Katie Couric to Step Down in June – By Kathy Groob

Five years ago Katie Couric became the first solo female anchor of a weekday evening news program on one of the three major broadcast networks.

On June 6^th CBS will return to the comfort of a suited male when Scott Pelley takes over as anchor for the CBS evening news program.  Pelley is a Texas native who has worked at CBS for two decades. He will inherit a broadcast that is in last place in the ratings behind NBC and ABC, and has been for some time, long before Couric took the chair.

Katie Couric had become a symbol for women as a trailblazer as the CBS face on national and worldwide news.  She had become to the nation, the face of CBS.  During a crisis, CBS viewers, with many women among them, turned to Katie Couric.

According to NBC News, “Some critics at the time thought her background was not focused enough on hard news for her to make a successful jump to an evening newscast, but others accused those critics of sexism.”  Coming from years at the Today Show, Couric covered hard news stories but also displayed the lighter side of her personality, considered a no-no for serious evening news anchors.  Some said it wasn’t a good fit from the start.

Couric gave it five years, however, and there is much speculation that she might try to fill the void that will be left when talk-show queen Oprah Winfrey ends her long-running afternoon program this May.  Couric has not announced her plans, but said she is “looking at a format that will allow me to engage in more multi-dimensional storytelling.”

On its website, CBS says of Couric “There’s a lot to be proud of during Katie Couric’s time at the CBS Evening News. CBS News, like Katie herself, is looking forward to the next chapter.”

Political watchers credit Katie Couric for changing the landscape in the 2008 presidential election by exposing Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin’s lack of knowledge that ultimately let to the decline of popularity for the McCain/Palin ticket. During an interview on the campaign trail, Couric asked Palin what newspapers and magazines she regularly read and received vague answers with no specifics.  As Couric pushed Palin for answers to other questions, it became obvious that Palin was unprepared and even possibly in over her head.

In many ways, Katie Couric is a game changer.  Through her various network experiences, she has been with us during the highs and lows of American culture including 9-11, Olympic games, kidnappings, hurricanes, political contests and most notably her work and advocacy for colon cancer screening.  Couric was the first television personality to undergo a colonoscopy on television.

Soon Diane Sawyer will be left alone as the sole female anchor on a major network.  As for Katie Couric, while her imminent plans are not yet announced, you can bet with her talent, optimistic personality and guts, she will land on her feet.  She’s done it before.