Former ABC Nightline anchor Ted Koppel on Wednesday chastised network executives for attempting to manipulate its newscasts to attract younger viewers in the same way that it does with its other programs. "In entertainment programming," he said, "there is absolutely nothing wrong with networks catering to not just the needs but the desires of their audiences, but when it comes to news coverage, I think we have an additional responsibility and that is to tell people what they need to know and what they ought to know. ... I think news divisions have a responsibility to do more than just amuse the public; we have a responsibility to tell people where their interests lie." Koppel was particularly critical of the networks' failure to provide adequate international news coverage, pointing out that they have stationed few reporters in India, which was hit by a series of terrorist bombings on commuter trains in Mumbai (Bombay), the world's largest city, on Tuesday. When a major event occurs overseas, he said, the networks react by "parachuting in" their star anchors. "What we don't have," he said, "are young, aggressive correspondents who are willing to spend years in an area [developing contacts.] This is not only a travesty, it's something we're going to be paying for for years to come." Koppel, who spoke to TV writers attending their semi-annual gathering with network execs in Pasadena, CA, said that the Discovery Channel, his new outlet, allows him to do the kind of work that the networks shy away from. Koppel also had some kind words for Dan Rather. "Clearly, a mistake was made on a broadcast that he did, and it took him a while to acknowledge that, because Dan is very, very loyal to the people that work with him and for him. Should that have cost him his career at CBS? I don't think so."