Ann Curry To Tell Viewers Thursday That She Is Stepping Down as 'Today' Co-Host; She Says She Is 'Not to Blame' for 'Today' Ratings Woes

Ann Curry To Tell Viewers Thursday That She Is Stepping Down as 'Today' Co-Host; She Says She Is 'Not to Blame' for 'Today' Ratings Woes: "After a year as co-host, and days of fevered speculation about her future, [Ann] Curry steps down [Thursday morning] from the high-profile post" on the 'Today' show," USA Today reports.In her first public interview since news of NBC wanting to remove her from the "Today" show was first reported, Curry told USA Today " 'I know I am not to blame for the ['Today' show's] ratings worries. And my bosses have said to me there are many factors involved. There is no doubt that the rating wars have become meaner and less focused on our responsibilities as journalists,' though she says some at Today do 'brilliant work. And the show is still No. 1 in terms of ratings,' she quickly adds."As the article explains, "ABC's 'Good Morning America' broke NBC's 16-year winning streak in April and has taken three additional weeks since then."The USA Today story notes that Curry "makes no secret that the very public process that pushed her out of the co-host chair amid rumor-fed headlines has left wounds. 'I don't know who has been behind the leaks, but no question they've hurt deeply,' she says. She admits she would have liked more time to work things out as co-host, and she bristles a bit at the suggestion that she lacked 'chemistry' with co-host Matt Lauer."The story adds, "Does she think she was given enough time to work out those kinks? 'No, I do not,' she says flatly. Would she have liked more time? 'Oh, sure I would have,' she says.The article says that "Curry, 55, says she was prepared to leave NBC, the network she joined more than two decades ago as a Chicago-based correspondent," but that NBC News president Steve Capus talked her into staying at NBC."She will have a big title," USA Today says, " 'Today' show anchor-at-large and NBC News national/international correspondent — and a contract negotiated on her behalf by lawyer Robert Barnett that she says lasts 'a significant amount of time,' more than just a few years.That article adds that Curry "declines to discuss her salary but says reports of $10 million or $20 million a year are wrong. 'I can say that I'd love to earn that much,' she says."