Katie Couric

Katie Couric is the anchor of The CBS Evening News. She previously was the host of the NBC morning program The Today Show from 1991 through 2006. Couric worked for CNN and ABC early in her career, also reporting in Miami and Washington, D.C. She joined NBC News in 1989 and the Today show in 1990, becoming permanent co-anchor in 1991. With her perky attitude and no-holds-barred interviewing style, Couric boosted the show's sagging ratings and became one of morning TV's most popular personalities. Her husband, Jay Monahan, died in 1998 of colon cancer, and in 1999 Couric co-founded a non-profit organization for cancer research and education. In 2001 Couric signed a new contract (worth a reported $65 million) to remain with The Today Show through 2006. She announced to Today Show viewers on 5 April 2006 that she would leave the show at the end of May to become the anchor of The CBS Evening News. Couric made her debut on the evening news broadcast on 5 September 2006.

Extra credit: Couric became only the third permanent anchor of the CBS Evening News in 44 years: Walter Cronkite held the post from 1962-81, and Dan Rather from 1981-2005... Couric's replacement on Today was veteran broadcaster Meredith Vieira.