Ted Koppel Joins N.Y. Times Op-Ed Team

While fine young commentators can't wait for the chance to jump from a newspaper job to a national television slot, old warhorses usually go in the opposite direction. So, Ted Koppel trading the television lights to write opinion pieces for the New York Times is just part of the natural chain of events. Ted Koppel probably won't, however, have a noticeable effect on the the overall editorial slant. He'll just be absorbed into the existing MSM nucleus.

Nevertheless, it will be a change for Koppel. He admits that sitting and writing op-ed pieces is a much more time-consuming job than preparing for half-hour "Nightline" shows. Of course, Koppel is up to the task of doing commentaries but, at heart, he considers himself to be a reporter.

"I still think it's possible to keep those two things separate," he said.

Consequently, Koppel is going to walk into the offices of the New York Times with the notion that there's a difference between reporting the news and commenting on the news.

At the New York Times, I think Koppel might want to keep that thought to himself.

Submitted as SBP.