Katie Couric, the very first woman to anchor CBS Evening News, has very little good to say about the state of the network's news programming under Bari Weiss.
Worse still, Couric expressed alarm at what she is hearing about interference with reporting at "60 Minutes," which she said does not bode well when the legendary newsmagazine returns to the air.
Couric, who made history as the first woman to anchor CBS Evening News in 2006, graded CBS News under Weiss's leadership as a "D" rather than an outright failure, in an interview with Natalie Korach at media watchdog Status.
The assessment reflects concerns about editorial interference and the broader chaos within the news division. Couric pointed to troubling patterns in how stories are being shaped to favor President Donald Trump.
"The stories coming out of '60 Minutes' about trying to direct the storytelling in a way that is less offensive to the administration or that fudges the truth is a total embarrassment," Couric said. "There is probably some anticipatory obedience, if you will."
Couric attributed some of CBS News's problems to leadership turmoil and high-profile departures. "I'm not sure if it's the primary driver of declining ratings. The [Stephen] Colbert firing might not have helped either. I think that probably has hurt the morning show, because TV viewers leave the channel on overnight," she said.
The future of "60 Minutes" remains uncertain under new leadership. Couric expressed concerns about whether the newsmagazine can maintain its reputation for in-depth reporting.
"I do think those pieces are so good because they are so labor intensive and require a lot of time, a lot of original reporting, and a lot of care. We'll see if the quality of the reporting and the quality of the pieces are still there," Couric stated.
Multiple reporters and producers have raised concerns about the changes implemented at the network. Couric acknowledged the troubling behind-the-scenes stories involving fired personnel.
"From everything I've read about the reporters who were fired, some of the stories behind the scenes were very troubling," Couric said.
