New Girl in Town

Katie Couric

Marches for equality are interesting, be they for sex, race or other criteria. You have major, big events like the Emancipation Proclamation. Then, you have more subtle progressions -- nothing is signed, no law enacted. Just a grudging respect, a left-handed compliment that says, "I acknowledge your ability and/or your fundamental worthiness".

Such a moment came last week, when CBS made Katie Couric the anchor and managing editor of "CBS Evening News". In previous years, a woman might be tapped as co-anchor, never managing editor. Never anchor and managing editor simultaneously. There is little doubt that Katie will handle the job with grace, competency and aplomb. Her new commission must plant a little bug in minds everywhere: Women can do just about anything a man can do. When Carla Fiorni was CEO of Hewlett Packard, nary a sentence could be written about her that didn't refer to her gender and her "superwoman" qualities. One has to suppose that women will really achieve equality when a woman can do something good or noteworthy, and there is no fanfare about her sex. But for now, the advancements are slow and grudging -- the press, and blogs like mine, must take note of every minor step forward.

Katie is frequently described as "cute and perky". She actually shed those adjectives quite a while back. She's done heavy-hitting interviews with political luminaries and world leaders for 15 years now -- she has doggedness and gravitas to follow any line of questions and follow any trail persistently. She is an upbeat, confident person -- "perky" is an adjective that suggests a person with little else. Katie has lived thru the untimely deaths of her husband and sister; she's no stranger to adversity. She has more than enough depth and sober judgment to handle serious topics.

One person who probably would like to blow a raspberry is Bryant Gumble. He quit the "CBS Morning Show" when they wouldn't raise his salary to be on par with Katie's "Today Show" salary. Now she inherits Dan Rather's throne. Conservatives will also grouse that a lefty anchor has now been succeeded by someone possibly even "leftier". Well, there will always be nay-sayers. Let's give credit where credit is due -- Katie deserves this photo op. And maybe that day will come when a girl does something great, and nobody (like me :-)) has to harp on the fact that she's a girl.