The first woman chosen to solely anchor a network evening newscast left on a high note Thursday evening, interviewing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and leading the broadcast with an exclusive 60 Minutes investigation on new doping accusations against cyclist Lance Armstrong.
Katie Couric’s last night on the CBS Evening News will be May 19. She made the announcement on Friday’s broadcast. Substitute anchors are likely to rotate in the chair until Scott Pelley takes over as the permanent anchor on June 6.
The veteran CBS News correspondent will take over from Katie Couric as anchor and managing editor on June 6. He will continue to report for 60 Minutes.
After weeks of widespread speculation about her future, Katie Couric is finally ready to go on the record. “I have decided to step down from the CBS Evening News,” Couric told People Tuesday.
As Katie Couric and the network negotiate how to end her five-year run as anchor of the CBS Evening News, interviews show that her hiring was part of a larger experiment to lift the newscast’s ratings.
What CBS Can Do To Upgrade ‘Evening News’
When Katie Couric finally does announce her syndication deal, it will likely be the worst kept secret in media since her last move. 60 Minutes‘ correspondent Scott Pelley is the obvious favorite to replace her as anchor of the CBS Evening News (PBS’ Gwen Ifill remains my unorthodox hope), but talk right now should likely turn toward how the broadcast should change. Here are five suggestions.
Exclusives
New CBS News Chairman Jeff Fager will choose Couric’s successor, and will look both inside and outside the company. Many people at CBS News believe that Scott Pelley of 60 Minutes is the lead contender.
A CBS executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity because Katie Couric has not officially announced her plans, says the 54-year-old CBS Evening News anchor is expected to launch a syndicated talk show in 2012 and several companies are vying for her services.
Katie Couric may finally get the chance to become a regular on 60 Minutes, now that she is apparently stepping down from the nightly news anchor job. An offer to become a regular correspondent for the prestigious Sunday night TV magazine is part of the package being offered Couric — if she’ll stay and do a projected daytime talk show for CBS, according to several network insiders.
