2019, Katie Couric, Journalist, Author, Entrepreneur

Katie Couric, the pioneering and award-winning broadcast journalist, best-selling author and media entrepreneur, received the Poynter Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Journalism at the Poynter Institute’s annual Bowtie Ball on Nov. 2, 2019.

This prestigious award honors those whose journalism careers have made a significant impact on democracy and its institutions. For nearly four decades, citizens have turned to Couric for trustworthy, credible reporting on everything from presidential elections to health care.

Couric was co-anchor of the “Today” show on NBC for 15 years before going to CBS and becoming the first solo woman anchor of a nightly news broadcast and the highest paid journalist in the world. The “CBS Evening News with Katie Couric” won the 2008 and 2009 Edward R. Murrow Award for best newscast. In 2009, Couric was awarded with the Emmy Governor’s Award for her broadcasting career. After CBS, Couric served as the Global News Anchor at Yahoo News and later founded Katie Couric Media (KCM). This female-driven company develops and produces socially relevant and cutting-edge projects including documentaries, video series and a daily newsletter.

“Katie Couric has blazed a trail in broadcast and digital journalism with a remarkable ability to connect with her viewers and bring an amazing array of stories and news reports closer to all of us,” said Neil Brown, president of the Poynter Institute. “Across every TV network, on multiple platforms and in many storytelling forms, Katie earns the trust of her audience and reflects the power of stories to improve people’s lives. It’s hard to imagine a more worthy recipient of this award.”

Couric is believed to be the first Poynter alumnus to be honored with the Poynter Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Journalism. She attended an ethics seminar for reporters at Poynter in 1988, learning how to implement Poynter’s framework for ethical journalistic decision-making.