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Has CBS already given up on Katie Couric?

by Joel Keller, posted Apr 24th 2007 10:24AM
Katie CouricSunday's Philadelphia Inquirer has a lengthy article, written by TV reporter Gail Shister, about the speculation flowing around CBS that the network has already given up on Katie Couric, and will shift her off the CBS Evening News after the 2008 presidential election.

Apparently, according to Shister, there's a "growing feeling" around the Eye Network that it was a mistake to insert Couric in the anchor role and that the news division would be better served having her in a different role than anchor of their signature program. "It's a disaster. Everybody knows it's not working. CBS may not cut her loose, but I guarantee you, somebody's thinking about it. We're all hunkered down, waiting for the other shoe to drop," says one of the many anonymous correspondents and staffers that talked to Shister for the article.

Shister also spoke to sources that felt that Couric demanded star treatment from the network, bringing in her own staff and rolling over everyone else's decisions. "She sees herself as a star and thinks the whole news department is here to serve her," said one correspondent, who contrasted her behavior to that of Walter Cronkite and Dan Rather, who acted more like the leaders of a news team than the stars of the show.

Couric's ratings have been in the toilet for most of her run as the Evening News anchor. Industry experts Shister talked to cited the network's decision to soften their approach to the news, inserting more interviews and features like the already defunct "FreeSpeech," at the same moment they introduced Couric. But even the experts thought Couric shouldered most of the blame; they feel her friendly demeanor and informal tone just don't work for the evening news format.

Shister does a good job of getting other views, though; all the CBS executives who went on record seemed adamantly behind their anchor. And Connie Chung, who disastrously anchored with Dan Rather for two years in the mid-'90s, felt that Katie will do a good job once she has time to settle into the role.

What do you think? Is it time for CBS to cut bait already and ship Katie to the morning news? Maybe give her a more prominent role on 60 Minutes? Or should she stay in the anchor job? Let me know in the comments.

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Gene R Hall

John Roberts should have been givin the job Katie Couric was givin she will never be an evening anchor with any credit i like Katie not as an evening anchor John Roberts could have CBS in the drivers seat if he were evening anchor of CBS News.

June 28 2007 at 6:53 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Carmen

The constant talk about Katie Couric making $15 million a year is another thing that turns me off! You don't hear the other top star journalists allowing every form of the media to talk about the millions they earn. Couric even discusses her overpaid salary in magazine articles. Katie Couric is nothing but a tacky show-off, who is more interested in letting the media brag about her greenbacks.

May 03 2007 at 9:42 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jazzie

I love Katie, but I don't love her in this role. I'm not sure what the problem is, but it is not working for me. I would like to see a woman in the Anchor seat, but I don't think it is Katie. I think Christiane Amanpour would be great for this job because she has so much credibility as well as likeability. I think she's feminine, but not soft. I think Brian Gumble would also be good as the anchor...I know people HATE Him, but he is a great reporter. I also like Leon Harris formerly of CNN. By the way, CNN has gone in the toilet with this wicked woman, Kiran Chitrey. She is horrid. I cannot watch her. I watch the news, but its been hard lately. I adore Lisa Ling, smart, pretty, tought and a GREAT Reporter. She would be a good addition to CBS. I think CBS needs help IMMEDIATELY.

May 02 2007 at 10:38 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
sarakanne

Now that Rosie O'Donnell is leaving (thank goodness!), I think the powers that be need to return all of the shows effected by Katie Couric's departure from NBC back to their 2006 status quo. Meredith returns to ABC's The View and Katie returns to NBC's Today Show. As for CBS, Harry Smith takes over the CBS Evening News. I love watching him when he subs for Katie. Harry has that "Walter Cronkite" appeal. CBS ought to seriously consider it. Katie is a morning news person.

May 01 2007 at 10:02 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jmalcolm

Put her back on the Today show where she belongs in a fair swap for Meredith. Meredith wont be able to do the evening news any better but might amuse the viewers each time she falls out of her chair.

April 29 2007 at 5:57 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
David

She needs a co-host, problem solved.

April 28 2007 at 1:03 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Judith Goodwin

I think Katie is better suited for other media jobs, she just doesn't seem to fit in this particular role. She is an outstanding interviewer, given the right venue. The evening news is not a good fit for her style and personality.

April 26 2007 at 1:04 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
anna

It was a mistake,love John Roberts .

April 25 2007 at 4:55 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ed

CBS Don't fire Katie Yet. She does her job and I think she is good at what she does.

Keep up the good work KATIE.

Ed

April 25 2007 at 4:45 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
hollywoodman323

It doesnt matter to me, Iam happy watching Charles gibson anchor on ABC News. so cbs can do whatever they want with katie couric. Nothing any of the networks do will make me switch from waching Gibson.

The only other anchor in my time that i had more respect for was Peter Jennings.

April 25 2007 at 2:32 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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