CHANGES PLANNED FOR CBS' '48 HOURS'.

Byline: The New York Times

Changes in the format of CBS' Thursday night news program "48 Hours" were announced Wednesday. Although there was no announcement of personnel changes, speculation circulated within CBS News that Paula Zahn, a co-host of "CBS This Morning," would become a "48 Hours" correspondent when the network's low-rated morning news show is revamped later this spring.

Those who work on "48 Hours" have always resisted calling it a newsmagazine, because its hourlong, one-subject format differs from the multitopic programs of that genre. But starting next Thursday, the eight-year-old program will look more like a standard newsmagazine show, adding shorter segments and late-breaking stories to its mix.

"48 Hours" will retain its traditional approach to topics, letting its correspondents reveal a story's elements gradually through interviews with the people.

"This is an effort to actually strengthen that aspect by not restricting it to one topic per show," said Andrew Heyward, the president of CBS News, who was the original executive producer of "48 Hours."

"Some topics lend themselves to this storytelling approach but don't necessarily merit an hour of television. We're casting the net a little wider to include some stories that don't require an hour."

He said it "remains to be seen" if additional correspondents would be added, whether Zahn or anyone else. In addition to host Dan Rather, the program's correspondents are Roberta Baskin, Harold Dow, Bill Lagattuta, Erin Moriarty, Richard Schlesinger and Susan Spencer.