Image Credit: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images
Katie Couric finally went on the record to People today to announce her decision to step down from CBS Evening News. ”I’m really proud of the talented team on the CBS Evening News and the award-winning work we’ve been able to do in the past five years in addition to the reporting I’ve done for 60 Minutes and CBS Sunday Morning,” she told the magazine. “In making the decision to move on, I know the Evening News will be in great hands, but I am excited about the future.”
As for what’s next, Couric said, ”I am looking at a format that will allow me to engage in more multi-dimensional storytelling.” Couric, who anchored the Evening News since 2006, is expected to focus on developing a daytime talk show that may or may not involve Today’s Matt Lauer. Both the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal reported earlier this month that there have been discussions to reunite her with her former co-worker and friend.
CBS will likely announce Couric’s successor next week, or before its annual upfront presentation to advertisers in New York. It seems likely that 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley is the frontrunner, though CBS’s Harry Smith and Russ Mitchell have also been mentioned as possible successors.
Yawn.
Sexist pig.
I know, move on already
CBS hired a person from NBC to host the CBS Evening News and I am positive that Almost Every Newsperson at CBS must have felt they should have gotten the job instead. Promote from within, not from without, Unless you have the Best Person for the job, which Ms. Couric was not. She was more qualified to host The Today Show than anchor the CBS Evening News.
Agree with you here…and, sorry to say this, but someone older looking. CBS is typically geared towards the older demographic – why they veered away from that is beyond me?
It was an experiment that quickly failed to work. CBS should have thrown in the towel earlier, bought out her contract, admitted defeat and tried another strategy. She just is not evening newsworthy.
People magazine got the announcement, huh? Way to flaunt that journalistic prowess, Katie!
Harry Smith!
They should have given Harry Smith the job when they hired Katie. Let’s hope they do the right thing now.
I was a Producer for a television station. It came as a surprise. It was an incredible opportunity for me, especially after being pregnant. I got to take on more responsibilities and set the news agenda for the local area. I got to be a very creative and decisive leader, if I can say that. It was a dream come true in many ways to get that promotion, and I… that’s all I can say! It was great. It was an amazing experience for me.
I got to be? in need of some writting skills-journalism 101?
LOL – yes great writing skills!
The ratings and quality must have surged up after you left.
Just give the job to Harry Smith already. The man has been dumped on and loyal to a fault.
So true. Wish he could finally tell CBS to go take a hike, but I would imagine he is pulling in some decent $change right now. Glad to see the morning show ratings sink since they reorganized that team.
The 30-minute national evening network newscasts are dunzo. The real prestige is in the morning and local news.
This was one of those ideas that worked on paper. Shame so many millions are spent on salaries. That is the problem anymore. Genuine journalism is lost in the celebrity. Couric, despite the chops she may have, seemed to enjoy the celebrity more than the story. What CBS should do is find a way to gain another half hour from the affils for an hour newscast and do it right.
Nothing against Couric, but I thought she lacked the required gravitas for the job. Her departure from the CBS Evening News will be a win-win situation.
Does ANYONE care about this?
Old people.
Poor Katie. What WILL she do with all of her millions?
I watched one time to see what all the hype was. BORING. Quit watching CBS news and went to NBC. Won’t miss her a bit.
Hey, Bob Schieffer managed to INCREASE CBS’ ratings while he was the interim anchor; why not return to him?
Good riddance, I always said she looks like an old boy. Yeesh what an ugly lookin fella
Erica Hill was awesome as an afternoon CNN single anchor. CBS hired her away but has underused her on CBS early show. I would not be surprised if Erica Hill becomes the new anchor. She’s everything Katie is not: Interesting, exciting, funny, engaging and seems to have a handle on what the typical person is thinking. Katie was too out-of-touch. If CBS wants to go to #1 in evening news, two words: ERICA HILL.
This came back to bit Moonvees in the ass for giving someone such huge amounts of money and they got absolutely nothing for it in return and a huge loss in viewers. Get her out of there once and for all and allow Harry Smith to be the new anchor and maybe, JUST MAYBE, he can get the ratings back up again. She was a distater @ CBS.