What is the benefit of having an anchor ask reporters a follow-up about the story?

On the “CBS Evening News” this Sunday, Russ Mitchell asked what the University of North Carolina is doing to assist the investigation of the murder of student body president Eve Carson. The reporter answered that the university is offering a reward of $25,000 for information leading to the arrest of the killer.

Perhaps the single-exchange symposium is supposed to demonstrate the anchor’s engagement, or engage the viewer, or some such. But it becomes so obviously staged that it is absurd. When was the last time an anchorman asked the obvious of a reporter in the field and the reporter replied, “Uh, gee, not sure about that…let me look it up?” The solution is to either drop such wrap-up Q&A or switch to a genuinely extemporaneous inquiry into the implications of a story. Skip the requests for recitation of a glaringly relevant fact that would not have been omitted but to permit the addendum.

However, this is small potatoes as far as the deficiencies of network news go.