2007-07-14 00:41:30 · 8 answers · asked by wunder_bred 3 in News & Events ➔ Media & Journalism
Definitely a ratings ploy. Didn't work, though.
2007-07-14 02:44:14 · answer #1 · answered by cigarsnbrew 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
CBS needed to make an announcement with a little splash. Its newscast was in third place, and it was still getting over the problems with Rather's story on Kerry that required backtracking.
When looking over the landscape, an in-house hire (John Roberts) probably wasn't going to do much. Katie Couric, though, might, or so went the thinking. She would become the first female sole anchor of a network evening news program, thus making some history. And, she would have to leave the Today show, weakening the flagship of the network's news division (it -- the Today show alone -- reportedly earns $250 million a year).
Is it working? Not so far. The ratings have remained stagnant, Couric's attempts to revamp the newscast haven't been well accepted. Meredith Viera (sp?) has fit in well at the Today show. It would seem that America likes its anchors to be male authority figures. But that could all change -- Couric hasn't been through a crisis that would require her to be on the air for hours at a time.
Oddly, people seemed to like Bob Schieffer a lot when he had the interim anchor job. Too bad he didn't want the job full-time at this stage in his life.
I can't blame Couric for taking the job -- she made history and was well paid. The hours are a little better too. I would guess she'll wait it out until the '08 election, and then plot her next move.
2007-07-14 11:00:34 · answer #2 · answered by wdx2bb 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i do no longer think of he specially meant Katie grow to be dumbing it down... in basic terms CBS. He grow to be concerning Katie while he made the "tarting it up remark," which some could discover offensive. He probably would not have suggested that, yet i think of he's in basic terms annoyed with the coverage of matters which include Paris Hilton's reformatory seize 22 concern and Lindsay's recent hair shade on the night information. Is the night information dumbed down? sure!
2016-12-10 11:46:58 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
CBS thought she could pull their ratings up the way she did on the Today Show.
2007-07-14 00:47:53 · answer #4 · answered by Debra D 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because she is/was widely regarded as the most popular journalist in the U.S.
2007-07-14 05:08:49 · answer #5 · answered by jackielemmon 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They wanted someone with a celebrity appeal.
2007-07-14 00:58:17 · answer #6 · answered by SJay 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Who knows?
2007-07-14 00:45:28 · answer #7 · answered by $Sun King$ 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
dunno, it seemed like a good decision back then
2007-07-14 05:48:30 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