CBS To Kill Katie - Literally
There’s something a little “Network’ about all this. From Drudge:
CBS sending Katie Couric on high-risk tour of Syria and Iraq in order to revive newscast, ratings, VARIETY is set to report in Wednesday issues… Developing…
UPDATE:
NEW YORK (AP) - Katie Couric plans to leave Wednesday for an ambitious reporting trip to Iraq and Syria—the CBS anchor’s first time in the war zone—in anticipation of a crucial military report on progress of the American effort.
Couric will anchor the “CBS Evening News” from Baghdad next Tuesday and Wednesday, then from Damascus on Thursday and Friday.
Couric will travel throughout Iraq to talk to military and civilian leaders, soldiers and average Iraqis, spending most of her time outside of Baghdad. CBS News would not reveal many specifics of her plans in advance because of competitive and safety concerns. The trip, in the works for six weeks, anticipates the surge progress report by Gen. David Petraeus that is expected the second week of September.
“You can’t help but get a very detached perspective when you’re not there and you’re not witnessing things firsthand,” Couric told The Associated Press on Tuesday. “I’m curious about very basic questions regarding living conditions, about how much fear there is in the street, about how the soldiers really are doing.”
Couric and her traveling partner, evening news executive producer Rick Kaplan, were fitted with 30-pound body armor vests in Kaplan’s office on Tuesday. Both needed to send theirs back to add extra protection to the sides.
To break the tension as Couric’s armor was pulled tightly around her, Kaplan smacked her on the shoulder.
Safety is a sobering concern for all reporters in Iraq. The Committee to Protect Journalists said 112 journalists have been killed in Iraq since March 2003. An additional 41 media workers have been killed, the latest being CBS News Iraqi translator Anwar Abbas Lafta, whose body was found over the weekend in Sadr City.
Couric is the second major network anchor to travel to Iraq since ABC News’ Bob Woodruff was nearly killed by a roadside bomb. NBC’s Brian Williams went to Iraq in March; Woodruff’s successor Charles Gibson has not been there.
CBS News cameraman Paul Douglas and sound-man James Brolan were both killed by a bomb while on assignment in Iraq in May 2006. Correspondent Kimberly Dozier, who was with them, survived but has endured 25 operations in her recovery; Couric anchored a special this spring on the bombing’s aftermath.
“Obviously, it’s a concern,” said Couric, 50, who had suggested last year that being a widowed mother of two might make her think twice about such trips. “I’m not being cavalier about it. I think I feel comfortable with the measures that are being taken.”
As they map out stories, Kaplan said they’ve been relying on safety advice from the military and CBS’ bureau in Iraq.
Kaplan and Couric were talking earlier this summer about how to prepare for the Petraeus report when Kaplan said, “Why don’t we go to the region,” Couric said. She’s spent the past several weeks interviewing experts about what is happening there—getting a different perspective from just about everybody.
“I felt it would be really important for the American people to get a big picture of what is going on, in terms of northern Iraq, in terms of Sadr City (and) the Anbar province,” she said. “People hear all these things and I think it’s really hard—as some people get Iraq fatigue—to keep a healthy and understandable perspective of what is going on. My goal is to provide that.”
Done well, a series of reports from the war zone could serve as a second launch for Couric’s “CBS Evening News.” The broadcast has taken a more traditional, hard-news approach since Kaplan began last spring, although it hasn’t budged from third place in the ratings behind ABC’s Gibson and NBC’s Williams.
Couric said the trip is about important journalism. “Obviously, if people are interested in what we are doing, that’s great, too,” she said.
The trip also takes Couric out of the country for her first anniversary as “CBS Evening News” anchor—not a milestone CBS is eager to mark given the poor ratings. Kaplan said that had nothing to do with planning for the trip, which was timed to precede Petraeus’ report.
“I don’t do anniversaries,” he said.
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Damn right! She needs to get hit by some sort of explosive device so our armed forces don’t. Since we know that even one of them is more valuable then even 1,000 of her. (Let’s pray that there are not 1,000 of her but you guys get the point!)
August 28th, 2007 at 6:19 pmWill she be wearing Nansky Peloski’s veil…or will she choose a nice burqua from hijabgirl.com. I think she would look splendid is something yellow.
