Te'o, Couric Share Publicist

Manti Te’o and Katie Couric share the same publicist. 

And that is how Couric, who is not a sports journalist, landed the first television interview with Te’o after revelations came to light last week that Te’o’s girlfriend who had allegedly died of leukemia never existed and was a hoax. 

Te’o’s family recently hired Matthew Hiltzik as their publicist. Hiltzik has been Couric’s longtime publicist.

According to reports, Hiltzik sold the interview as a package deal, offering parts of Couric’s interview with Te’o, which will air on Thursday, to “Good Morning America, Nightline and World News Tonight.” 

Sports journalists have been concerned that Couric’s interview will not be hard-hitting because the Te’o’s hired Hitlzik–who is also Couric’s publicist–to put their son’s image in the most favorable light.