USA Today founder Al Neuharth has been proved wrong on something he wrote three years ago. On September 7, 2006, Neuharth wrote: “[Katie] Couric can’t cut it if she stays on the non-news fringe she started out on this week.” This week, Couric traveled to South Dakota where she was presented with the Al Neuharth Award for Excellence in the Media. Today, Neuharth writes:

Partly because of CBS’ overall weaker network program lead-ins, Couric still has challenges trying to catch ABC and NBC counterparts in national ratings. But not here in South Dakota. Polls here rate her No.1 among the top three. Not only has Couric “cut it,” but when Diane Sawyer takes over as anchor of ABC World News in January, she has Katie to thank for paving the way.

Past recipients include: Walter Cronkite, Helen Thomas, Tom Brokaw, Larry King, and Tim Russert.