know why you do that. Why the hell do you go to Africa? It's certainly an interesting choice. We'll do travel, when it warrants."

Gibson says he was quoting an e-mail he sent to a friend who works as a producer for NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams. In an interview with the Associated Press today, Gibson clarifies that he was questioning why Brian Williams had to go to Africa with a rock star (U2's Bono).

According to New York mag anyway. Their list of The Most Influential People In Media includes Daily Show host Jon Stewart, Colbert Report host Stephen Colbert (along with Daily Show producer/writer Ben Karlin), and FOX News Channel Chairman and CEO Roger Ailes. Katie Couric is on the list too, as she prepares to take over the CBS Evening News in September.

So, who's missing from this list? There's no one from TV Squad on the list, which I'm sure is just a typo.

[via TV Newser]