Katie Couric, CBS News, Have "No Plans To Part Company Anytime Soon"

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — Job insecurity may be widespread in the media but Katie Couric still has no need to worry, her boss says.

Rumors that Couric will be replaced on the "CBS Evening News" after the presidential election or inauguration are untrue, CBS News President Sean McManus told a Television Critics Association meeting Friday, reiterating earlier assurances.

Couric, who took part in the satellite Q&A from New York that included colleagues Bob Schieffer and Jeff Greenfield, also called such talk inaccurate.

"We have no plans to part company any time soon," Couric said.

She dismissed what she called speculative reports that have "spun out of control" and called the attention to her job status "befuddling."

Pessimistic predictions about Couric's future arose less than a year after she took over the newscast in September 2006. Despite changes in the producer and focus, the show has consistently lagged about 2 million viewers per night behind NBC and ABC.

Schieffer, who served as interim anchor between Dan Rather and Couric, defended the program.

Compared to the other network newscasts, "we measure up very, very well," Schieffer said. "The right stories are getting on that broadcast, the right interviews. ... And I'm very proud to be part of it."

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Questions were raised whether plans by CBS and the other networks to send their anchors overseas to cover Barack Obama's trip to Europe and the Middle East are justified or reflect media infatuation with the presumptive Democratic nominee.

McManus defended the decision to send Couric to Jordan, saying Obama's journey next week represents more than a campaign event.

"I would call it the biggest news of the week," McManus said.

Obama's foreign policy expertise has been called into question and the trip opens a window on that issue, he said.

Greenfield said he expected reporters to do their job.

"I have a strong hunch the people interviewing Obama will have tough questions. It's not like North Korean television covering (communist leader) Kim Jong Il," Greenfield said.

Couric concurred.

"It's not going to be like, `How do you like the weather in Jordan, senator?'" she said.

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On the Net:

http://www.cbs.com

Comments

[Triangle1]

Light and airy features personality meets serious hard news evening coverage. Oil and vinegar don't mix well.

[Triangle1]

CBS is like George W. Bush. If you don't acknowledge the reality, it's not a problem until you call it one.

[Ray46]

Rumor is they will replace her with Mary Hart of Entertainment Tonight.
Soon we can look forward to statements such as.

President Bush flew in his exclusive white house jet to the exotic country of ---- to meet with bad boy dictator --- . Later they and their wives danced the night away at --- dressed in -------.

[the964kid]

Who?

[danoj]

CBS must like to suck.

[GypsyRose]

Memo to: Volvo, Hume, Dentuso, Kellygrrl, Thunderclap, LiberalBuzz, ErnestineBass, et al: Stop trashing people, just because they don't agree with you. How does that further any dialogue that you so "pretend" to embrace? You're not helping anything, you're destroying it! Why?

Oh yeah, I'll be posting this everywhere and every chance I get. Now, fess up, how many of you are getting paid from HuffPo or from other sources? C'mon, you can tell me....

[danoj]

They aren't getting paid they just have nothing of substance or opinion to add so they just add to the discourse. I pointed that out on a different thread and immediately was attacked for it.

[JennyJay]

Is it just me, or did I see that the minute Katie went to CBS she put on the - old man, serious look,
stodgy mask?? I don't think they hired her to replicate her predecessors, and yet, she did exactly that.
No wonder the CBS news is still soooo boring. They thought they hired Katie, and they got an old gray haired guy, just like they had before. This is Katie's idea of a 'NEWS PERSON".
Bad idea, Katie.

[Ray46]

"No Plans To Part Company Anytime Soon"

Translation: Still have not reached acceptable terms in negotiations to end her contract yet.

[hugs4u]

Does anyone ev en watch CBS news anymore?

[TheEmptinessOfTruthiness]

Apparently 5 million people do. I suspect they're all over 65 and live in Florida though.

[sufi66]

I hope she stays forever. I want to know where I can always go and get a good laugh.

[totaldisbelief]

Of course she's staying.....where would her next job come from?
And as far as ratings go....lies are lies and no one likes being lied to ;so maybe that has something to do with poor ratings.

[imsosure]

Ick!

[JJK]

This will go on for as long as Ms. Couric wants it to go on, or until her contract expires, whichever comes first.

She is no doubt living in an impregnable bubble in which she speaks only to those who reenforce whatever delusions she has about the causes of her low and declining ratings.

Network and/or viewer sexism? Poor producers? Bad set design? Bad scripts? Bad hair or makeup artists? Bad wardrobe advice? Bad luck? Who knows? Who cares? It just doesn't matter.

Bottom Line: they can't fire her and she won't quit.

[kroses98]

I guess they want to stay in third place forever. Let them! I don't watch it, but maybe the dummies do!!! I think more of the dummies watch Fox, however. I don't know who watches this airhead!!!

[watchingthings]

I tried to watch her newscast when she first came to CBS. I just had to switch channels on her and havn't been able to talk myself into giving her another look-see.

[mabinog]

Whew, that is a burden off my shoulders. I don't what I would do if Katie last her job at CBS...

[Froggerorangebeast]

Well if she does leave, she can move in with me anytime!!