BILL O'REILLY: How about Benghazi, what did you find out about that?



SHARYL ATTKISSON: Benghazi, I was assigned to look into about three weeks after the attacks happened by management and pursue that aggressively and as I felt we were beginning to scratch beneath the surface on that scandal as well, which I think had many legitimate questions yet to be asked and answered. Interest was largely lost in that story as well on the part of the people that are responsible for deciding what goes on the news.



OREILLY: So did they tell you, look, we don't want you to spend any more time on this? Was it that direct?



ATTKISSON: No. It's more as though there is no time in the broadcast. They really, Really liked the story but you start to hear from, you know, other routes that why don't you just leave it alone, you know, you are kind of a trouble maker because you're still pursuing it. I mean, it kind of goes from hot to cold in one day, sometimes. Where they are asking you to pursue something heavily and then it's almost as if a light switch goes off and they look at you all of the sudden as if why are you bringing this story?



O'REILLY: Is it possible because CBS News is third in the ratings that they are just doing stories that they think are going to get them audiences? Is that possible?



ATTKISSON: I suppose there could be differences of opinion as to what the audience wants to see, but I think there are larger things at play in the industry. Broadly, there are overarching concerns about, I would say just say fear over original investigative reporting. There is unprecedented, I believe, influence on the media, not just the news, but the images you see everywhere, by well-orchestrated and financed campaigns of special interests, political interests and corporations. And I think all of that comes into play.