After the harpooning Katie Couric went through this week after Nielsen revealed there are fewer people watching her newscast now than ever before (okay, we're exaggerating ... a little), it's only fair that she gets to tell her side of things. So whether it was CBS News spinster Gil Schwartz (doubtful) or Katie's personal publicist Matt Hiltzik who pitched USA Today for a rebound story, it was a worthwhile move: Industry scribe Peter Johnson is running her spun-positive soundbites today. (To be fair, they were cherry picked from his Q&A.)

They include such gems as "I knew this was going to be a big challenge," and the this-should-be-on-YouTube "To get out of your comfort zone is not always comfortable."

So why is Johnson's column where Katie's camp chose to voice her humbling acknowledgment that CBS brass isn't pleased with her? Perhaps because they've been on Katie's up and up in the past.

Take, for instance, the headline from their interview that posted late last night: "CBS' Couric stays upbeat on future." That could have easily read "CBS' Couric out of touch with how bad she's doing." Today's article is titled "Couric: I went to CBS with eyes 'wide open'." Another option? "Couric: Her eyes aren't open wide enough."

Sure, there are the AP pick up stories (usually from David Bauder) in USA Today with headlines like "Poll: More negative response for Couric," but looking back, there's USA Today's own "Couric says the job takes 'patience'," "Kaplan's goal for CBS News: To get ahead," and this familiar line: "Ratings dip, but Couric stays upbeat."

As you might imagine, we could dream up alternative (and more realistic) headlines for each. But you get the point.

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