Logo

NYTimes; MSNBC

Video: Brian Williams’ Return To TV News Coverage. Plus, How He Fits into the Plans to Revitalize MSNBC

Sep 22, 2015  •  Post A Comment

Brain Williams returned to the airways today, anchoring MSNBC’s coverage of Pope Francis’ visit to the United States. You can watch a clip that coverage at the bottom of this item.

Also, Emily Steel in The New York Times reports how Andy Lack, chairman of NBC News and MSNBC, plans to use Williams to help revitalize MSNBC.

Lack told the Times that Williams wants to focus on live, breaking news. “‘His passion fits exactly with one of our biggest needs,’ Mr. Lack…said in an interview on Monday. ‘Brian will be such an important contribution to MSNBC’s page-turn here.’”

Steel writes, “…NBC News executives are hoping that [Williams] can help MSNBC reverse its fortunes by focusing on hard news during the daytime and by integrating with NBC News to create one news operation that delivers its coverage across broadcast, cable and digital outlets.

“‘The news is the star,’ Mr. Lack said. ‘We are building a network that has as its core value delivering breaking news better than anyone else. It is not about the anchor who happens to be delivering the news.’

Williams was suspended for six months earlier this year for embellishing the details of stories he had covered.

Notes the Times, “Asked whether Mr. Williams could integrate smoothly into his new home in the aftermath of the controversy, Mr. Lack said he expected Mr. Williams to win back the trust of both his colleagues and his viewers. He said Mr. Williams would abide by the ‘normal checks and balances that exist for all of us.’”

To read more details about this item, please click here, which will take you to Steel’s story.

Here’s a video clip of Williams on MSNBC earlier today.

One Comment

  1. Why would MSNBC pick a known and admitted liar to be the person to “help revitalize MSNBC”? Is their target audience now other known and admitted liars? I really liked and respected Brian Williams until I found out about his multiple instances of blatant lies. If a known and admitted liar will be the new face of MSNBC, what does that say about MSNBC?

Your Comment

Email (will not be published)