On Monday night, Katie Couric teased the CBS Evening News by trumpeting how “the stock market soars as the Treasury rolls out a new plan to rescue America's banks,” and then leading: “The Treasury put out the details today of a plan to rescue America's banks and Wall Street responded with two thumbs up and a triple-digit rally.” Six weeks ago, however, when the Dow plunged 382 points in reaction to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner's vague plan for banks, Couric didn't mention the stock market in her tease as she instead giddily announced:
COURIC: Tonight, attacking the economic crisis from every angle: The Treasury Secretary rolls out a new bailout plan, the Senate passes the stimulus package and the President gets a little help selling it.
MAN AT FT. MYERS EVENT WITH OBAMA: Oh, it's such a blessing to see you Mr. President! Thank you for taking time out of your day!
In setting up the lead story, on the Tuesday, February 10 newscast, Couric did get to Wall Street's negative reaction to Geithner's plan, but she played it as less important than the Obama administration's efforts to fix the economy:
Good evening, everyone. From President Obama on down, the U.S. government took on this country's growing financial crisis today. The President hit the road again to sell his stimulus package as the Senate was approving a version that cost $19 billion more than what the House passed last week. And the Treasury announced a new financial rescue plan; this one would spend as much as $2 trillion to get lenders lending again. But it got a vote of no confidence on Wall Street, where the Dow plunged nearly 400 points.
Compare that to her approach on Monday night, March 23:
Couric's tease:
Tonight, the stock market soars as the Treasury rolls out a new plan to rescue America's banks. And get them lending again.
Couric's open:
Good evening, everyone. The Treasury put out the details today of a plan to rescue America's banks and Wall Street responded with two thumbs up and a triple-digit rally. The Dow gained nearly 500 points or nearly seven percent. That is the fifth-largest point gain ever. The Dow closed at its highest level in more than five weeks. Bank stocks led the rally. The rescue plan will relieve them of the bad assets they're stuck with, and the hope is get them back into business of lending money...
