Interviewed for the "View from the Top" feature in the May 9 Financial Times, NBC Universal chief executive Jeff Zucker praised CBS "Evening News" anchor Katie Couric, formerly with NBC's "Today" show. Zucker also dismissed any notion that he regretted not buying the Wall Street Journal.
Here's an excerpt (portion in italics to denote questions by Financial Times):
You worked with Katie Couric [host of NBC's Today for 15 years, now CBS Evening News anchor] for a long time. Would you take her back?
I don't know that Katie's available so it's not really my place to say, but Katie remains one of the most talented journalists of her generation and somebody who would be an asset to whatever news division, whatever organisation she worked in. So we would always welcome somebody of Katie's ability and stature, but that's not . . . on the cards any time in the near future.
Story Continues Below Ad ↓The writers' strike had a big impact on ratings. Has that permanently changed the television landscape?
I don't think we'll fully know the answer to that until the fall. There's no question some of the programmes this spring have come back far softer than they were performing prior to the strike.
[...]
Do you now regret not having bought the Wall Street Journal?
No. We absolutely made the right decision and we sleep very comfortably at night about that.
Fox News Channel parent News Corporation purchased the Journal in 2007.
Zucker was also asked a series of "Long or short?" questions gauging his view on the viability of everything from the U.S. dollar (long) to print newspapers (short). On Illinois Sen. Barack Obama (D), however, Zucker demurred with a the ever-reliable "No comment."
Photo credit: Getty Images photo by Peter Kramer, via USAToday.com.
—Ken Shepherd is Managing Editor of NewsBusters
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Comments Policy
"Talent"? "Journalist"?
May 9, 2008 - 16:36 ET by Tim the Enchanter"Talent"? "Journalist"? What alternate reality does this guy come from? For his sake, I hope that that comment was tongue-in-cheek, otherwise, he's past due for the Funny Farm.
Oh Tim...
May 9, 2008 - 20:04 ET by heldmyw... You have summed it all up in thy short and pithy way...
At best the wench is a passable reader of the TelePrompTer.
And when she speaks otherwise... it is the dung of the Jabberwock.
The "depth" of Katie Couric, in depth
May 9, 2008 - 17:26 ET by harry flashmanKatie’s Idea of Really Tough Questioning
Katie Couric: "I know you’ll be celebrating your 27th wedding anniversary, and I understand you go through a romantic ritual every year to commemorate that date. Share it with us will you?"
Senator John Edwards: "Wendy’s. We go to Wendy’s for our anniversary."
Couric: "That is so weird, I’m sorry....What do you say, ‘One Frosty, two straws?’"
— July 15, 2004.
America’s New "Nazi" Tactics
"Some countries, as you know Secretary Ridge, are furious at this new policy, specifically Brazil which has started to do the same to U.S. visitors to that country. A Brazilian judge said, compared the new security plans to Nazi horrors saying, ‘I consider the act absolutely brutal, threatening human rights, violating human dignity, xenophobic and worthy of the worst horrors committed by the Nazis.’ How do you respond to that?"
— Question to Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, January 5, 2004.
Awed by the Greatness of Jimmy
"President Carter’s crowning achievement, of course, the Camp David Accords, designed to forge peace in the Middle East. Unfortunately, that seems like a distant memory, but it’s so nice to see former President Jimmy Carter honored this way....A ceremony is being held to bestow the Nobel Peace Prize on former President Jimmy Carter, that is in Oslo, Norway. It’s a terrific honor for him for all the work he did while he was President and, of course, he is considered by many as one of the finest former Presidents this country has ever seen. Once again, we send our heartfelt congratulations to President Jimmy Carter."
— December 10, 2002.
Bush "Knew" About 9/11 Plot
"Good morning. What did he know and when did he know it? The Bush administration admits the President was warned in an intelligence briefing last summer of the possibility that Osama bin Laden’s terrorist network might hijack American planes, raising more questions about whether the attacks on America could have been prevented."
— Introducing Today on May 16, 2002.
Colin Powell, Do You Know You’re Just a Token?
"Only four percent of the delegates in the convention hall are African-Americans. Do you feel troubled at all by this, and do you feel used by your party?"
— To Colin Powell, August 1, 2000, during the week of the Republican convention.
One More Gun Restriction, That’s The Ticket!
Katie Couric: "Getting back to kids and guns, if you will indulge me for a moment. You cannot think of any other position the NRA could take in terms of trying to decrease the number of school shootings? You feel like this is not your bailiwick, this is not your problem?"
Charlton Heston: "Not at all. As I told you the NRA spends more money, more time..."
Couric, cutting him off: "Other than education."
Heston: "Well what would you suppose? What would you suggest?"
Couric: "I don’t know, perhaps greater restrictions."
— Exchange on June 8, 1998.
Etc, etc, ad infinitum, ad nauseum.
