How can the American media have better coverage of its news?

That question and other questions were raised as former CBS News anchor Dan Rather spoke to a crowd of 2,500 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in downtown Los Angeles Friday night.

Rather believes that there are three keys points for the news organization and major newspaper across the country.

“There has been a lot going on during the first month of this year,” he began.

He noted that the news of the Iraq war, the Hamas election victory and Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito’s confirmation hearings are “just the beginning of what should be a interesting year.”

The three points are: ask more questions, dig deeper for the answers to those questions and have better coverage of international news.

Rather, a journalist for CBS for 44 years, said, “Journalists are afraid to ask more questions and just settle for the answers that are given.”

“I included myself in this belief,” he reassured, “because I know that journalists just like myself can’t hide.”

Furthermore, he said that as journalists asking more questions becomes important for the mass media.

The second important point was for journalists to always dig deeper for the answer when covering a story.

Rather used the example of the recent film, “Good Night, and Good Luck.”

“The film is not just about “60 Minutes” news anchor Edward R. Murrow,” he explained, “and I don’t know if all of you will follow, but the film addresses the fact the people in the business of journalism need a backbone.”

In that Rather says that producers portrayed in the film were the backbone for Murrow as he became a well-known journalist for his work and honesty.

“Great journalism begins with a publisher who has the guts.”

Lastly, Rather believes that there should be better international news coverage by today’s American press.

“No matter what you think of the war in Iraq particularly the war on terrorism nobody really has seen much of what is really going on.”

The public should know the stories behind them instead of what the public sees on television he said.

The current “60 Minutes” correspondent recently returned from North Korea and noted that, that country has a bigger army than we (the United States) do.”

However during the time he had to take questions from the audience Rather didn’t go into detail about his dealings with stories on President Bush during the last election.

In a report he engaged for the now defunct “60 Minutes II” Bush’s military service was called in question.

As it turned out the document obtained were faked which, led to the firing of a CBS producer, and three executives and ending with Rather stepping down as an anchor.

Rather only comment from that report, “I blame no one (for that story).”