Katie Couric Weighs Anchor

First Woman To Solo As Anchor Debuts On CBS Evening News

(CBS) 
The first woman to solo as anchor of a network evening news show is also being asked to fill some big shoes: CBS has been home to many of the giants of broadcast journalism, including Edward R. Murrow and Cronkite.

The weeks leading up to Couric's debut have been among the most intense in the memory of CBS News veterans. Interview shoots for an hour-long September 11 special as well as screenings and production meetings for her first 60 Minutes piece had to be scheduled around daily studio rehearsals for the evening news program. (The weekend news staff has produced the show over past two weeks while the weekday staff practiced with Couric.)

There have also been wardrobe fittings, promotional spots and a crash course on the Internet. Her online blog, "Couric & Co.," will appear on CBSNews.com.

“Sometimes I feel like human chum,” Couric told one interviewer.

Couric went into battle with a new set, a rebuilt newsroom and fresh theme music written by an Oscar-winning composer (James Horner of "Titanic" fame).

The 15-year veteran of NBC's "Today" show will need all the help she can get.

The evening terrain has shifted mightily in the past two years. The three veteran network anchors who dominated the evening news since the early 1980s — Tom Brokaw, Peter Jennings and Dan Rather — all have departed.

Couric will go head-to-head with NBC’s Brian Williams and ABC’s Charles Gibson. CBS trails NBC and ABC in the evening ratings, but drew closer to the competition during the 18 months Bob Schieffer headed the show. Schieffer served as interim anchor while CBS sought a permanent replacement for Rather, who stepped down after 24 years in the anchor chair.

Couric is also battling some disconcerting long-terms trends that have discouraged many advertisers. The three network evening news shows have lost about half of their viewers over the past 20 years, and the median age of viewers hovers near 60.

If that isn't enough, there's Couric's gender. She was repeatedly asked about her wardrobe for the first show.

"You're kidding, right?" she told one reporter.

"Sadly, I'm not," the reporter replied.

Her long stint on NBC's morning show has raised the "fluff" factor, something that didn't happen when Gibson, a morning news veteran, took over as anchor of ABC's evening news program.

"I think there is some residual sexism, and I think women are sort of judged by different standards," Couric said. "But I try not to get too preoccupied by that. I think that I feel very confident in who I am as a person and as a professional. "

The impact of Couric's presence on the show may not be known for many months. Shifts in viewer preference tend to unfold at a glacial pace, and ratings are influenced by many other factors besides the performance and personality of the anchor.

[judykoala]

Katie...sign off suggestion.."have a pleasent evening and a great day,see you tomorrow"
Judy Kenney
you are fantastic!!!!!!

[sherrylam]

Hi Katie,
Suggested sign off... Just make it simple.
"This is Katie Couric from CBS to you. That's what is happening in the World today. SLEEP TIGHT U.S.A" (and either Salute or blow a kiss)...

[donnclark]

Thus far, although I plan to give her a few more days, I can't tell if she is working for CBS as a newscaster or for the public relations board of Bush. Seems to me there is a definate attempt to show herself as anti left wing. As to the "Free Speech" segment, I would prefer to see views of people from both sides that are intelligent enough to understand that the future is one of compromise, where the two extremes are considered (as they are in reality) as useless to the future as the religious extremist that are terrorists or that form the far right in the US.

[jdgaze628]

I apologize for the type-o in my suggestion for your future sign-offs, It should have stated "Love unconditionally".

[jdgaze628]

Dear Katie...

I feel that you provided an exemplary retrospect of the nation's safety issues on your first debut as an evening anchor.

As for suggestions for your sign off. May I suggest, "Live well.. Love uncondionally..Learn always and Laugh daily".

[ncbud45]

Suggested Sign Off: "This is Katie Couric at CBS Nightly News. Now you know what we know."

[davidjross-2009]

"That's the news for this [Monday, Tuesday, etc.]. For all of us from CBS News in New York, thanks for joining us. Goodnight."

[jcp246s]

I%u2019m truly amazed by the number of critical posts I have read. Calling Katie%u2019s demeanor robotic, stiff, and monotone is a little unbelievable. During her interview with Harry Smith for the Early Show%u2019s 9/5 broadcast, she said that she thought the public was tired of the statuettic anchors of days gone by.

I personally find the direction of the broadcast to have more a personal connection with the audience. The dynamic use of color, lighting, and giving way to the use of pop culture classics like Peter Gabriel%u2019s %u201CIn Your Eyes,%u201D made me feel as though you were watching a conversation unfold. Katie%u2019s refreshing approach and pleasant delivery has reinvigorated my loyalty to the CBS Evening News. Thanks for getting out from behind the desk; you%u2019ve made yourself welcome into my family%u2019s living room.

[redravn]

I didn't want to pay attention to Katie's wardrobe and makeup; I wanted to pay attention to the newscast. Unfortunately, the white jacket looked like it was too small to button, and her eye makeup was....weird. If you want people to get past the perception that Katie Couric will give us fluffy news, hire a stylist and makeup artist that can help her project a serious image. This is no place for fashion experiments.

[token123]

Sorry CBS We think you made a mistake using Katie as a news Anchor.Have watched to many Today shows that showed she was in her element,but think she is not right for a sober newscaster.She looks out of place.My wife refuses to watch her and we are sorry after 25 years of watching CBS news we are moving to NBC News.Did not like the last 2 shows at all.

