Couric Lowers Expectations; Plays With Press; Hints At “Less Formulaic” Newscast

Katie Couric met with a group of media reporters in New York today. Here are a few of the highlights:

> Baltimore Sun: “Couric seems to be launching a counter-campaign of sorts, ratcheting down expectations and softening the drumbeat of hype…”

> Broadcasting & Cable: Couric said she wants to create a “less formulaic” newscast. Her CBS Evening News “may forgo some news of the day to give viewers more in-depth reports on a few stories. For instance, she said, in addition to reporting news on fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, a CBS News correspondent could provide a detailed piece on the particulars of the Israeli military. ‘We can give people a deeper understanding,’ Couric said…”

> TV Week: When asked if she could hum part of the new CBS Evening News music, “Couric playfully hummed riffs from classic TV sitcoms. In the meantime, her mother has been nudging her to work on a signature phrase with which Ms. Couric would close ‘Evening News…'”