AceShowbiz - Katie Couric is raising her voice against CBS's decision to replace Norah O'Donnell with two male anchors on 'CBS Evening News', urging for more gender diversity in the newsroom.

In a recent guest essay for The New York Times, Couric criticized CBS's decision to replace Norah O'Donnell with John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois as co-anchors of CBS Evening News. Couric, who herself served as the anchor of CBS Evening News from 2006 to 2011, expressed her disappointment over the male-dominated turn the evening news on broadcast television is taking.

"It was more than a little disappointing to read that Ms. O'Donnell would be replaced by two men, John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois," Couric wrote. "Don't get me wrong: I know, like and respect these two journalists. But soon, on the big three networks, there will be four male anchors."

Couric's comments reflect on the broader issue of gender representation as Lester Holt and David Muir already lead NBC Nightly News and ABC World News Tonight, respectively.

Couric underscored the fact that the editorial decision-making team at CBS Evening News consists primarily of white men. "More important, the three people behind the scenes, making most of the editorial decisions, will be three white men: Bill Owens, Guy Campanile and Jerry Cipriano," she noted, adding that male writers might have occasional blind spots. She cited an example of subtly sexist copy written during her tenure at CBS.

Couric's concerns are especially poignant given the current political climate. She pointed out the significance of a campaign that might lead to the first woman president and first woman of color being elected. "It's a potentially historic story - one that needs a diverse group of journalists covering it," she emphasized.

Reflecting on her own experience, Couric shared, "Nearly 20 years ago, I wanted to be the face of CBS Evening News because I knew that for the audience - especially little girls and little boys watching at dinner time - the image of a solo woman anchor could be game changing. Whether it's in politics, sports, or other once-male-dominated fields, seeing diversity in leadership inspires our imagination about who can and should fill these roles."

Couric's comments resonate amid CBS's recent organizational changes. The network announced the appointment of more women in executive roles, including Adrienne Roark as president of editorial and newsgathering and Jennifer Mitchell as president of stations and digital. However, Couric finds it troubling that despite these changes, the individuals making key editorial decisions remain predominantly male.

Couric's call for diversity highlights a critical issue within the media industry. She urges for mindful consideration of societal changes and for media representation that mirrors the diversity of the society it serves. As CBS Evening News prepares for its transition post-2024 elections, Couric's concerns about gender representation and editorial diversity remain pertinent debate points.