"Dear Katie...": The Anchor Answers

Last week, we asked if anyone had any burning questions they wanted to ask Katie. You did. And this week, throughout the week, we're going to post some of the answers. Here's the first batch from our mailbag. Enjoy. -- Ed.

What is your best advice for a soon-to-be college graduate about to leap into the “real world”? Ashley, from Luverne, Alabama.

I have lots of advice, but I think at the top of the list would be do something you are passionate about. I think the most successful people really love what they’re doing, and as a result it doesn’t really feel like work! Well, I guess it does sometimes, but it’s not dreaded, laborious work that leads one to feel as if he or she is living a “life of quiet desperation!”

I also think it’s important to take an honest look at yourself to determine your true skills and abilities in a very simple way. Do you enjoy people, do you like to write, are you a more solitary person, do you really enjoy numbers? Do you get a lot of personal satisfaction from helping others? For example, I didn’t become an accountant for a reason! Sometimes I think people get into fields because they really don’t know what else to do and it’s not always a good fit. Don’t freak out if you don’t know for sure what you want to do for a living. I’m a big fan of informational interviews, finding out about different careers. And if you do something and hate it, by all means, switch gears!

Finally, it’s important to have a positive, helpful, enthusiastic attitude at work. People do notice. So many of my contemporaries complain about young people expecting the world to be served to them on a silver platter. Perhaps the same thing was said about us by the generation that preceded mine! So prove them wrong! And remember to have a full life…community service, friends and family, trying new things and being open to new experiences, getting involved in your church, synagogue or mosque all contribute to what should be considered a successful life. One of my favorite quotes is this one, attributed to Emerson:

To laugh often and much;
to win the respect of intelligent people
and the affection of children;
to earn the appreciation of honest critics
and endure the betrayal of false friends;
to appreciate beauty,
to find the best in others;
to leave the world a bit better,
whether by a healthy child, a garden patch
or a redeemed social condition;
to know even one life has breathed
easier because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded.

Hi there. Has the cable news medium (24 hour a day coverage of the news and sometimes not the news) changed how major networks approach the delivery and format of the evening news program? Anjali J. Lueck, Jacksonville, FL.

This is such a good and important question. The answer is yes. But it's not just cable. The internet has affected us, too. We want to do a newcast that really makes sense of the news and doesn’t just report the headlines. We’re getting there, but we have a way to go. It's very difficult in a half hour to really explain things. That's what I’m struggling with now.

For example, I’m not sure we sufficiently explained the terrorism bill just passed by congress and signed by the President. What does it really mean? What are the ramifications? We’re trying to roll up our sleeves and give folks a little more insight into the news that’s happening every day so it won’t feel like “newzak” -- my term for endless, droning stories that don’t really provide true insight. At the same time, it’s important for busy people to have a place to go where they can find a succinct, accessible and smart rundown of the day’s events.

So it’s a real challenge, but it’s an exciting one. Let us know if you feel like you're getting a better understanding of what’s going on in the world watching the show. If you’re not, we’re not doing our job!