Despite low ratings, Katie Couric stays at CBS Evening News until contract expires 2011

[alp227]

From The New York Times: "Doubts Fade and Couric Is Energized"

For much of 2008, the TV cognoscenti assumed that Katie Couric would be anywhere but in the “CBS Evening News” anchor chair by now.

But despite some of the lowest ratings in the newscast’s history, she says she will remain there until her contract expires in 2011. Borrowing from Mark Twain, she said cheerfully in a recent interview, “I think reports of my death were greatly exaggerated.”

What changed? For one thing, Ms. Couric and her bosses say her departure was never actually imminent, despite reports to the contrary. They also credit her work ethic and her election coverage — including her persistent and much-praised questioning of Sarah Palin — with infusing something of a reputation turnaround.

(snip)

For Ms. Couric, whose CBS anchor job began amid an extraordinary degree of attention in September 2006, the last three years have been arduous. The job she does nightly is not the one she signed up for. “I came over to do a different kind of newscast,” she said, one with a greater emphasis on interviews.

The viewers appeared to reject the early attempts at remodeling, including a more conversational introduction (“Hi, everyone”) and a commentary segment. While reticent to call the changes a mistake, she now thinks it was “probably too much too soon.”

The newscast, a victim in part of weak affiliate stations, has languished in third place, as it had for her predecessor.

By early 2008, discontent on the part of Ms. Couric and her bosses led to a meeting at the CBS headquarters. “It was to try to figure out how to better utilize Katie’s talents,” said Sean McManus, the president of CBS News. With the election looming, they agreed to revisit the subject after the inauguration.

If I ever watch the nightly news, I'd rather watch ABC, NBC, or PBS. If CBS decides not to keep Couric, I hope they can find someone better.

[aquart]

1. I do not watch Couric.

They could have hired women who were journalists. They hired an infotainment specialist. Then she sucked up to Bush for all she was worth and that sealed it.

[IDFbunny]

3. She single handedly shattered the Palin mystique

and the 'perky' thing as well. She deserves more credit.

[TreasonousBastard]

2. You don't watch evening news, but you care enough about it...

to post about Couric?

[alp227]

5. I just wanted to know what other members thought about this.

Here are my usual news sources for the nation & world: ABC, NBC, PBS, The New York Times, and DU.

[yoyolopa]

4. Despite low ratings....

Hmm...