August 28th, 2007 at 6:27 pmIf she can come up with some useful stories then I’ll start to watch. Not a bad idea from what I can see.
August 28th, 2007 at 6:38 pm“People hear all these things and I think it’s really hard—as some people get Iraq fatigue—to keep a healthy and understandable perspective of what is going on. My goal is to provide that.”
Served up piping hot with Katie’s own inimitable flavor of bias no doubt.
August 28th, 2007 at 7:24 pmShe can stay home. I won’t be watching her.
August 28th, 2007 at 7:46 pmAll i can say is wow! does she know what shes in for? this isnt sitting in a studio just fabricating war stories, this will be some real shit and life comes at you fast..Good luck and hopefully this will be useful for something, who knows..its kinda hard to deny progress first hand and it will be tough to talk shit while face to face with our men and women over there
August 28th, 2007 at 7:55 pmI keep expecting the top of her head to fall off from that skull splitting grin of hers…yeeeeesh.
August 28th, 2007 at 7:58 pmHow’s this for an idea? Try reporting something shocking….like good news! Try talking to soldiers that aren’t pre-screened for piss-poor attitudes. Try looking for something original, instead of watching your competitor’s newscast and copying it. The only reason Fox has been as successful as they have is that they exploited a niche that was unclaimed. Trying to do the same shit as all the other networks but with a fancy new set is not going to change anything. How’s this?
August 28th, 2007 at 9:24 pm1.Get down off your cross.
2.Take the wood.
3.Build a bridge.
5.Get the fuck over it!
How can she report on the progress if she doesn’t know what the fuck happened in the past? She has no baseline, just the same talking points all the rest of the MSM has had for 4 years.
She says: “People hear all these things and I think it’s really hard—as some people get Iraq fatigue—to keep a healthy and understandable perspective of what is going on. My goal is to provide that.”
Response: It is already being provided and provided well by Pat, M. Yon, M.J. Trotten, M. Currier, B. Roggio, etc., etc., etc. She must have an internet connection or a friggin’ i-Phone … maybe if she and all who watch her did some READING they would understand their world a little better. Sorry, just felt like stating the obvious.
Ahhh … I feel better now.
August 28th, 2007 at 9:49 pmI have a feeling she’s going to be very biased. And why on earth is she going to Syria?
August 28th, 2007 at 10:12 pmdont expect any revelations except for the usual tripe about “the suffering caused by the US occupation”. that sounds so innocuous compared to “suffering caused by terrorists blowing up market places etc and killing countless civilians, and executing others”.
its all based on the idea that if america didnt do such and such then this wouldnt happen. our media never has any direct blame, which in effect suggests that the terrorists”insurgents” are justified in everything they do and are “victims” of “american crusader imperial designs”.
August 28th, 2007 at 11:38 pm“Couric told The Associated Press on Tuesday. “I’m curious about very basic questions regarding living conditions, about how much fear there is in the street, about how the soldiers really are doing.””
Yea and I’m curious as to how you are gonna make up your own answers in an attempt to influence the report.
Wouldn’t be surprised if she was killed by our own soldiers.
August 29th, 2007 at 1:15 ami wonder how far out of the green zone she’ll get..she doesnt strike me as someone who is willing to get down and dirty..i bet she doesnt make it the 6 weeks..maybe 3 days in irag and the rest in syria where she’ll be given the i’m special treatment
August 29th, 2007 at 4:58 amI’ll be curious and watch. It is CBS, I wonder if Kronkite will be tagging along.
August 29th, 2007 at 5:20 amI don’t think she will much good reporting from the Baghdad Hilton. What’s she going to do, look out the window? Maybe Pat can take her out on a mission
August 29th, 2007 at 8:16 amDon’t be fooled by this publicity stunt. The stories are already written and she will just look for circumstances to fit the template. It’s not like she is a real journalist anyway.
August 29th, 2007 at 11:50 am“Wouldn’t be surprised if she was killed by our own soldiers.”–Ranger
Oyyyy, boychik, from your mouth to God’s ears…
August 29th, 2007 at 7:39 pmLittle chunky but nice a##. I hope nothing happens to her as that would validate all the shit she and the rest of the libs are shoveling. It would also bail out the liberal assed network who is praying she gets popped. Screw them all they have already taken up to much of my time and thought process.
August 30th, 2007 at 5:48 am