Katie Couric Slams Broadcast Networks With 'D' Grade for Caving to Donald Trump

Katie Couric gave broadcast networks a "D" grade because she believes they are displaying signs of "anticipatory obedience" and yielding to corporate and political pressures from President Donald Trump.

In an interview with Status, the veteran journalist and former CBS Evening News anchor explained her reasoning behind the harsh score and shared her wider perspective on the current state of legacy media.

Couric pointed out that massive corporate ownership creates conflicts of interest. She noted that conglomerates are often hyper-focused on securing FCC merger approvals or maintaining profitability, making them highly vulnerable to administration leverage.

“The trust issue, I think, is connected to the fact that corporate ownership and journalistic integrity don’t always align. We’re certainly seeing that at CBS as this merger awaits approval, and I think you see it at the Washington Post, where the interests of the owner [Jeff Bezos] and Amazon aren’t necessarily in sync with the interests of investigative, take-no-prisoners journalism. So that’s impacting trust,” she said.

She specifically criticized CBS News for paying a $16 million settlement to resolve a lawsuit from Trump over a 60 Minutes interview, calling the move a "total embarrassment" and a "deplorable" level of capitulation.

The 69-year-old Couric argued that shifting toward a forced "both sides" reporting style to appease centrist or right-wing audiences violates journalistic ethics when it comes to platforms that spread misinformation.

She also expressed concern about David Ellison, a Trump ally, controlling both CBS and CNN.

“It’s very concerning. I don’t know the Ellisons, but from everything I’ve read, Larry Ellison is a big supporter of Donald Trump, and that is concerning. Having control of too many media outlets is not a good thing. It’s cause for concern how they’re going to manage CNN and who’s going to be in charge there. I think it’s unclear at this juncture, so I’m taking a wait-and-see attitude right now. But anytime there’s massive consolidation, it’s not good for journalists, and it’s definitely not good for viewers, in my opinion,” she said.

The Today Show vet voiced concern over troubling accounts of network bosses trying to alter reporting — such as holding back critical 60 Minutes investigation pieces — to soften coverage of the administration.

Ultimately, Couric clarified that while a "D" is a failing mark in many respects, she gave it because "it’s not an F," acknowledging the difficult environment reporters are operating in while still heavily penalizing the leadership's failure to stand firm.

“D. It’s not an F. But unfortunately, the stories coming out of 60 Minutes about trying to direct the storytelling in a way that is less offensive to the administration or that fudges the truth is a total embarrassment. It’s hard to measure, but there is probably some anticipatory obedience, if you will,” she said.

She also pointed to Trump’s FCC Chair, Brendan Carr, as a large part of the problem.

“I don’t think this is everywhere. But Brendan Carr has had a chilling effect on some in the media. There’s still very good reporting being done — I don’t want to paint everyone with a broad brush. But when corporate interests are trying to achieve something with the administration’s blessing, it’s hard for the news organizations to be completely independent and liberated to report and to seek out the truth,” she opined.

Today, Couric operates as a digital media entrepreneur, podcast host and independent producer.

After decades in traditional television news, she transitioned fully into building her own eponymous independent news network and production company.