NBC anchor suspended for 'exaggerating tales from Iraq War'
There is a widespread belief Brian Williams may never actually return to the anchor chair he has held since 2004
A file photo of NBC Anchor Brian Williams. PHOTO: AFP
NEW YORK:
NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams was suspended for six months without pay following revelations that he had exaggerated tales from an Iraq War mission in 2003, CNN reported.
Tuesday night's announcement capped an extraordinary and painful six-day period for the network. Television veterans could recall nothing quite like it: a network benching the face of its news division to penalize him for what the CEO of NBCUniversal, Steve Burke, called "inexcusable" actions.
There is a widespread belief among rank-and-file NBC staffers that he may never actually return to the anchor chair he has held since 2004. And if he does return, he'll return in a diminished capacity.
Meanwhile, NBC's investigative unit is continuing to fact-check Williams' past reports, and could come up with more damaging revelations.
Still, Burke said in a statement, "He deserves a second chance and we are rooting for him. Brian has shared his deep remorse with me and he is committed to winning back everyone's trust."
Eight hours earlier, Williams visited Burke at the apartment Burke has on Central Park West in Manhattan. There, Tuesday evening's announcement began to take shape.
NBC News President Deborah Turness informed staffers of the network's suspension decision at a 7.15pm meeting, held minutes after Williams' fill-in, Lester Holt, finished anchoring Tuesday's NBC Nightly News.
"The suspension will be without pay and is effective immediately," Turness wrote in a memo.
Holt will continue to substitute-anchor the Nightly News. An NBC source said Williams' name would likely be removed from the newscast's graphics later this week.
One rival executive speculated that NBC, by suspending Williams, was simply buying time for more negotiations that might lead to the anchor's exit.
Others, however, said it was quite possible he would stay put.
Within NBC News, shock about the announcement gave way to sadness and a general agreement that the news division is in the midst of its toughest period since the early 1990s, when journalistic lapses like a staged car accident for Dateline spurred soul-searching and management changes.
"I feel like I have just witnessed a sudden death," one longtime NBC News staffer said on condition of anonymity.
One NBC anchor called it "humiliating for this whole network."
Williams was, at least until last week, the single most popular news anchor in the United States. He reached about 10 million viewers a night.
Several rival executives, speaking anonymously, said there was no joy to be had in Williams' befalling. Inside Edition host Deborah Norville said much the same thing on CNN Tonight.
"There is no delight to be taken in this," Norville said, calling the blow to Williams' credibility "also a blow for journalism."
NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams was suspended for six months without pay following revelations that he had exaggerated tales from an Iraq War mission in 2003, CNN reported.
Tuesday night's announcement capped an extraordinary and painful six-day period for the network. Television veterans could recall nothing quite like it: a network benching the face of its news division to penalize him for what the CEO of NBCUniversal, Steve Burke, called "inexcusable" actions.
There is a widespread belief among rank-and-file NBC staffers that he may never actually return to the anchor chair he has held since 2004. And if he does return, he'll return in a diminished capacity.
Meanwhile, NBC's investigative unit is continuing to fact-check Williams' past reports, and could come up with more damaging revelations.
Still, Burke said in a statement, "He deserves a second chance and we are rooting for him. Brian has shared his deep remorse with me and he is committed to winning back everyone's trust."
Eight hours earlier, Williams visited Burke at the apartment Burke has on Central Park West in Manhattan. There, Tuesday evening's announcement began to take shape.
NBC News President Deborah Turness informed staffers of the network's suspension decision at a 7.15pm meeting, held minutes after Williams' fill-in, Lester Holt, finished anchoring Tuesday's NBC Nightly News.
"The suspension will be without pay and is effective immediately," Turness wrote in a memo.
Holt will continue to substitute-anchor the Nightly News. An NBC source said Williams' name would likely be removed from the newscast's graphics later this week.
One rival executive speculated that NBC, by suspending Williams, was simply buying time for more negotiations that might lead to the anchor's exit.
Others, however, said it was quite possible he would stay put.
Within NBC News, shock about the announcement gave way to sadness and a general agreement that the news division is in the midst of its toughest period since the early 1990s, when journalistic lapses like a staged car accident for Dateline spurred soul-searching and management changes.
"I feel like I have just witnessed a sudden death," one longtime NBC News staffer said on condition of anonymity.
One NBC anchor called it "humiliating for this whole network."
Williams was, at least until last week, the single most popular news anchor in the United States. He reached about 10 million viewers a night.
Several rival executives, speaking anonymously, said there was no joy to be had in Williams' befalling. Inside Edition host Deborah Norville said much the same thing on CNN Tonight.
"There is no delight to be taken in this," Norville said, calling the blow to Williams' credibility "also a blow for journalism."