When CBS News announced that Katie Couric was to be the new evening news anchor, I had my reservations. But I have to say I was rather pleased with her initial newscast last night.
Being introduced in a voice over by no less than God himself, Walter Cronkite, the new broadcast showed from the start that it was going to be different from the rest of the pack and set apart from what CBS has done in the past.
Couric showed a bit less of her perky personae in the broadcast debut that had been such a staple of the “Today” show. She was serious when serious was needed and light when the occasion called for light. The new editorial page-style segment and picture features are perhaps a bit gimmicky, but if continued to be done right they could provide a relief from what has become a tiresome format in network news.
Alas, Katie doesn’t yet have the gravitas. Her personality lends itself more to the opening music of “The Devil Wears Prada.” And that’s not really bad — Katie or the song. There is nothing wrong with a little upbeat glamour. And besides gravitas is not necessisarily a congenital trait. After all, Ed Murrow, David Brinkley and Walter Cronkite didn’t start off being the Ed Murrow, David Brinkley and Walter Cronkite that the world came to know.
So I am impressed thus far and we shall see how Katie fares down the line.