Les Moonves Gives CBS Newsroom A Pep Talk: Katie's Not Going Anywhere

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NEW YORK (AP) _ CBS Corp. Chairman Leslie Moonves paid a surprise visit to the CBS newsroom Friday to support embattled anchor Katie Couric.

Moonves told CBS News employees that "there are no plans for a change _ today, tomorrow and into the future," according to a network executive who was there. The executive spoke on condition of anonymity because the comments were not made public.

That doesn't mean Couric's status won't be reviewed if ratings continue to lag _ but that won't happen until after the election, the executive said.

Moonves and CBS News President Sean McManus both appeared at a meeting held at noon each Friday between Couric and "CBS Evening News" executive producer Rick Kaplan. The meeting is televised internally to network news bureaus worldwide.

Several recent news articles have suggested that CBS has decided to replace Couric _ who is running a distant third behind NBC and ABC in the evening news ratings _ sometime after the election or inauguration of a new president.

Moonves and McManus wanted to rebut these articles to news employees, said a CBS News staffer who watched the meeting.

"They decided it was time that everybody was very clear where they stood and that they were not going to let news articles set anybody's agenda," Kaplan said. "They made it clear in everybody's mind that they were totally supportive of Katie and of CBS News."

McManus' pep talk was more pointed, as he expressed anger at news articles that talked about weakness at the news division, the CBS staffer said.

Kaplan said Couric should be given more time, noting that it took years for former anchors like Tom Brokaw and Peter Jennings to top the ratings. He predicted Couric _ whose broadcast narrowly missed a record low rating last week _ will be No. 1 someday.

"She's not been at it two years and everybody is writing her obituary," he said. "That's fine. Success is the sweetest revenge."

Comments

[vandegrasse]

Cutie-pie moonface is losing his looks, he's getting old. He needs to go, just like he's let others more qualified than him go.

[vandegrasse]

I like CBS News lite. I don't have to think. Yay!

[ang4ever]

CIt's kinda hard to deny those rock bottom ratings. Even that sweet dimple will not swayed me to ever watch her after the very first time.

Stick a fork on Couric - SHE IS DONE !

[OtayPanky]

Les Moonves Gives CBS Newsroom A Pep Talk: Katie's Not Going Anywhere

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Katie's not going anywhere...and neither are her ratings.

[Boris]

I dont hate Couric. In fact, although not a Today show fan, I thought she was competent. The problem that Leslie Moonbeam is an ass. He spent all that money on her and took it away from real journalism. If anything, Moonves is the anti-Murrow, the anti Cronkite. Her failure has less to do with her and more to Moonves belief that news is just a crappy reality show.

[halyscomet]

Les, Thou protesteth too much...

[zigzag1]

Start packing Katie, this cinches the rumors.

[LittleBrother]

Yeah, sometimes Les is less. He's backing his thoroughbred filly 1000%!

Which turns out, more often than not, to mean backing the chosen one 1000% slowly out the door.

[souris]

.................isn't this just CYA by Moonves who hired her?? If she fails, what does that say about his judgement? I think I already know......he married the Chen bot, didn't he???

[oceanlover]

The Chen bot is so plastic, so packaged and so stilted, it's hard not be reminded of Morgan Fairchild. The makeup Julie Chen wears is so overpowering and heavy you could literally scrape it off. (Is there a human being under there? Hello!) She's literally the last thing, if that, which pops to mind when reading the definition of the word "journalist" in the dictionary. In other words, a laugh riot.

[oceanlover]

A "Pep Talk" Yeah...right! That'll do the trick Les. Not. Give those underpaid, over worked news room employees what they really need. A Pep Talk from Les "I'm worth $37 million for this past year alone," while CBS news is in the toilet. Uh huh, yep, that'll do the trick....a little pep talk! "F"ing hilarious.

[Harrier]

That generally means she is going to go. Ratings are what they are

[wm1066]

He's using bushspeak.

[osage]

And I bet Mr. Moonves also believes in the popularity of George W. Bush, John Sidney McCain, III and Larry Craig. Couric's ship has sailed and or sank. Thinking Ms. Couric can do "hard news" is like thinking that Dick Cheney can be the new Mr. Rogers. Saying it, doesn't make it so. Perhaps Mr. Moonves should start updating his resume.

[indyny]

"Katie's not going anywhere" - Isn't that the issue, Leslie?

[Manx]

Moonves says Couric will be No. 1 someday.

Hope springs eternal...

[provgrays]

Classic!

It's the fabled public vote of confidence from Boss Man before Katie slinks out the side door.

Betting windows now open.