Katie Couric Discusses Future of Journalism, Balancing Fact-Checking at Compelling Perspectives

She says it’s hard to have a nuanced conversation because binary thinking has become commonplace in the country and often, things are seen solely in black and white.

Couric, a former anchor and managing editor of the “CBS Evening News,” co-anchor of NBC’s “Today” show and Yahoo Global News Anchor, kicked off Lehigh’s 2024-2025 Compelling Perspectives series Tuesday evening at Baker Hall in Zoellner Arts Center. For nearly 45 minutes, Couric discussed a range of topics with President Joseph J. Helble ’82, including her advocacy and work in cancer research, the role of media today, the use of generative AI in journalism and balancing fact-checking reporting. The last 15 minutes of the event was reserved for questions from the audience. Couric, the first of three speakers slated for the Compelling Perspectives series this academic year, also held a question and answer with students prior to the event.

The New York Times bestselling author and first woman to solo anchor a network evening newscast interjected humor into many of her answers. They included Couric joking with Helble, saying it was clear he was an engineer after he presented a hypothetical recipe featuring percentages on how much news is consumed from different types of media. Couric followed up by saying it is important to have a wide array of sources from differing viewpoints and noted two of her favorites include The Economist, because they cover American news from a different perspective, and The Bulwark, who provide a conservative voice.

She shared that she gave the speech — her first Commencement address — thanks to the persistence of a number of students who repeatedly visited the plaza outside the Today Show studio with signs asking her to speak at their graduation.

“And I was like, ‘These kids are nuts,’” Couric joked. “But then I talked to them, and I was so impressed by their persistence. And I thought, ‘Gosh, they've gotten up at six o'clock in the morning on multiple days, made these signs and are really serious about me coming to make the commencement address. So I said, ‘Of course I will.’”

Couric even brought along the honorary degree presented to her during the Commencement ceremony, which she found cleaning out her office this past weekend.

Before Helble invited audience members to ask questions, he closed his discussion with Couric by asking her what she thinks about her own legacy.

“I hope that people will think of me as somebody who tried to tell stories and cover the world—events like 9/11—with humanity and heart, and that I respected people's intelligence,” Couric said. “I didn't always get it right. I'm a human being; nobody always gets it right 100% of the time. I hope they also see me as someone who used my platform and my relationship with the audience to take my personal losses and give people information that would help them live longer, healthier, happier lives.”

The audience posed a handful of questions, including one by a current Lehigh journalism student, who asked Couric what she believes the future of journalism looks like for aspiring journalists.

Couric encouraged those who love journalism to pursue it because it allows people to be lifelong learners and it’s an exciting profession, even though the business models are challenging. She said it will be crucial for those in the industry to stay on top of trends and be prepared.

“You need to be aware of trends,” Couric said. “You need to see how the industry is changing. But I think, I hope, I pray there will always be a place for a free press to tell people accurate factual information about what's going on, because it is the cornerstone of our democracy.”

Helble closed the event by announcing the next Compelling Perspectives speaker, Marty Baron ’76. On December 5, the Pulitzer Prize-winning former editor of the Washington Post, where he served from 2012-2021, and the Boston Globe, from 2001-2012, will return to campus for the second of three Compelling Perspectives events. The third and final Compelling Perspectives speaker has yet to be announced, but Lehigh will host that event in February featuring the viewpoint from a representative of non-traditional media.

“Are you willing to put in the sweat equity and get really good at it? And do you really love it? I think to be successful at something, you have to really, really love it and say, ‘This is so fun, it doesn’t feel like work,’” she said. “I feel so lucky that I had a career that I loved every day. Every day was different. I was always learning something, I was surrounded by people who love to talk about ideas.”

Urban ended the session by asking Couric her thoughts on how universities can prepare students to enter a rapidly-changing world.

Couric recalled the commencement speech she gave at Lehigh in 1999.

“I wrote about change…not just focusing on what you’re doing but noticing how things are changing, being aware of trends so you can be adaptable,” she said.

“I also think being a life-long learner is really important, to have this sensational curiosity, to be a good listener, to try to understand why someone feels the way they do, and to listen and ask questions is really, really important.”

-Christina Tatu contributed to this story