We can understand why a TV news anchor might change careers to become a Texas judge. It's the reverse that puzzles us. But for 37-year-old CNN newswoman Catherine Crier, there wasn't much hesitation. After being elected to the bench for a second four-year term, she wanted to return to a more active role, "pursuing and developing a case." When a TV agent suggested she do an audition tape, Crier was intrigued by the notion of mixing her legal skills with journalism. CNN loved the tape--one executive there called her "fantastic, electric"--and invited Crier to join the staff. She debuted as co-anchor of the evening newscast in the fall of 1989. Today, only three years later, Crier also co-hosts the network's Inside Politics election coverage and has her own daily program, Crier & Co. Crier also finds time for sculpting, exercising her horse, golf and writing a book. Contributing Editor David Rensin met with Crier at CNN headquarters in Atlanta. Later, they went to dinner. Rensin describes the trip: "She drove. Fast. And played Lyle Lovett. Loud."

Q 1

PLAYBOY: When you arrived at CNN, there was criticism about how quickly you moved into the anchor's seat. The complaint centered on your lack of journalistic experience. Was the carping fair?

Catherine Crier: Sure. It's also fair for me to say, Give me a chance. There are parallels between my current job and my previous ones. As a prosecutor, I hit the streets, I rode with the cops, I interviewed the witnesses and I pulled together a case--then delivered it to a judge instead of to an audience or a news editor. My final argument was delivered to a jury instead of doing a stand-up in front of the courthouse. As a judge, I didn't advocate one side or the other. I listened to all the evidence, determined the facts, applied social perspective and public policy and rendered a decision. That's what a journalist does.

Q 2

PLAYBOY: You now co-anchor two newscasts. What goes on behind the scenes that might change our perception of what's being presented?

Catherine Crier: There's an element of immediacy you try not to show because you want to deliver information calmly. Behind you, people are rushing through the room, ripping copy off the wire, running in with information or talking into your ear. It's very much like Broadcast News, a picture I can appreciate since taking this job. During the Persian Gulf crisis, our producer was yelling, "Get me Amman! Get me Riyadh! Get me Tel Aviv! I need the State Department!" I realized that our audience is receiving information virtually as fast as the President, the policymakers and those participating in events. Do we have enough time to reflect, analyze and evaluate before we report? Instant information has a tremendous impact. Do we understand what it means to have a camera poised on top of a tank as a revolution gets underway? Do we know if it has any effect on the event itself?

Q 3

PLAYBOY: Good questions. Care to answer them?

Catherine Crier: In many circumstances it does. British writer Timothy Garton Ash wrote that at the end of the Twentieth Century, all revolutions will be tele-revolutions. Because events across eastern Europe from the fall of 1989 through the Soviet coup were televised, messages got out. People who might not otherwise have known learned of the movements. Then they took action. So, yes, history has been changed.

Q 4

PLAYBOY: You also have your own show, Crier & Co. What makes it any different from other shows with a panel of talking-head experts and a moderator?

Catherine Crier: We wanted to showcase women experts, but not simply on issues that have been traditionally categorized as women's issues. The original idea was more or less a Crossfire with women, where I moderate a discussion-debate format that tries to represent left, right and center on major issues. It's evolved to more of a Nightline format. Since we debuted in March of last year, we have seen more women policymakers and experts on shows that have traditionally turned to white males for opinions.

Q 5

PLAYBOY: Any advice for Ted Koppel?

Catherine Crier: [Laughs] No. I've always been a fan of the show. I can listen to intelligent discussion ad nauseam. I'm entertained by that. Ted is very good at finding that kernel in a succinct fashion. I'm not interested in listening to a moderator ramble on. What I want to hear is what the guests have to say.