University alumna Katie Couric broke new ground last night as the first permanent female anchor for any major network news evening program. She replaces Dan Rather and, more recently, Bob Schieffer as anchor of the CBS evening news.
Media Studies Prof. William Fishback said Couric's professional skills will overshadow the fact that she is the first major female network anchor.
"This is less about her being a woman and more about her being a very good professional," Fishback said. "She is hard to beat when it comes to an interview."
Fishback added that Couric's effect on the three major networks' primetime ratings should prove interesting.
"The other networks will have their eyes on her for a while," he said. "They're watching and waiting."
Politics Prof. Larry Sabato said CBS has invested time and money in preparation for Couric's debut.
"It's like a moon launch or a presidential inauguration," Sabato said.
Sabato added that he had heard the network had some surprises in store for the public.
Couric announced during yesterday's broadcast that she will have an exclusive interview with President Bush tonight.
Couric also introduced a new segment for the "CBS Evening News" called "freeSpeech." The segment is designed to allow Americans, both well-known and unfamiliar, to express their views without censorship.
Yesterday's broadcast also featured a preview of the upcoming Vanity Fair cover featuring Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise's baby.
Couric graduated from the University in 1979 with a bachelor's degree in English and a focus in American studies.
In her time at the University, Couric "was active in quite a few organizations" and was the head resident of the Lawn, Sabato said.
Couric's career in journalism began as a desk assistant at ABC News in Washington, D.C. shortly after graduating from the University. After four years at CNN and some time at local news stations in Washington, D.C. and Miami, Florida, Couric joined NBC News in 1989 and was a co-anchor on the "Today" show from 1991 to 2006.
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