"There's clearly a conflict of interest when [producer Mary Mapes] plays both the role of the journalist and the role of an intermediary between a source and somebody in a political campaign," said Bob Steele, a professor at the institute in St. Petersburg, Fla.

"CBS is already in an extremely difficult position to explain and justify their journalistic modus operandi, and now they have an increasingly complicated challenge of explaining a further breach of professionalism and ethical standards," he told the pro-Democrat Los Angeles Times in a story today headlined "The News Keeps Getting Worse for Embarrassed CBS."

The Times noted: "In an indication of how deep concern about the issue has become at the network, Chairman Leslie Moonves commented for the first time Tuesday. He said that while CBS News 'has a long tradition of responsible journalism ... it's clear that something went seriously wrong with the process' in the production of the National Guard story."

Editor's note: