Roger Aronoff, of the conservative watchdog group Accuracy in Media, told TPM’s Ryan J. Reilly that CBS News’ Sharyl Attkisson will not accept an award from the group at CPAC. Instead, CBS’ bureau chief will accept it on her behalf.
Logan Churchwell, a spokesperson with Accuracy in Media, told TPM that Attkisson was sent on assignment out of town. Churchwell confirmed that CBS’ bureau chief will accept the award on her behalf. “It’s unfortunate (she won’t attend),” Churchwell said, but “we can understand the circumstances.”
CBS News’ Washington Bureau chief, Chris Isham, at the event said Attkison is “very sorry not to be here today.”
Attkisson, as Churchwell told TPM this week, is the first mainstream media reporter to receive the award. In the past, it has gone to conservative media stars like Andrew Breitbart and Tucker Carlson.
CBS did not respond to TPM’s requests for comment.
