Brian Williams to return to NBC, but not as ‘Nightly News’ anchor
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Version 0 of 1. NBC News made it official Thursday afternoon: the network will bring back suspended anchor Brian Williams, but he will no longer be the face of “NBC Nightly News.” Instead, Williams will become an anchor of news reports at MSNBC, the network’s cable news channel, NBC said. Williams was suspended by the network for six months in February for a series of exaggerated statements he made in TV appearances over the years, particularly his tale of coming under rocket attack during the early days of the Iraq War in 2003. [NBC News finds Brian Williams embellished at least 11 times] Lester Holt, who has substituted for Williams during his suspension, will be his permanent successor, NBC said. Williams’s continued employment at NBC has been in doubt since numerous instances of embellishment by the anchor came to light in media accounts. In an internal review of his work, NBC found at least 11 instances in which he gave distorted accounts of his reporting exploits, damaging his credibility as a journalist. The network compiled a video of his statements, a damning document that was critical in his removal as anchor of the program he has been the face of for more than a decade. Williams’s sudden fall brought down the most popular news figure on television; with Williams in the anchor chair, “Nightly News” led the audience ratings among network newscasts for more than five years. With Williams on hiatus and Holt as anchor, NBC’s streak ended in late March when ABC’s “World News Tonight” briefly surged ahead in the Nielsen ratings. However, Holt — the first African American to anchor a network newscast solo — has kept NBC competitive with ABC, a major factor in NBC’s decision to keep Holt. In his first public comment since leaving the air in February, Williams said in an NBC statement: “I’m sorry. I said things that weren’t true. I let down my NBC colleagues and our viewers, and I’m determined to earn back their trust. I will greatly miss working with the team on Nightly News, but I know the broadcast will be in excellent hands with Lester Holt as anchor. I will support him 100% as he has always supported me. I am grateful for the chance to return to covering the news. My new role will allow me to focus on important issues and events in our country and around the world, and I look forward to it.” NBC Universal chairman Stephen Burke said the decision to reinstate Williams was “difficult,” but he added in a statement: “Brian Williams has been with NBC News for a very long time and he has covered countless news events with honor and skill. As I said in February, we believe in second chances, and I am hopeful that this new beginning will be good for Brian and the organization. This matter has been extensively analyzed and deliberated on by NBC. We are moving forward.” NBC said it reviewed Williams’s public statements over more than 10 years. It said it found that “a number” were “inaccurate,” but added in a statement: “The statements in question did not for the most part occur on NBC News platforms or in the immediate aftermath of the news events, but rather on late-night programs and during public appearances, usually years after the news events in question.” [Lester Holt: A longtime NBC star gets an unexpected promotion] Holt, 56, has been Williams’s regular substitute for several years and is a familiar face to viewers. He was the anchor of the weekend version of the “Nightly News” and a co-anchor of weekend “Today.” He also anchors NBC’s primetime magazine program, “Dateline.” “Lester has done outstanding work for NBC News over the last ten years, and he’s performed remarkably well over the last few months under very tough circumstances,” NBC News chairman Andrew Lack said in a statement. Added Lack, “Brian now has the chance to earn back everyone’s trust. His excellent work over twenty-two years at NBC News has earned him that opportunity.” Holt said, in a statement, “This is an enormous honor. The respect and admiration I have for the Nightly News team has only grown deeper over the last several months that we’ve been together. Day-in and day-out under an uncomfortable spotlight they have produced world-class journalism.” In addition to handling breaking news and special reports for MSNBC, Williams will be the breaking news anchor for NBC in live reports when Holt isn’t available, NBC said. He will begin his new job when his suspension is over in mid-August. The network said Williams will be interviewed by Matt Lauer on the “Today” show Friday morning and on “Nightly News” Friday evening. |