This week, the world will find out if Katie Couric has what it takes to anchor the “CBS Evening News.”The world should keep in mind that it doesn’t take much.
Couric’s worthiness to sit in the same chair as Walter Cronkite, Dan Rather and yes, the distinguished and underrated Bob Schieffer, will not be determined in the first few nights of reading the news. That task can be handled by any reasonably articulate human who is professionally coiffed, meticulously made-up and smartly attired.
Couric’s performance — as well as that of any evening news anchor — will be more accurately assessed over time, as events unfold and her skills as a reporter and interviewer become more apparent to those outside the “Today” show universe.
The job has two main requirements: 1) An anchor should have enough journalistic gravitas to make viewers feel as if they’re being informed by someone who holds a place of distinction in his or her field, and 2) He or she should have a personality that projects an image of trust and likeability.
The prognosis on Couric is promising on both counts, but by no means assured.
When Couric begins her first broadcast, she would be well advised to make a passing reference to how privileged and honored she feels about being there. But dwelling on it to the point of obsequiousness would be a mistake. It would call attention to the ballyhoo around her appointment and distract from the job at hand, which is to pick up seamlessly where Schieffer left off. She should simply touch on the hoopla, acknowledge it, then get to the news.
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