'I'm a victim of sexism', says £7.5 million a year U.S. newsreader Katie Couric

By Annette Witheridge
Last updated at 6:24 PM on 23rd July 2008

The highest paid woman in TV news says she is a victim of sexism in the job that pays her £7.5 million a year.

Katie Couric, 51, likened herself to failed presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton and claimed Americans tolerated sexism more than racism.

'I find myself in the last bastion of male dominance, and realising what Hillary Clinton might have realised not long ago,' she said.

'Sexism in the American society is more common than racism and certainly more acceptable or forgivable.'

Her comments – made to an Israeli newspaper whilst she was covering Barack Obama’s Middle East tour – set off a firestorm of controversy back in the U.S. where she anchors the main CBS evening news.

Observers called her comments 'ludicrous',” suggesting she was out of line comparing her struggle to be taken seriously as a newscaster to racism.

Media watchdog Tom Rosenstiel said there were professions, including  firefighting, the military and the police, where women really do have a rough time.

'I can imagine many, many others that could be a heck of a lot tougher than hers,' said Mr Rosenstiel, director of America’s Project for Excellence in  Journalism.

'I suspect she may be fairly well compensated for what she does and the  last time I looked the most important and often highest paid people in that  profession are anchorwomen.'

Former breakfast TV host Miss Couric, who has a £37.5 million  five-year contract with CBS, became America’s first solo female news anchor on  national TV almost two years ago.

Cherie Blair's first American TV interview was conducted by Katie Couric

The station had just lost long-time anchor Dan Rather, who carried the blame for a misguided story on President George Bush’s military service record,  and the evening news programme was rated last amongst the big three  networks.

Media watchers questioned whether Miss Couric had the gravitas to carry off serious news coverage after 15 years as the perky co-host of TV rival NBC’s  Today show.

Ratings went up initially but soon dropped back down to third place behind NBC and ABC. 

Katie Couric, seen here shortly after signing her five-year contract with CBS, was America's first solo female news anchor

The 6.30pm news now attracts on average 5.53 million viewers a night – almost two million less than the two rivals.

Miss Couric, a fixture on Manhattan’s social scene with her 33-year-old businessman boyfriend Brooks Perlin, has been dogged by rumours of her demise  ever since.

CBS insiders believe she could be ousted after the November 4 presidential election. But just days ago she insisted she was there to stay.

'I have no plans to leave anytime soon. I’m very committed to the people  here and the product,' she said, shortly before joining Democratic hopeful Mr  Obama on his week-long trip to the Middle East and Europe.

And last night widowed Miss Couric, the mother of two teenage daughters, appeared to backtrack from her sexism comments.

Her spokesman Matthew Hitzik said something appeared to have been 'lost in translation' during her Israeli interview.

'Katie wouldn’t, and didn’t, say sexism is more prevalent than racism,' he  said. 'Her point was sexism seems more tolerated than racism.'

Find this story at www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1037950/Shes-paid-7-5-million-year-read-news-Katie-Couric-thinks-shes-victim-sexism.html