CBS appoints Rome Hartman as chief behind "CBS Evening News"

NEW YORK (AP) _ CBS News still doesn't have a new anchor or format for its evening news broadcast, but it does have a new behind-the-scenes chief in network veteran Rome Hartman. <br/><br/>Hartman,

Friday, December 2nd 2005, 11:36 am

By: News On 6

NEW YORK (AP) _ CBS News still doesn't have a new anchor or format for its evening news broadcast, but it does have a new behind-the-scenes chief in network veteran Rome Hartman.

Hartman, a longtime ``60 Minutes'' producer, was appointed executive producer of the third-ranked ``CBS Evening News'' on Tuesday, replacing Jim Murphy.

Murphy's tenure of six years was longest of any chief executive in the broadcast's 50-year history. CBS News President Sean McManus said Murphy had asked for a new challenge.

``I have tremendous respect for Jim's talents and his accomplishments as leader of the broadcast, and he should be very proud of the job he did,'' McManus said. ``Jim and I will continue to discuss his future role at CBS News.''

Bob Schieffer has been interim anchor at the evening news since Dan Rather stepped down in March. Network chief Leslie Moonves and McManus have been searching for a new anchor and format, and have been courting ``Today'' anchor Katie Couric.

Hartman spent more than a decade at ``60 Minutes'' as a producer for Lesley Stahl, and he was senior producer at ``60 Minutes II'' this year before it was canceled. He joined CBS News in 1983 in Atlanta, and spent three years as a Washington-based senior producer on the evening news.

CBS News is part of Viacom Inc.