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(R)evolution: Katie Couric on Social Media and Real-Time Journalism

As as I say at the beginning of this interview, I don’t even know where to begin, so let’s just go ahead and jump right in. In a special three-part series, I’m joined by none other than Katie Couric, anchor and managing editor of the CBS EVENING NEWS WITH KATIE COURIC, correspondent for 60 MINUTES and anchor of CBS News primetime specials.

When the CBS EVENING NEWS WITH KATIE COURIC debuted on September 5, 2006, Couric became the first female solo anchor of a weekday network evening news broadcast.  2008 was a pivotal year for Katie Couric, expanding her presence from traditional media to social media. During the Presidential campaign, Couric launched a series of important webcasts and a YouTube channel that gave viewers live, exclusive Web coverage of the election and the historic beginnings of Obama’s presidency. In 2009, @KatieCouric debuted as a weekly webcast, which features candid one-on-one interviews with top newsmakers. @KatieCouric also expanded its presence to Twitter, where Katie has not only joined the conversation, she’s actively investing in its future.

Please watch the first of three candid and fascinating conversations, which I hope you’ll find enlightening, refreshing, and also inspirational.

Please be sure to watch the next two installments:

Part 2: Katie Couric on Fact-First Journalism and Digital Identity

Part 3: Katie Couric on Privacy and Personal Branding

Welcome to the (R)evolution, a new series that connects you to the people, trends, and ideas defining the future of business, marketing, and media.

Credits:

Andrew Landini, Producer, Director, Lead Cameraman
Adam Eckenfelder, Audio Tech/Re-Recording Mixing
Jason Fairbrother, Cameraman
Special thanks to Erica Anderson (@ericaamerica) who helped bring us all together

Location:

CBS Evening News Studios, New York

Past Episodes:

Episode 1: Empowered with Josh Bernoff
Episode 2: Silicon Valley vs. The World with Sarah Lacy
Episode 3: Rick Bakas on Social Media, Wine and Community
Episode 4: Charlene Li on Open Leadership
Episode 5: Michael Fertik on Privacy and Social Networks
Episode 6: Philip Kaplan on Social Commerce and Influence
Episode 7: Scott Monty Steers Ford to Social Relevance
Episode 8: Frank Eliason on the Social Business and Customer Service
Episode 9: Mark Burnett on Storytelling
Episode 10: CBSNews.com Editor-in-Chief Dan Farber on the Future of News
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29 COMMENTS ON THIS POST To “(R)evolution: Katie Couric on Social Media and Real-Time Journalism”

  1. Ryan Shell says:

    Huge kudos on this series. Very well done.

  2. Brian,

    Great interview. I look forward to the remaining episodes. My wife and I, at the tender age of 50, “retired” and are actively building a new media travel property (The Roaming Boomers®) and found your interview articulate, informative, and engaging. Thanks for sharing the knowledge!

  3. Krista says:

    Great series, Brian! I appreciate that you are including journalists in the discussions about social media, as it’s changing as much of their work as it is for marketers and PR folks.

  4. Jason mKey says:

    Thank you Brian for putting this together

  5. Kaila Colbin says:

    Great work, Brian! I’ve got a huge amount of admiration for Katie and it’s nice to hear how honest she is about her experience with social media.

  6. Amazing interview Brian! I love Katie and it’s so cool to see how she is embracing Social Media.

  7. Elaine Summers says:

    Brian, Terrific interview with Katie Couric. It really added another dimension to my understanding of Katie as a reporter and as a person. I find it very interesting how and why she started using social media. I’m very interested in seeing the next two videos and hope that she will talk with you more in the future. Thanks for this great interview! Elaine

  8. Kirk Hazlett, APR, Fellow PRSA says:

    Brian ~ I absolutely loved this piece and have shared it with my Communication faculty colleagues at Curry College. If you’re ever in the Boston area, please come to Curry and talk to my troops!

  9. Brian Kevin Johnston says:

    Brian- WOW! If this does not convince the “naysayers” nothing will… She is an authentic person for sure.. Best….

  10. TheRECoach says:

    Brian, sensational interview, truly entertaining and informative. Some of your best work…that being said, you continue to improve, though you could see the nervousness in your mannerisms. Watch the interview from a Viewers perspective. Katie, is a true pro…Staying still and focused as you talk to her, rather than all the movement you have when she is talking, and the sounds you make off camera. Keep it up Sir! I loved this one…and you say there are 2 more? =)

    @TheRECoach

  11. Kathy says:

    Fabulous job. Takes skill to make an interview feel so relaxed, yet provide great information and insight.

    Also interesting to hear her say that, yes in fact, her viewers do know her to some degree. So many people in the spotlight say otherwise, but you can’t be on TV and part of the news (not just giving the news) for that long and not realize that your audience does know you.

    Great job, both of you!

  12. Erik Boles says:

    Brian,

    Great interview, and definitely something that needed to be done. As you know I worked as Director of Interactive for the nations 5th largest newspaper company. Even now, 4 years removed from that world, I stay in touch with the industry quite closely (my wife @carmenb now holds a version of the job that I used to).

    While there are a few that are energetic about moving forward, there are still so many that refuse to address the landscape change, and for those that do, a large percentage of them view twitter and facebook as another broadcast medium rather than a listening tool, or at least a conversation tool.

    When the Rocky Mountain News in Denver closed it’s doors, interviews with those in the newsroom truly and genuinely believed that the closure was completely related to the economy and not the change in dissemination of information.

    I fully appreciate the ‘risk’ of citizen journalism and the ability for them to CQ their sources and content, but the reality is that it is happening and will continue to happen. To those that say “the REAL journalists CAN’T die, the world cannot survive without them!” I offer up this: the exact same argument was made my thousands in regards to the Wooly Mammoth, Mastodon and Sea Cow. The world has a way of improvising, adapting and overcoming.

    So refreshing to see Katie stepping up to the plate and recognizing what needs to be done. Hopefully many other media personalities will see this because of your exposure and follow suit.

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  14. Paul Segreto says:

    Brian, fantastic interview with Katie Couric. I just finished reading over another predictions list for 2011, and much of it was focused on female perspective and influence. To me, this parallels nicely with Ms. Couric’s rise within TV journalism, and her entry into and continued use of social media. Much of what i have read implies we’ve entered a She-conomy. I do believe that is the case, and who better to represent this movement than Katie Couric. She’s a model for both women and men to follow with respect to transparency and professionalism. But what really stands out in mind, is how personal she has always been and continues to be as she relates to everything from her own personal challenges to what she believes everyday people would want to see, hear and learn. Brian, your interview rocked as you’ve engaged one of the best. Thank you!

  15. Paul Segreto says:

    Brian, fantastic interview with Katie Couric. I just finished reading over another predictions list for 2011, and much of it was focused on female perspective and influence. To me, this parallels nicely with Ms. Couric’s rise within TV journalism, and her entry into and continued use of social media. Much of what i have read implies we’ve entered a She-conomy. I do believe that is the case, and who better to represent this movement than Katie Couric. She’s a model for both women and men to follow with respect to transparency and professionalism. But what really stands out in mind, is how personal she has always been and continues to be as she relates to everything from her own personal challenges to what she believes everyday people would want to see, hear and learn. Brian, your interview rocked as you’ve engaged one of the best. Thank you!

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