A Look at Some of the Best Women in News Today

I have to admit that my six closest gal pals and I are all news junkies if ever you've met one. I don't even have cable at the house. In the morning I watch news for two hours straight because ti helps me ease into the day and calibrates me until the sun rises. I learn about the weather and breaking stories and international events. I learn about the latest medical research. I may be one of the women Dr. Nancy Snyderman refers to as the "worried well". The six of us are constantly diagnosing ourselves and each other with everything from fibromyalgia to chronic fatigue to infertility and back. Then we get on the phone and gossip about interest rates and home values down the street and around the corner. We learn fantastic new recipes like one I saw today for chickpea and red pepper soup. All from cans which is quite my style. Indeed. The Today show is four hours long now but Meredith and Matt aren't on the whole time.

Which brings me to Diane Sawyer. Last Friday, a young man drew an amazing painting of her in something like 5 minutes or less. That is only possible because she is one of the most visually stunning people on the planet. And not only that, she is super smart too. And versatile, This morning, in fact she was jumping double dutch at the end of her show with the others even the weather man got in on the act. I cannot even imagine how difficult it is to switch gears from covering the UN visits of visiting dignitaries to "soup with a story" to fashion dos and dont's and have it all make sense. And put all of the guests at ease and have two minute commercial breaks and never a run in your stockings. And a perfect coif. And also never ever cry even when the news of the day is dreadful and astonishing and infuriating. Diana has it all covered for ABC. And to have ageless grace and beauty on top of it all. Quite a gem she is, a "blue diamond" if ever there was one.

I also like Meredith Viera. Her transition from the ABC's The View was really seamless unlike Rosie's quick in and out disaster tour de force. The View is another show which is vastly improved this season.I would even say that Whoopi Goldberg is a better moderator than Viera was. It is a wonder she was never a reporter. A comedienne brings just the right touch and tone to the View. With Joy Behar and the fun and feisty Sherri Shepard the View is off to a great start from what I have seen these past two weeks. Barbara Walters can relax now and not worry about last years endless feuds and comically tragic ever ongoing apologies.

If only Katie Couric was doing so well in her anchor chair. More of us should watch her. She was great on Today and CBS should be honored and grateful to have her heading their news department. I think the US is ready now for women in the evening anchor chair and in other high places. Like the White House perhaps. We shall see what happens. This country evolves in such fascinating and refreshing ways. God Bless America.

Campaign season is upon us and I am looking forward to seeing how the vice presidents are chosen by the frontrunner's. I think we all know who'll top the tickets on both sides. But who will bring up the stern. These are the questions and argument I'm having on the phone at ten after eight when I know good and well it's time top hop and head off to the office.

Or I stay tuned in and show up a little later than usual. For example, this morning Matt Lauer talked to a southern gentleman I once adored called John Grisham. He has written some of the most amazing novels of my long lifetime. But this morning I almost lost my breakfast burrito when the talk turned to politics. Excuse me sir, what was that random liberal diatribe you tried to work into my morning coffee break. Come on now, you know better than to start with me in the morning John. Or, maybe you don't what with the bring famous and so forth...