Posted on 02/03/2010 11:13:53 AM PST by abb
Sean McManus, president of CBS News and Sports, denied reports Wednesday that “CBS Evening News” anchor Katie Couric is facing a salary cut when her contract expires.
“I have not had any thought to change Katie’s role, Katie’s salary, anything to do with it,” McManus told POLITICO by phone from Miami, where he’s gearing up for Sunday’s Super Bowl on CBS.
McManus said that Couric “has well over a year to go” on her contract—reportedly worth $15 million a year—and that “it has not even been a subject of discussion.”
The network, he said, is “focused on putting on the best newscast.”
Since taking over the anchor desk, Couric’s newscast has won several prestigious journalism prizes, including the Edward R. Murrow Award and DuPont award.
But the “CBS Evening News” has remained in a distant third place in the ratings. While it ranked third for over 15 years before Couric arrived, there were expectations that the former “Today” star could help boost the ratings. So far, that hasn't happened.
This week's layoffs at CBS may only add to internal grumbling about the anchor’s contract, which expires in May 2011.
Both the New York Post and Matt Drudge reported today that Couric faces a salary cut when her contract is up, and quoted network insiders critical of the fact that she’s making so much money while others are losing their jobs.
“Like any media company, we’re going through some adjustments which are not fun,” McManus said. “But they’re not going to affect the quality of what we’re doing, and they’re not going to affect Katie’s role in any way.”
In addition to denying the salary reports, McManus praised the anchor's high-profile interviews with Captain Sullenberger, Andre Agassi, and Sarah Palin, as well as, her reporting on the ground in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Haiti.
“If you look at her body of work,” McManus said, “I don’t think there is anyone out there that would imply she hasn’t done a brilliant and stellar job.”
As Lauren Cooper would be told ‘take the shame’ ... so, I am taking the shame of misidentifying the scum’s post as aimed at Sean Hannity when it was aimed at Sean McManus. ... Now, can you explain to me how that dignifies the filth the poster spewed on the thread which the AdMod removed in #29? ... And for the record, I ain’t bovvered. I can take the shame for making a mistake in defense of our friend Sean Hannity. So, see this face? Am I bovvered?
“I don’t think there is anyone out there that would imply she hasn’t done a brilliant and stellar job.”“
Do ratings count anymore? Fox News is trusted more than she or any of the other overpaid news readers.
You are definitely not bovvered, you are, without sarcasm, plain stupid. Love ya.
Failed from the beginning.
I'd be more than happy to either dignify the poster's alleged filth or proclaim it undginifiable. Unfortunately, as you point out, it has been deleted, and I didn't read it.
And as long as you brought him up? Sean Hannity seems like a nice guy, and he's ideologically sound. He's also somewhat of a simpleton who gets regularly battered in debate by the pathetic likes of Bob Bechel. Mark Levin, Rush Limbaugh and about 50 other conservative talking heads could spot him 20 IQ points and still win a battle of wits.
Hank
I appreaciate your attempt to be St. Jude but I think a lost cause, in this case, is indeed a lost cause and it ain’t me babe.
Sadly, Sean gets run over by seminar callers on a daily basis. But I like him and I believe he is a genuinely great guy.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/04/business/media/04cbs.html?ref=business
CBS News Lays Off Dozens in New Round of Staff Cuts
Who gives a damn about the date??
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