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Brian Williams Admits to Telling False Story


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And all this is why I stick with Scott Pelley and the CBS Evening News: not big on fluff, no scandals, more serious, actual news.

 

CBS Evening News has had their fair share of scandals. It's World News that's never really had one as far as I can remember.

 

 

 

Lester Holt is next in line for the NN chair, not sure why it's even being debated.

 

You know, I'd like to see Richard Engle try his hand at anchoring...

 

And to whoever mentioned Lauer as a possibility to anchor NN, absolutely not and absolutely never. There's enough bad press circulating him right now the way it is.

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CBS Evening News has had their fair share of scandals. It's World News that's never really had one as far as I can remember.

 

While this isn't really a scandal, ABC News has been extremely "hush hush" over the recent measles outbreak. I think they have been pretty irresponsible in their reporting of the story since the outbreak originated in Disneyland which we all know is owned by Disney who happens to own ABC. For "This Week" to make the Brian Williams story third on their rundown before the measles outbreak is a little bewildering to me.

 

I think the channels are just trying to take shots at NBC while it's down. I totally understand what Williams did was wrong and he deserves to get flack for it, I don't think its worth all the outrage CBS and ABC are making it out to be. This could have happened to any anchor on any channel. I really don't think this constitutes as news that other evening broadcasts should be reporting on. The whole Dan Rather incident mislead the viewers which is unforgivable when they trust your reporting.

 

In my opinion, I really don't think that this should lead to William's firing. He has massive following which is evident in his ratings. If people say they aren't gonna watch anymore because of this, I think they are full of it. His lie, while pointless and reckless, didn't harm any viewers or fellow journalists. I guarantee that all of these reporters and anchors of some skeletons in their closets collected over their careers that would definitely affect their reputation.

 

While this isn't really a scandal, ABC News has been extremely "hush hush" over the recent measles outbreak. I think they have been pretty irresponsible in their reporting of the story since the outbreak originated in Disneyland which we all know is owned by Disney who happens to own ABC. For "This Week" to make the Brian Williams story third on their rundown before the measles outbreak is a little bewildering to me.

 

I think the channels are just trying to take shots at NBC while it's down. I totally understand what Williams did was wrong and he deserves to get flack for it, I don't think its worth all the outrage CBS and ABC are making it out to be. This could have happened to any anchor on any channel. I really don't think this constitutes as news that other evening broadcasts should be reporting on. The whole Dan Rather incident mislead the viewers which is unforgivable when they trust your reporting.

 

In my opinion, I really don't think that this should lead to William's firing. He has massive following which is evident in his ratings. If people say they aren't gonna watch anymore because of this, I think they are full of it. His lie, while pointless and reckless, didn't harm any viewers or fellow journalists. I guarantee that all of these reporters and anchors of some skeletons in their closets collected over their careers that would definitely affect their reputation.

 

Forgive me as I don't work in News but what more should ABC News be doing with the measles outbreak? Dr.Rich has been in all week on WNT maybe even last week. I don't know about last night as I didn't watch WNT. They have mentioned Disneyland.

I'm surprised Brian didn't make WNT until last night, so I don't know if ABC is taking shots at NBC.

This Just In:

Williams was scheduled to appear on The Late Show later this week, but this appearance has (obviously) been cancelled, as confirmed by NBC News and CBS.

http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/brian-williams-cancels-late-show-with-david-letterman-appearance-1201428116/

Thoughts?

 

EDIT: Mine are probably the same with everyone else's.

It had to happen, and it's a smart move for all parties involved. Had Williams appeared in front of Letterman, Dave would've been pissed to see him and blast him like everyone has been doing on Social Media (and everyone with a Facebook/Twitter account will blast him again), BriWi's apology is going to be seen as flimsy, terrible and unacceptable (at least that's how I see everyone else as seeing it), and everyone will blame NBC Execs for going through with this, even though they're the least involved with this.

This Just In:

Williams was scheduled to appear on The Late Show later this week, but this appearance has (obviously) been cancelled.

http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/brian-williams-cancels-late-show-with-david-letterman-appearance-1201428116/

Thoughts?

 

Not surprised. His first television appearance after all this should be on NBC News - whether it's to announce he's leavjng, moving to a new assignment or staying put - not another network's late night comedy program.

The problem with Brian leaving for a few days is that when he returns, the story is just going to return.

