Katie Couric Says CBS Is 'Out of Touch' for Replacing Norah O'Donnell with 2 Male Anchors

Katie Couric Says CBS Is 'Out of Touch' for Replacing Norah O'Donnell with 2 Male Anchors https://ift.tt/eSxthLC

"It was more than a little disappointing to read that Ms. O'Donnell would be replaced by two men, John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois," Couric shared

Bryan Bedder/Getty

Katie Couric (left) and Norah O'Donnell attend National Geographic's premiere screening of AMERICA INSIDE OUT WITH KATIE COURIC on April 9, 2018 in New York City

Katie Couric is speaking out after CBS announced Norah O’Donnell would be replaced by male co-anchors on CBS Evening News following the 2024 presidential election.

In a New York Times guest essay on Sunday, Aug. 11, Couric — who anchored CBS Evening News from 2006 to 2011 — called out the network’s decision to have Maurice DuBois and John Dickerson co-anchor the nightly broadcast.

“It was more than a little disappointing to read that Ms. O’Donnell would be replaced by two men, John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois,” Couric wrote. “Don’t get me wrong: I know, like and respect these two journalists. But soon, on the big three networks, there will be four male anchors.” 

 Daniel Zuchnik/Variety via Getty; Noam Galai/Getty

From left: John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois

Related: Katie Couric Recalls ‘Challenging’ Early Days in TV News: ‘I Didn’t Fit the Mold’ of a ‘Desirable Broadcaster’

She continued: “Yes, the talented Margaret Brennan will be contributing stories from the Washington bureau for CBS, but the two people who will be greeting Americans watching the CBS evening newscast will be men.”

The 67-year-old journalist raised concerns about who would be making editorial choices for the show, saying, “More important, the three people behind the scenes, making most of the editorial decisions, will be three white men: Bill Owens, Guy Campanile and Jerry Cipriano.”

Despite praising Cipriano for supporting her during her time on the news program, she explained that “male writers occasionally have blind spots” and noted the importance of this election cycle.

“We’re also in the midst of a campaign that could result in the election of the first woman president, and first woman of color as president. It’s a potentially historic story — one that needs a diverse group of journalists covering it,” she explained.

Michael Loccisano/Getty 

Katie Couric attends the 2023 American Ballet Theatre Fall Gala at David H. Koch Theater, Lincoln Center on October 24, 2023 in New York City.

Related: CBS Anchor Norah O'Donnell Makes Surprise Call to 9-Year-Old Girl Who Wants to Be a Journalist

She went on to reflect on her own experience at the network, where she became the first solo female anchor of CBS Evening News.

“Nearly 20 years ago, I wanted to be the face of CBS Evening News because I knew that for the audience — especially little girls and little boys watching at dinner time — the image of a solo woman anchor could be game changing,” she shared. “Whether it’s in politics, sports or other once-male-dominated fields, seeing diversity in leadership inspires our imagination about who can and should fill these roles.”

“The incoming anchors and executives will be curating the evening news for an aging audience — when you watch the commercials, it’s pretty evident which demographic is tuning in — but the broadcast still attracts over four million viewers on average every night,” she continued. “It’s odd and more than a little out of touch that even while CBS has announced a restructuring that introduces an additional layer of women executives, the leading editorial decision makers will mostly be men.”

CBS did not immediately return PEOPLE’s request for comment.

Related: Norah O'Donnell Opens Up About Weathering Scandal at CBS: 'It Was a Tough and Painful Year'

Cindy Ord/Getty

Norah O'Donnell attends the 44th Annual News Emmy Awards at Palladium Times Square on September 27, 2023 in New York City.

Last month, O’Donnell confirmed she was stepping down as anchor and managing editor of CBS Evening News but would remain at the network and transition to a new role as a CBS News senior correspondent. She will conduct high-profile interviews that will air across the network’s platforms, including broadcast, streaming, digital and Paramount+.

The seasoned journalist will also contribute to CBS Evening News, 60 Minutes and CBS News Sunday Morning.

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“I love what I do, and I am so fortunate to work with the best journalists and people in the business,” O’Donnell, 50, wrote in a staff memo on July 30. “Together, our team has won Emmy, Murrow, and DuPont awards. We managed to anchor in-studio through COVID; we took the broadcast on the road from aircraft carriers to the Middle East, and around the world. We were privileged to conduct a historic interview with Pope Francis. There’s so much work to be proud of!”

“But I have spent 12 years in the anchor chair here at CBS News, tied to a daily broadcast and the rigors of a relentless news cycle,” she continued. “It’s time to do something different."

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