Lesley Stahl to replace Dan Rather as newsmagazine host

<br>NEW YORK (AP) _ Veteran ''60 Minutes'' correspondent Lesley Stahl will become host of another CBS newsmagazine, ''48 Hours Investigates,'' this fall, the network said

Wednesday, August 21st 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

NEW YORK (AP) _ Veteran ''60 Minutes'' correspondent Lesley Stahl will become host of another CBS newsmagazine, ''48 Hours Investigates,'' this fall, the network said Wednesday.

Stahl will keep her job on ''60 Minutes.''

CBS is changing the name and on-air look of the newsmagazine, called simply ''48 Hours'' for its first 15 years. This fall, it will focus more on crime and real-life dramas in a single-topic format.

Dan Rather was anchor of the show, but he's stepping down to devote more time to the ``CBS Evening News'' and ''60 Minutes II.''

Stahl has been CBS' White House correspondent and moderated ``Face the Nation'' before joining ''60 Minutes.''

``Few journalists command the hard-earned respect and credibility of Lesley Stahl,'' CBS News president Andrew Heyward said. ''`48 Hours Investigates' will afford Lesley another well-established outlet for her formidable talents.''

She begins the new job Sept. 27.