Katie Couric's web presence: "What the heck?"

"Gosh, we've got this wild, wild West of the Internet," Katie Couric says during her first Facebook chat, "Unlimited real estate - doesn't mean anyone's looking at your house. But what the heck?"

It's an awkward, somewhat brave Facebook foray for the flip-flop-clad Couric (who claims she had to ditch her painful heels). But it's also part of a strategy.

The CBS evening news has lagged behind ABC and NBC almost since the beginning of Couric's tenure in 2006.  During the 2008-2009 season, for example, Couric raked in just over 6 million viewers, while ABC logged close to 8 million, and NBC topped the competition with nearly 8.7 million. More important, perhaps, Couric did relatively poorly with viewers between 25 and 54 (1.8 million, as opposed to 2.36 and 2.6 for ABC and NBC respectively).

So Couric - who, with Diane Sawyer's arrival, will no longer reign as the only female anchor - is looking to establish a presence online.

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And a fascinating presence it is.

The first question Couric got in her Facebook chat was from a viewer named Timothy. 

"Well, Timothy," Couric began. "Is this what I do talk to Timothy right here? Hi Timothy."

Clearly the Facebook launch wasn't quite ready for prime time.

Later, responding to a question about Twitter, Couric lamented that, "It's really hard for me when people write me mean, nasty Twitters - like really sarcastic and jerky Twitters - not to write them back... Do people like drunk Twitter like they drunk dial?"

Couric's online strategy may ultimately pay off, but, for now, let's just call it a work in progress.

(Meanwhile Couric is facing incoming fire over her $15-million-a-year salary. Check out Michael Massing's article in the Columbia Journalism Review.)