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NBC News Issues Guidance Memo to Staffers on How Brokaw Story Is to Be Handled

May 1, 2018  •  Post A Comment

“On Monday, NBC News staffers received a memo with guidance from the network’s standards and practices on how to handle reporting a sensitive story about sexual harassment allegations against Tom Brokaw,” Variety reports.

The report features a copy of a portion of the memo, which includes this bullet point:

“Include the latest statements from NBC — which has not responded to the Wilkenfeld comments [a reference to Brokaw accuser Linda Vester’s attorney Ari Wilkenfeld]. Include relevant portions of Brokaw’s denial, his email and the email in support of him, signed by more than 60 female colleagues.”

The guidance memo also states: “As always in cases where sexual misconduct is alleged, we should be scrupulous in reflecting all sides.”

Variety notes that the instructions “appeared in a company-wide system that producers and talent can access.”

The publication says of the instruction to include the email in support of Brokaw: “That mandate raised eyebrows among some staffers because it urged anchors to report on a document that has been the source of controversy in the newsroom. NBC News declined to comment.”

One Comment

  1. If the story turns out to be true, NBC will have egg on its face. They should have taken a neutral stance, like they have with Trump.

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