Couric in Iraq: Lousy Ratings, Good Journalism

Katie Couric's trip to Iraq and Syria was a failure as a ratings gimmick but pretty good journalism, say critics. The "CBS Evening News" tied a record low of 5.5 million viewers last week, which the network blames on US Open coverage. And Harvard journalism prof Marvin Kalb says the broadcasts were well-done and informative, the AP reports.

"She deserves an honest reappraisal," says Kalb, a longtime CBS reporter. "Whether that will be given to her, who knows. But it's deserved." CBS News president Sean McManus says the trip was all about the journalism: "We all thought she would go over there and do a good job and she did." (More Katie Couric stories.)