 

And as we saw with the David Gregory transition, if he is fired, I doubt he returns live to say goodbye. Maybe he pre-tapes something to air on NN or maybe they do a little send off segment but don't see him returning if he is fired.

 

One article I read mentioned Katie returning to NBC News either anchoring NN or replacing Savannah if she goes to NN.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/07/brian-williams-replacement-nbc-nightly-news_n_6636324.html?ncid=tweetlnkushpmg00000067

 

 

I think the channels are just trying to take shots at NBC while it's down. I totally understand what Williams did was wrong and he deserves to get flack for it, I don't think its worth all the outrage CBS and ABC are making it out to be.

 

Neither gave it much coverage. As mentioned, its CNN and FNC that have been covering this non-stop.

 

 

Not surprised. His first television appearance after all this should be on NBC News - whether it's to announce he's leavjng, moving to a new assignment or staying put - not another network's late night comedy program.

 

 

 

What is hush hush about ABC's reporting compared to NBC and CBS? I ask because I only learned of the outbreak occurring at Disneyland from a report on WNT and abcnews.com.

 

Nothing. Not sure what that user is talking about.

 

 

One article I read mentioned Katie returning to NBC News either anchoring NN or replacing Savannah if she goes to NN.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/07/brian-williams-replacement-nbc-nightly-news_n_6636324.html?ncid=tweetlnkushpmg00000067

 

 

God help NBC if they do that.

 

Also, Jake Tapper? What???? I'm really not sure why HuffPo thinks that's possibility; he's got a pretty bright future at CNN. Lester is the obvious and right choice IMO.

 

God help NBC if they do that.

 

Also, Jake Tapper? What???? I'm really not sure why HuffPo thinks that's possibility; he's got a pretty bright future at CNN. Lester is the obvious and right choice IMO.

 

Katie returning to Today, that would be good. Going to NN? Well that'd be great for CBS and Scott Pelley not to mention ABC.

 

One article I read mentioned Katie returning to NBC News either anchoring NN or replacing Savannah if she goes to NN.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/07/brian-williams-replacement-nbc-nightly-news_n_6636324.html?ncid=tweetlnkushpmg00000067

 

"God help NBC if they do that."

Mary help NBC if they do that.

 

 

Katie returning to Today, that would be good. Going to NN? Well that'd be great for CBS and Scott Pelley not to mention ABC.

 

I definitely agree with that. I really enjoyed Katie with Matt during her final few years at Today, so if/when this happens, I'd enjoy it a lot.

 

 

Also, Jake Tapper? What???? I'm really not sure why HuffPo thinks that's possibility; he's got a pretty bright future at CNN. Lester is the obvious and right choice IMO.

 

I'm not sure what to say about this either.

I'm very interested in seeing the ratings over the next few weeks.

 

 

If it comes to the point of Brian leaving NN, the only choices should be Lester Holt or Matt Lauer.

 

I think Lester is the #1 choice for sure. But I don't think Matt should be an option at all. If anything, Natalie would be a better option than Matt.

 

Katie returning to Today, that would be good. Going to NN? Well that'd be great for CBS and Scott Pelley not to mention ABC.

 

But Savannah on NN? Uhhh... not sure about that. IF that happens, I'd make her the weekend anchor and promote Lester to weeknights.

 

What is hush hush about ABC's reporting compared to NBC and CBS? I ask because I only learned of the outbreak occurring at Disneyland from a report on WNT and abcnews.com.

 

 

 

Nothing. Not sure what that user is talking about.

 

There has been some "interesting" coverage on (or rather, not on) ABC's website.

A lot of anchors have done much worse than Williams and were kept on the air. One local anchor was arrested for soliciting a prostitute and was back on the air after two weeks in the 1980's.

 

I haven't followed this story very closely, but from what I can gather, Williams exaggerated the story. Yes, his helicopter did come under fire, according to the pilot. But it was not hit by an RPG.

 

He has apologized and maybe he should apologize again and explain himself. But I don't think it rises to the level of losing his job.

 

I haven't followed this story very closely, but from what I can gather, Williams exaggerated the story. Yes, his helicopter did come under fire, according to the pilot. But it was not hit by an RPG.

 

 

The pilot of the helicopter said, after coming out defending Williams, that he doesn't even remember the full story (whether or not he was actually the pilot of the helicopter Brian was on is up in the air) and then told CNN to basically disregard what he said, so nobody knows just what really happened.