[tweedy10650]

PUTTING KATIE AS HEAD ANCHOR OF THE CBS NIGHTLY NEWS WAS A BIG BIG MISTAKE SHE DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO ASK THOSE HARD HITTING QUESTIONS SHE'S TO FLUFFY BRING BOB BACK AT LEAST HE KNEW ABOUT WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON

[grammiesue]

Katie; In ruaral Iowa the thought of anyone worth over a million a month is unreal...so I watched on your first and second nite...still unreal... katie where's your smile? I know this is more serious but as a fan of the morning show, I think you should brighten peoples mornings not depress their evening..I 've been trying to think of a sign off " just a big smile ..."this is katie looking into, out of,around, and thru... for you..." Earn that Big $$$ and don't be so stiff...its not you..out there in the middle of nowhere...U.S.A.

[paulminct]

For now, all I can say is welcome back to TV Katie! I've missed her so much all summer. This was a smart move on CBS' part... they needed an anchor under 70 years old! (and this case, gorgeous!) Now, this a new chapter in your professional career, and it's a bold one. But I am extremely confident that you will succeed, in a big way.

There are so many negative comments out there, and I read them thinking - these people are just so over critical because of all the hype... it will cool down, and you will position yourself as a well-established news anchor. I don't concur with many, if any, of the comments posted. I think they're all jealous! :)

We'll always love you Katie, from your biggest fans in CT.

[bsocialmomt]

I don't believe that Ms. Couric is as serious about the national news as she would have us believe. She has been riding the wave of popularity based on daytime talk show style. She should go back from whence she came.

I think she has been overrated and overpaid just as many of the sports figures that find ways to not deliver.

[topflight78]

Time for Katie to drop the far left liberalism and become an American idol in the footsteps of those great Americans that have led this country forward. Continued attacks on the President and the policy of the USA is boring and typical of most broadcasters trying to make a name for themselves. Support & empathy for the President's position (including USA foreign policies) is what will produce the top rated newscast results. If Katie prefers to disrespect the President and the USA then her popularity will become equivalent to that of Tom Cruise.

[bckark]

Katie needs to stick with shows like the Today Show, Dateline,or 60 Minutes. She has great interview skills and is fun to watch on the Today show, but news is not for her. Very disapointing. Not enough news and too much fluff. I will have to watch Charles Gibson. Sorry Katie. I would like to have had a woman make it on the evening news, but I have doubts that it will happen.

[aalivestrong-2009]

I like the changes. I watch several news programs and I like the difference I see at CBS. So many of the news programs regurgitate the same news over and over. I am looking forward to Katie Couric's newscasts. I prefer to see news stories about people who are doing positive things not negative.
thank you

[ohedgpe477]

For the second night, I thought Katie Couric was too stiff, too scripted, to robot like. It was a monotone monologue. So, I flipped the channel to the other news stations to see if I was wrong. Going back to Katie I could see, that no, I was right. My wife and I are very sad. Look at Katie beside the others and you will see. She has become a plastic person. And, what's with her eyes, and what happened to her mouth? She reminds me of my grandfather trying not to show too much of a smile due to having no teeth. I now wish I had not seen this tonight. Goodnight Katie. I%u2019m sorry. I wish you well, wherever you land.

[naledi-2009]

Katie,

You are sharp although I hated your role on the morning show. Let go of the bows and long hair, stop looking at the floor (as you did with Bush). You are good at what you do, so let your strengths lead you as you develop your persona for this show (it takes time so do not sweat the small stuff or give in to "feminine helps") and forget doing all those quirky things which people tend to think makes a great anchorwoman (such as long hair, pretty legs, etc.)

[ltmac1957]

WITH ALL OF THE HYPE THAT I HAD HEARD ABOUT YOUR STRONG PERSONALITY AND HARD HITTING INTERVIEWS, I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR "EXCLUSIVE" INTERVIEW WITH OUR CURRENT PRESIDENT...MR. GW BUSH. I AM SADLY, SADLY DISSAPOINTED WITH YOUR "EXCLUSIVE" INTERVIEW WITH MR. BUSH. YOU ASKED GOOD QUESIONS WHICH SHOW THAT SOME GOOD THOUGHT WAS PUT INTO ASKING THEM...HOWEVER, YOU DID NOT FOLLOW UP ON MANY OF THE VERY WEAK ANSWERS THAT MR. BUSH GAVE IN RESPONSE. THIS TELLS ME AS WELL AS MANY OTHERS THAT PERHAPS YOU DO NOT WANT TO PUSH AND CHALLANGE MR. BUSH (PERHAPS FOR FEAR OF ALIENATING AND ANGERING YOUR INTERVIEWEE?) WITH SOLID FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS. I AM SURE THAT MR. BUSH AND HIS HANDLERS WANTED TO DO A INTERVIEW WITH YOU, BECAUSE THEY WERE BETTING THAT YOU WOULD JUST GO TO THE NEXT QUESTION AND ALLOW HIS WEAK ANSWERS TO GO UNCHALLANGED. KATIE, WHO HAD THE GREAT IDEA TO WALK AROUND THE WHITE HOUSE AND ASK QUESTIONS WHILE WALKING? THIS GIVES MR. BUSH A GREAT ADVANTAGE WHEN RESPONDING TO YOU....DO THE FOLKS AT 60 MINUTES DO SERIOUS INTERVIEWS WHILE WALKING AROUND, NO. THEY ONLY DO WHEN CHASING DOWN A RUNNING PERSON OR ONLY WHEN THEY ARE DOING THE "FLUFF" TYPE INTERVIEWS...DOES THIS MEAN THAT YOU ARE GOING TO GO DOWN THAT ROAD? LETS HOPE NOT AND PLEASE DO NOT ASK DOWN THE ROAD IF "WE" AS THE AUDIENCE "CAN SEE YOUR" INTERVIEWEE'S "SIX-PAC":( AS YOU HAVE DONE IN THE PAST...PLEASE NO FLUFF..GET THE FACTS!
WARMEST REGARDS,
LT