When Katie Couric took over for the legendary Dan Rather as the new CBS evening news anchor it stirred attention and controversy right away. Barbara Walters had co-anchored an ABC evening news broadcast for two years in the 1970's but no woman had ever been the sole anchor for the nightly news before Couric. Katie had previously been a host for the very popular Today show, but many people wondered if Katie- know for her cheery, sunny disposition could handle the serious, demanding role of the evening news.
Before she even began anchoring many people wondered if there was a spot for women in the nightly news, but CBS and Couric took the chance. They adopted a new, lighter format that had longer feature stories and more public interest stories. Unfourtunatly things have not gone well. The CBS evening news ratings have plummeted since Katie took the prized chair. Dan Rather even made a public statement saying that Katie had "dumbed down" and "tarted up" the broadcast. Source:NY Daily News
As a result of the low ratings and public critcism, Katie is rumored to be leaving the broadcast as early as next January even though her contract is not up until 2011. CBS has denied this but several sources close to CBS say the leave is probable. Katie has openly admitted that her position was harder than she expected to be. But the question is did Katie ever really have a chance?
Men have always dominated the nightly news with legends like Walter Cronkite, Dan Rather and other men known for their deep, strong voices. The news itself has always suggests a sombernes which fits in with men's low pitched voices reading the nightly news.
Before she even began anchoring many people wondered if there was a spot for women in the nightly news, but CBS and Couric took the chance. They adopted a new, lighter format that had longer feature stories and more public interest stories. Unfourtunatly things have not gone well. The CBS evening news ratings have plummeted since Katie took the prized chair. Dan Rather even made a public statement saying that Katie had "dumbed down" and "tarted up" the broadcast. Source:NY Daily News
As a result of the low ratings and public critcism, Katie is rumored to be leaving the broadcast as early as next January even though her contract is not up until 2011. CBS has denied this but several sources close to CBS say the leave is probable. Katie has openly admitted that her position was harder than she expected to be. But the question is did Katie ever really have a chance?
Men have always dominated the nightly news with legends like Walter Cronkite, Dan Rather and other men known for their deep, strong voices. The news itself has always suggests a sombernes which fits in with men's low pitched voices reading the nightly news.
But don't take my word for it, Dr.Clifford Nass a professor at Stanford University has studied to way people react to different voices for nine years. Through his work he has found that ''Our studies show that directions from a female voice are perceived as less accurate than those from a male voice,'' Dr. Nass said, ''even when the voices are reading the exact same directions. Deepness helps, too. It implies size, height and authority. Deeper voices are more credible.''
So there is truly something behind this male anchor thing. Some may perceive this male prefence as sexist but its no different than the sexism that takes place in the daytime talk shows that are dominated by women. The View, Martha Stewart, Ellen, Rachel Ray, there's no market for a man in that timespot. The nightly news male formula is one that works for that particular market. It is nonethless unfortunate that Couric did not find success, but I believe that she may be happier somewhere else where she doesn't face the criticism she does now. Either way the woman works hard and deserves more credit than what she has received.
2 comments:
"Works hard" applies to a great many people doing a great variety of things. The issue, however, is whether Couric was or is the right choice for the job. At a time when there are many more proficient and enlightened women entering the field of broadcast journalism, the decision to hire Couric is stunningly stupid. While it may be stupid, it should surprise none. We have been heading in this direction since the day that the entertainment divisions of the networks got involved in news.
Well I agree that there are many talented female anchors out there, Erica Hill is one I specifically admire. But I think that Couric is talented and that her last spot for the Today Show, has given her a label and image she couldn't break away from. I don't think that a woman with no talent would have ever been given a position from a respectable news station had she not been a viable candidate for the position.
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