Meredith Vieira (LA '75) will replace Katie Couric when the latter leaves her position as co-anchor of "The Today Show," NBC Universal Television Group announced
yesterday.
Vieira, who currently moderates ABC's "The View" and hosts "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" graduated from Tufts in 1975 with a B.A. in English.
Couric announced her intent to leave the show to become anchor and managing editor of "CBS Evening News" just one day before NBC named Vieira as her successor.
In September, Vieira will join Matt Lauer as co-anchor on "Today," the number-one rated news show in the country.
Vieira was chosen for the job over several other potential replacements for Couric, including Campbell Brown, who anchors the weekend edition of "Today"; NBC newswoman Natalie Morales; and Ann Curry, a current newsreader on "Today."
Vieira has worked for both ABC and CBS and has received seven Emmy awards throughout her career, which began in radio. After graduating from Tufts, she worked as a news announcer on WORC in Worcester, Mass. and landed her first television gig at WJAR in Providence, Rhode Island, where she grew up.
She began working for CBS News in Chicago in 1982 and went on to become a correspondent for two prominent CBS newsmagazine shows, "60 Minutes" and "West 57th."
Vieira also co-edited "60 Minutes" from 1989 to 1991, contributed as a correspondent to the "CBS Evening News with Dan Rather" and anchored the "CBS Morning News."
"Not only is the 'Today' show a great program within a superb news organization, it's also where America turns to begin the day," Vieira said in yesterday's press release from NBC Universal Television Group. "I look forward to joining Matt [Lauer], Ann [Curry] and Al [Roker] in giving America the best each morning."
All of the NBC executives quoted in the press release expressed enthusiasm for Vieira and her new role. "This is an announcement that I couldn't be happier to be making," said Chief Executive Officer of NBC Universal Television Group Jeff Zucker.
"Meredith's vast experience as an award-winning journalist, as well as talk show host, make her the ideal candidate for this job.
"We're lucky to have her as the newest member of 'Today,' and I am thrilled to welcome her to the NBC family."
Former President of NBC Neal Shapiro (LA '81), who co-teaches an Ex College course called "News From the Inside Out," also responded positively to the announcement.
"She's incredibly talented, incredibly smart. She has a great range. She'll do very well," Shapiro told the Daily.
Co-anchor Lauer also looks forward to Vieira's arrival, according to the press release. "Meredith is a real pro, and I think it speaks volumes that NBC has brought her here to 'Today,' he said. "I have been her fan for years and I can't wait to be her partner.
"She has the perfect background and personality to make a real mark on this show and in morning news in general," Lauer said, according to the press release.
Roberta Oster Sachs, a lecturer in the University College who has spent significant time in the television business, was thrilled by the turn of
events.
"It's a great day for women in television," she said. "For women at Tufts who are thinking of going into the business, I think Meredith is a great role model."
Oster Sachs said that she and Vieira were both at CBS at the same time, though they worked with different programs.
"My friends who worked with her loved her," Oster Sachs said. "They described her as very smart and hardworking: a good human being, a good reporter and a dedicated mom."
The choice of Vieira - who is over 50 - represents an important turn for an older generation of female journalists, Oster Sachs said.
In her view, male journalists who are more advanced in years are referred to as "experienced" or "seasoned," while women of the same age are referred to as "old."
"It's a great statement about how age is less important about making decisions with women," she said.
Oster Sachs was also pleased by the fact that Couric will be the first woman to anchor an evening network newscast on her own.
"She will be sitting in Walter Cronkite's chair!" Oster Sachs said excitedly.
The work Oster Sachs has done alongside Couric led to her development of a deep respect for the departing "Today" co-anchor, Oster Sachs said.
"Just because ['Today'] shows her chatting about fashion doesn't mean that she can't do some good journalism," Oster Sachs said.
