Katie Couric Criticizes CBS For Replacing O’Donnell With ‘Two Men’

After the network chose to replace Norah O’Donnell with two male anchors on “CBS Evening News,” Katie Couric openly attacked CBS News for being “out of touch.” Despite CBS’s recent efforts to advance women in senior jobs, decision-making authority still resides primarily in the hands of men, as Couric noted in an op-ed for The New York Times.

The irony in CBS’s reorganization—which saw the appointment of more women to managerial roles—was brought to Couric’s attention when the network chose two men, John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois, to anchor the evening newscast. Although she recognized the skill of both men, she thought it strange that during a period of profound social and political transformation, the hosts of CBS’s evening broadcast would be men.

O’Donnell’s Departure And CBS’s Leadership Changes

Norah O’Donnell, who announced her departure from the anchor chair in July, was only the third female solo anchor of a network evening newscast, following in the footsteps of Diane Sawyer and Couric herself. O’Donnell will remain at CBS in a new role after the November elections, transitioning to a senior correspondent position.

CBS recently made headlines with several leadership changes, including the appointment of Adrienne Roark as president of editorial and newsgathering and Jennifer Mitchell as president of stations and digital. Despite these moves, Couric highlighted that the leading editorial decisions are still being made by men, a point that she found disheartening given the current social climate.

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Need For Diverse Reporting

Reflecting on the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics and Vice President Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign, Couric emphasized the need for diverse journalists to cover these potentially historic events. She noted that Margaret Brennan would contribute stories from the Washington bureau, but expressed concern that the primary anchors would be men, which she believes sends a message that is not aligned with the current push for diversity and inclusion in media.

Couric, who served as the lead and solo anchor of “CBS Evening News” from 2006 to 2011, shared her disappointment in the industry’s continued male dominance. She recounted her own experiences with male colleagues during her time at CBS, including instances where she found their writing subtly sexist. Couric urged the industry to be more mindful of societal changes and the importance of representation in leadership roles.

While acknowledging the financial pressures on the television industry, which may have influenced CBS’s decision to promote from within, Couric argued that the industry must still strive to reflect the diversity of its audience. She concluded by expressing her hope that the news media will evolve to better represent the society it serves, even as traditional broadcast news faces challenges in maintaining its relevance.

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