Before it’s over I expect that the debate over the decision to put Katie Couric in the Captain’s Chair at CBS News will dissolve into a question of sexism.
Certainly, it’s hard to miss the fact that Ms. Couric is a woman or that she’s the first of her gender to solo anchor a national nightly news broadcast.
But inserting that topic into the storm as the countdown begins to September is not only a disservice to her but to the debate itself.
The issue isn’t whether a woman can run the show but rather whether this particular woman has the chops to call the shots in the news department of what was once the Tiffany Network.
It’s a question of gravitas.
It’s no secret that news directors starved for the ratings that create professional longevity have long ago turned to the tried and true formula that sex sells.
Physical looks and journalistic talent are not mutually exclusive, but the former almost always beats out the latter when trying to quickly lure viewers.
Obviously the best choice would bring the best of both worlds, and I’m not arguing that Ms. Couric brings both smarts and attractiveness to the post.
But I’ve a sneaking suspicion that what drew CBS to her had more to do with her celebrity and her ability to attract fans than her ability to ask world leaders the tough questions.
Remember that not only is Ms. Couric the evening anchor, but her position also gives her the title of Managing Editor, giving her final say over what stories to kill or insert in a newscast.
The Old Guard in the CBS newsroom is putting on a good public face about the acquisition, but you and I have to know better.
The two people who held the position full time before Couric were Walter Cronkite, who cut his chops in WWII, and Dan Rather, who earned his reporting reputation in Vietnam.
Couric spent fifteen years doing a morning news show.
Walter Cronkite never made People’s 100 Most Beautiful People list. He was the most trusted man in America.
The question isn’t whether you like Katie Couric. The question is, to whom will you turn the next time a bullet goes flying down a Dallas street or planes start flying into skyscrapers.
When someone is kind enough to compliment me on my reporting, I usually say something like, “Well, I’m not here because I’m pretty.”
My hope is, a year or so down the line, that Katie Couric feels comfortable saying the same thing.