It was one year ago today that Scott Pelley anchored his first “CBS Evening News.” The Pelley era has seen some ratings growth, with the broadcast up in both Total Viewers and A25-54 viewers compared to last year.  “I’ve got a lot of confidence that we’re going to bring this broadcast to No. 1,” Pelley told David Bauder of the Associated Press:

Pelley said his first priority was to set a new tone for the newscast, wanting it to be a place where a viewer could tune in and feel connected to the most important stories in the world each day. It has concentrated heavily on jobs and the economy, and now the European economic crisis, said Patricia Shevlin, the broadcast’s executive producer. One example this week was a story by reporter Clarissa Ward this week on economic problems in Spain. Pelley believes the broadcast has improved in all facets and tapped into a reservoir of talent at CBS News.

“These folks needed a little bit of direction,” Pelley said. “They needed to know where we were headed and once we communicated that to them, they have performed magnificently.”

The Texas native celebrated with the “Evening News” staffers at a Texas-style BBQ in the newsroom today:

(Video Credit: Lauren Cioffi)

(Photo Credit: Courtney Streett)