Katie Couric Confirms Worst-Kept Secret—She's Ditching CBS News

Anchor formally announces her departure after nearly five years on the job

By Peter Gicas Apr 26, 2011 8:05 PMTags
Katie CouricZuma Press

Well, this isn't exactly what you'd call breaking news.

Just weeks after a rep for Katie Couric informed the world that the anchor was more than ready to leave her post at the CBS Evening News, along comes Couric herself with a formal statement that she is indeed vacating the house Edward R. Murrow built.

"I have decided to step down from the CBS Evening News," she said in a statement to People. "I'm really proud of the talented team on the CBS Evening News and the award-winning work we've been able to do in the past five years in addition to the reporting I've done for 60 Minutes and CBS Sunday Morning. In making the decision to move on, I know the Evening News will be in great hands, but I am excited about the future."

While what the future holds for Couric remains to be seen, much of the speculation has been centered on a possible syndicated talk show.

"I am looking at a format that will allow me to engage in more multidimensional storytelling," she says. "The bottom line is that I love doing all kinds of different stories...I have a lot of areas of interest and I want to be able to fulfill all of that."

Couric's contract with CBS expires June 4.