Jim Murphy, who produced the expanded 60 Minutes telecast Sunday night during which Dan Rather looked exasperated when Ed Bradley attempted to extend an interview with a guest after Rather began wrapping it up, has replied to reporters who criticized Rather.
Murphy, writing on the Poynter Institute’s Web site, where the criticism first appeared, said that he had given Rather a cue through his earpiece to end the interview and had then signaled the stage manager to give Bradley a “cut” sign.
“Unfortunately, Ed did not see his cue,” Murphy wrote, creating “an embarrassing moment for Dan, who felt he appeared to be trying to cut Ed off, which he would never do.” Murphy took the blame for not having “tighter control of getting in and out of those things cleanly.”