 

I think the channels are just trying to take shots at NBC while it's down. I totally understand what Williams did was wrong and he deserves to get flack for it, I don't think its worth all the outrage CBS and ABC are making it out to be.

 

Totally agree. It's a huge and great opportunity to kick the perenial leader in all of broadcast news while for the last several decades while it's down and use it as an example of sorts to tell viewers why they should watch their news over NBC's, because "unlike NBC," they don't have journalists that "lie so the attention can be on them" and that they have journalists that do what journalists are supposed to do, which is tell the truth.

 

What I'm getting at is that it's a good opportunity for the other news organization to paint a rival news organization as immoral and inept and convince viewers to come over to them instead.

 

 

One article I read mentioned Katie returning to NBC News either anchoring NN or replacing Savannah if she goes to NN.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/07/brian-williams-replacement-nbc-nightly-news_n_6636324.html?ncid=tweetlnkushpmg00000067

 

LOL SAVANNAH as the new main anchor of NBC Nightly News? What are those people smoking?!

 

 

A lot of anchors have done much worse than Williams and were kept on the air. One local anchor was arrested for soliciting a prostitute and was back on the air after two weeks in the 1980's.

 

I haven't followed this story very closely, but from what I can gather, Williams exaggerated the story. Yes, his helicopter did come under fire, according to the pilot. But it was not hit by an RPG.

 

He has apologized and maybe he should apologize again and explain himself. But I don't think it rises to the level of losing his job.

 

Here's my counter to that:

 

1) soliciting a prostitute as a journalist is different than making up a story as a journalist, where your whole job is to more or less report the truth and tell nothing but the truth

2) that was the 1980's. Had it been today, said journalist probably would have been fired.

I think what the best course of action is for him to remove himself as the Managing Editor. He can still be anchor, but give the Editorship to someone else within the news organization.

 

As to some people who want to burn him at the stake for this one mistake.Although it is the news business and trust is the currency that they exchange in, let me give you a damn good quote from Marvin Zindler.

 

 

 

"While these overcharges are not intentional, computers make mistakes. And computers are people. And that's why they put erasers on pencils" Marvin Zindler,

In this case, Brian Williams made a very human mistake. And although as I stated earlier, that a journalist has his word to go by as his currency to exchange with the public, I also believe that we need to not have such a happy trigger finger to take action against someone when more than likely most other people would make the same mistake.

 

 

BRIAN WILLIAMS ORIGINAL REPORT

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bdrtoy8P3po

A lot of anchors have done much worse than Williams and were kept on the air. One local anchor was arrested for soliciting a prostitute and was back on the air after two weeks in the 1980's.

 

I haven't followed this story very closely, but from what I can gather, Williams exaggerated the story. Yes, his helicopter did come under fire, according to the pilot. But it was not hit by an RPG.

 

He has apologized and maybe he should apologize again and explain himself. But I don't think it rises to the level of losing his job.

Soliciting a prostitute, while illegal, is not necessary a direct relation to ones job. While lying to the public that you serve is a direct relation to your job.

All this talk of who succeeds who, and who is most deserving for a role just reminds me of this...

 

Matt never rarely anchors 'Nightly'. Here's what happened the last time he did...

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/01/matt-lauer-nightly-news-mix-ups_n_1561980.html

 

For Matt to appear on 'NN', these people have to be passed over...

  • Lester Holt
  • Natalie Morales
  • Savannah Guthrie
  • David Gregory
  • Kate Snow
  • Harry Smith
  • Hoda Kotb (KLG is optional)
  • Try Lester again
  • Tom Brokaw
  • Meredith Vieira
  • Huntley and/or Brinkley
  • Scott Pelley
  • Diane Sawyer
  • Hugh Downs
  • Barbara Walters
  • Anderson Cooper
  • Maybe not Lester, but Stefan Holt, perhaps?
  • Camera Operator #2
  • Jay Leno
  • Conan O'Brien
  • Jimmy Fallon
  • Seth Meyers
  • Camera Operator #5
  • Alex Trebek seems pretty smart.
  • Dan Rather
  • J. Fred Muggs
  • Kermit the Frog
  • An Ingrown Toenail
  • Sarah Palin
  • One more frantic call to the Holt residence

Then, and only then do they summon Mr. Lauer.

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