Couric is ‘your anchor,’ Moonves tells ‘CBS Evening News’ staff

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Katie Couric isn’t going anywhere.

That’s what CBS Corp. Chief Executive Leslie Moonves told the staff of the “CBS Evening News” during a surprise visit to the newscast’s regular noon meeting today, according to several network sources.

Accompanied by CBS President Sean McManus, Moonves expressed his pride in and support for Couric, who has been dogged by reports that she is contemplating an early exit from her post.

The network chief told the 100 or so assembled staff that Couric is “your anchor” in the coming weeks and far beyond. He also showered praise on the newscast, saying he was proud of the work being done.

McManus said that Moonves had asked to come down to address the “Evening News” staff. The news president said CBS has a “solid bench” of talent and dismissed the recent media coverage suggesting Couric was on her way out.

For her part, the anchor thanked Moonves for the show of support and called the news division “very much a family.”

The meeting concluded with cake to celebrate the birthday of executive producer Rick Kaplan.

While the upbeat talk from top executives raised some spirits inside the beleaguered news division, others staffers regarded the session as merely a cheerleading session.

“The intentions are good, but there are always more questions than answers,” said one news division employee.

--Matea Gold