Inside network newsrooms, 2005 may go down as a year of beginnings as much as endings. That was the year, in one case tragically, in another more because of controversy that two remaining long-time anchors departed, setting the stage for a generational change. Less noticed, yet equally significant, two of three networks saw turnover in news presidents. One network hired a major media figure to take over its online operations.

Three broad trends stand out:

• In 2005 the networks took their first significant steps toward using the Web as a new media platform rather than an extension of their newscasts.
• The basic newsgathering resources beyond that, however, appeared as pressured as ever. If anything, the emphasis was on technology and away from reporters, bureaus and crews.
• The search for evening news anchors appeared to be leading ABC and CBS toward innovation in contrast to the direction taken by NBC, which tried to emphasize continuity in transition. Even in its new introduction, one hears the echo of anchors past as every predecessor is named, up to and including John Cameron Swayze.