Katie Couric confirms CBS departure

NEW YORK, April 26 (UPI) -- U.S. broadcast journalist Katie Couric told People.com she is leaving the "CBS Evening News" when her contract expires in June.

Couric's possible departure has been the subject of rumors in recent weeks and comes as little surprise to those in the news and television industries.

"I'm really proud of the talented team on the 'CBS Evening News' and the award-winning work we've been able to do in the past five years in addition to the reporting I've done for '60 Minutes' and 'CBS Sunday Morning,'" People.com Tuesday quoted Couric as saying. "In making the decision to move on, I know the 'Evening News' will be in great hands, but I am excited about the future."

Couric, 54, went on to say she would like her next job to have "a format that will allow me to engage in more multidimensional storytelling."

"I have a lot of areas of interest and I want to be able to fulfill all of that," she added.