Today's Christian...Tart?
Why Dan Rather got me "hotter than a Times Square Rolex."
Last week I almost drove off the road.
It wasn’t because of a tire blowout, or the distraction of a cell-phone call, or juggling the steering wheel with my extra-large Dunkin’ Donuts coffee.
No, it was because something I heard on the car radio riled me up. A report stated that former CBS news anchor Dan Rather (who retired last year with something of a cloud over his journalistic reputation) had unloaded on Katie Couric, the first solo female anchor to break the glass ceiling of the big boys’ broadcast club. Rather had opined on MSNBC that CBS’s ratings were sinking basically because hiring Katie signaled an effort to “bring the Today Show ethos to the Evening News, and to dumb it down, tart it up in hopes of attracting a younger audience.”
Excuse me?
I digested this for a moment—and then I got “hotter than a Times Square Rolex,” as Rather, known for his folksy sayings, allegedly once said.
I don’t necessarily agree with Katie Couric’s politics or endorse her glitterati lifestyle, as played out in the tabloids. And I’m pretty sure that off-camera, Katie is tougher, more assertive, and more ambitious than her perky on-air persona would suggest. But no matter how you slice it, Katie is savvy, successful, and intelligent. She’s a survivor—not only in her personal life, having lost a husband and a sister to cancer—but in a profession where ratings reign, an industry that could chew her up and spit her out without a moment’s notice.
The truth is, whenever I caught the Today Show with Katie on it (not often), I liked her—and the show's “ethos.” And although I’m more of a cable-news junkie, whenever I’ve tuned in to catch a glimpse of Katie manning the anchor desk on CBS—mostly out of curiosity over the hoopla of her move to nighttime—I never picked up on anything drastically wrong. In fact, as a magazine editor, I applaud CBS and Katie’s willingness to experiment, to shake things up a bit in an effort to attract a younger audience (something we in the media all hope to accomplish).
But what really got me hot under the collar was Rather allegedly comparing the hiring of Katie Couric to “tarting up” the news. Is he suggesting that because she cohosted a morning program—or even more worrisome, simply because she’s a woman—somehow she's cheapening the evening news? That she detracts from its "gravitas"? I’m no feminist, but that implied slur really annoyed me.
I’ve worked for a Christian women’s magazine for almost two decades; I’ve seen the wonderful way this type of media can touch lives for God. It can inspire its audience, bring to the surface difficult issues many would be squeamish to discuss in a social setting, and heighten awareness about global concerns and cultural influences impacting our families and our faith. While the softer side of journalism may not seem to have the same street cred as investigative reporting, I take umbrage at the idea that a female perspective “tarts things up.”
As a woman working behind the scenes in print media, I’ll never have the platform and the publicity of a Katie Couric—thank goodness. I don’t envy her the pressure of the spotlight. But Katie wasn't the only one who suffered a very public black eye in this drubbing from Rather—women in general did, too. “We [got] played worse than the only fiddle at a Houston hootenanny,” to quote Mr. Rather again. And that’s not dumbing it down!
Posted at 8:59 AM on June 18, 2007.
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Comments
Good article. However, as a woman over 60, I bristled a bit at the one statement: "I applaud CBS and Katie’s willingness to experiment, to shake things up a bit in an effort to attract a younger audience (something we in the media all hope to accomplish)"
I am very weary of our the media being so directed to a younger audience. Look at the statistics as baby boomers turn 60. We have purchasing clout and are still interested and active in the world. Most periodicals are geared to younger people and families. When I have read a few periodicals geared to my age group, they are patronizing. It is discouraging.
Posted by: Over 60 on June 20, 2007
try not to drive off the road. gosh, you people should concentrate more on your driving instead of everyone else's business
Posted by: razza on June 21, 2007
I think that Katie's presence in media is something to be avoided. I do not appreciate her political slant getting in the way of reporting. My husband and I choose not to watch much television news, but when we do, we can not handle Miss Couric. CBS made a major error in the hiring of this woman.
Posted by: Lori on June 21, 2007
I did not hear Dan Rather's comments, but I would be surprised if he intended to offend you or women in general personally. Even though I believe he brought it on himself, I think Dan is still hurting over what happened at CBS. His whole life was tied up in CBS and I figure he planned to die there, but such is not the case. I don't think it would matter who replaced him, Dan would be lashing out at the person, regardless of gender.
I will say that I watch CBS News some, but it isn't because of Couric. If Steve Hartman wasn't working for CBS, I probably wouldn't be watching any national evening news show.
Posted by: Timothy Fish on June 22, 2007
Ahh...yes do not let Mr Dan Rather upset you with his rhetoric....remember where he is right now and that will no doubt explain his outrageous statements most of the time - he is simply trying to find a platform now as he has severely tarnished his own journalistic reputation and legacy. As for Katie - she and I do not agree politically but I admire her immensly as a person and a survivor of some of the hardest things life can throw at you. We need to pray for her - Imagine how God could use her if she was working for His kingdom!
Posted by: adkmtngal on June 28, 2007
Just a thought so you can balance your ire...watch MSNBC, CNN, or FOX news...yes, watch them...witness the theme that Rather was addressing.
The only thing that made me laugh about Rather's curmudgeonly comment is that it's isn't just lil Katie...News, my dear Mr. Rather, is now entertainment. Gone are your days of gumshoe work, old boy, you're kind of old school ethos isn't wanted by the hot newness of coifed anchors who appeal to the eye more than the intellect.
Not satisfied, quick, switch to the lovely reporter with fixed steely eyes, as she reports the weekly entertainment that seems to be the fashion of reporting....of course I refer to Paris Hilton...is she in jail or isn't she, lets cut to a set of talking heads who can turn mole hills into mountains.
Yes, this is the 21st century news!
Posted by: sheerakahn on June 28, 2007
I am glad Katie C. was not the broadcaster during 9-11. Dan was not Walter Cronkite but he had all news. Katie has 12 min of real news and the rest is fluff. I find myself wondering if her hair will fall over her face. There are serious women who do serious news Katie is not one. I also noticed so many new not very good reporters. Did the good ones quit. Why no John Roberts?
Posted by: C. Altman on July 1, 2007
... bring to the surface difficult issues many would be squeamish to discuss in a social setting, and heighten awareness about global concerns and cultural influences impacting our families and our faith. While the softer side of journalism ...
Often women are attibuted to be good at the "softer things". Difficult issues are just that; difficult. Don't be sucked into believing what women do are the "softer" side of things.
Notice how it is often used when talking about female strengths.
Posted by: qwe on July 1, 2007
Reading this article in TCW, I became quite thoughtful. I have a quick response to many situations and wanted to be careful with my words. I saw the comment by Dan Rather about "tarting up"
I felt insulted but what else do we expect from someone who is not careful to control himself.
Posted by: Gigi Neg on July 14, 2007
Why do you get so angry !? You cannot change these things! The whole media is pretty corrupt . That's what brings in the money . We can choose not to watch or listen . It hurts me that I can barely watch anything with my husband anymore (without feeling uncomfortable) BUT I am sick of letting it stress me . Change the channel and maybe it won't "sell" anymore.
Posted by: Violet on August 11, 2007