WTH...
May 9, 2008 - 17:35 ET by danybhoyWhat color is the sky in Zucker's world. She is what the Brits would call, a presenter. Not too sure about her journalistic talents.
"Some of us are wise, some of us are otherwise" Mark Levin
Zucker
May 9, 2008 - 18:30 ET by iveseenitallZucker may be right. Katie Couric may indeed be the best of the best in the world of "liberal" "journalism". That says it all.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
Too over the top...
May 9, 2008 - 18:34 ET by winston smithYou can't use "among the most talented journalists" when speaking of Katie because everyone knows, including the most casual viewers of the evening news, that it simply isn't true. You can't squeeze blood from a stone. Hard news is not and was never Katie's schtick. Look at the work and experience of guys like Hume or Schieffer. That's the reason why they are so successful. Add to that the fact that a great many people knew about her unabashed liberal politcal alliances long before she was ever considered for CBS Evening News. The notion that she could transition from sugary interviews with Leo DiCaprio to hard reporting on the war or unemployment was a pie-in-the-sky idea that never flew. People just don't see Katie in that kind of role. Heck, I bet if you put Jane Skinner or E.D. Hill up there at the CBS anchor desk they could do a conspicuously better job. Their resumes are all nearly the same.
Gee, If She's So Talented...
May 9, 2008 - 18:31 ET by geoff.gale...why is she tanking month after month if the ratings game, which we all agree is what measures the effectiveness of any programming?
This is another example of rich "haves" standing up for other rich "haves" and spitting in the eyes of the general public. It exemplifies the growing chasm between the ruling elites and the proletariat, to put it into terms that the modern liberals can understand.
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."
- Edmund Burke (1729 - 1797)
www.conservativeboot...
C'mon, guys. What'd you
May 9, 2008 - 18:32 ET by balboaC'mon, guys. What'd you expect Zucker to say? He's in the business (and by the business I do mean the industry), and even if he thought Couric was a crappy journalist, he can't say it publicly.
I think he should have used
May 9, 2008 - 18:42 ET by winston smithI think he should have used a little irony and understated her lack of success to sound more accomplished than it actually is. Something like "..hey, Katie will really surprise you some evenings...." or "...Katie is a serious journalist..." He wants to stay away from anything that's too glaring or defining where easy criticisms can be made.
Katie Couric talent
May 9, 2008 - 19:00 ET by jefflebowskiTalented at what?
She's talented at being an
May 9, 2008 - 19:09 ET by balboaShe's talented at being an on-air personality, but I have no idea what kind of journalist she is.
I think she totally misread her audience and her range in taking the news anchor position. But you can't fault someone for taking a shot at the "Big Time."
Nope....
May 9, 2008 - 19:38 ET by winston smith....especially when it pays 15M a year!
What He Can Say
May 9, 2008 - 19:39 ET by BourbeauWhat he can say is "No comment." The only reason why Couric even got a shot at Network News is because of the dumbing down of America - we're no longer capable of viewing hard news for a half-hour unless it's surrounded by wishy washy human interest crap, straight from the Today Show studio, where she was the fertilizer.
woman hater
May 9, 2008 - 22:54 ET by Jerry MackSaying that she was crappy would have brought the full weight of the msm down on his head. Every misquote that he ever said would be highlighted. He would be branded a woman hater.
That's part of it,
May 9, 2008 - 22:55 ET by balboaThat's part of it, absolutely. As a show biz muckety-muck he's gotta play it pretty even to all sides of the entertainment spectrum, at least to the press.
Zucker is dense in my
May 9, 2008 - 19:19 ET by bigtimerZucker is dense in my opinion, but heck, he is wealthy so I guess he must have something upstairs....
As for Katie..she would of done just fine with her job at CBS if she would of left her eyebrows alone...reshaping them was her biggest mistake...affected her reporting doncha' know.
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill
Katie Couric`s Talent
May 9, 2008 - 20:09 ET by northernskepticseems to consist mainly in crossing her legs prettily and wearing a goofy grin!
While I routinely disagree with PBS`s Gwen Ifill and suspect her face can stop a clock, I do believe Gwen`s got a first rate TALENT. Alas, only the marginalized PBS dared hire an unattractive woman.Too bad!!!!!
Whadda ya expect from the Mid Stream Media - Intelligence ? For cryin out loud !
Uh oh!
May 9, 2008 - 20:33 ET by doug1950Usually when they start praising you out of the blue for no reason or when you don't deserve it and know it, they are getting ready to throw you overboard. It kinda helps soften being dumped. A goodbye kiss (off) of sorts. "It's not you, it's me" dismissal. End can't be too far off.
Katie's the most talented
May 9, 2008 - 21:11 ET by deerjerkydaveKatie's the most talented journalist? He never saw the Elizabeth Smart interview I take it. That was a train wreck.