Thursday, Mar. 19, 2009

Katie Couric

AGE: 52
OCCUPATION: News anchor
PREVIOUS APPEARANCES ON THE TIME 100: 2

PRO: Her volatile first two years as host of CBS Evening News were plagued by so-so ratings and constant replacement rumors. But thanks to her indefatigability — not to mention her Sarah Palin chat — Couric's ratings are finally on the uptick.

CON: The network-news format seems even more outmoded than it did two years ago. And her Grammys special won't do much to dissuade critics who see her as an entertainer first, journalist second.