Well, nothing actually, except the case of a right thing in the wrong place.
Katie is continuing to slip in the polls – USA Today reported the rankings of her CBS News are a low third now at 6.9 million viewers to #1 ABC World News at 9.4 million edging out NBC’s 9.1 million. (Background in USA Today)
As readers of this blog know I like Katie and often used her as a great example of how far a smile can get you (if it reflects your personality – we don’t advocate phony smiles because they don’t work!) But in this case it got her $15 million in salary, but looks like not money well spent. Hard news needs a different feel – more of the trust and authenticity of a Walter Cronkite – serious but not grim.
But for my 2 cents, hard network news is not going to be around too much longer anyway – as it will be continuously cut into by the internet and cable and specialized news vehicles. And at that point SOME of those other alternatives will be specialized “happy news” shows where someone like Katie will thrive. But they won’t be paid $15 mil.
