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NBC launches probe into Brian Williams’s claims NBC probing Brian Williams’s reports on Iraq, Hurricane Katrina
(about 2 hours later)
NBC News launched an internal investigation Friday into statements made by its lead anchor, Brian Williams, about his reporting from Iraq in 2003, as well as his award-winning coverage of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.NBC News launched an internal investigation Friday into statements made by its lead anchor, Brian Williams, about his reporting from Iraq in 2003, as well as his award-winning coverage of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
The investigation, confirmed by NBC officials, represents a change in the network’s attitude toward its popular anchor only a day after senior managers appeared to have accepted his apology for misstating the facts surrounding his excursion on a military helicopter while reporting on the start if the Iraq War nearly 12 years ago. The investigation, confirmed by NBC officials, represents a change in the network’s attitude toward its popular anchor only a day after senior managers appeared to have accepted his apology for misstating the facts surrounding his excursion on a military helicopter while reporting on the start of the Iraq War nearly 12 years ago.
But since the Iraq story came to light on Wednesday, questions have also been raised about Williams’s reporting from New Orleans during Katrina. But since the Iraq story came to light Wednesday, questions also have been raised about Williams’s reporting from New Orleans during Katrina.
NBC’s new scrutiny of Williams suggests that he could eventually face some kind of disciplinary action — something that network managers were saying was a remote possibility on Thursday. NBC’s new scrutiny of Williams suggests that he could face disciplinary action — something that network managers were saying Thursday was a remote possibility.
NBC said Friday it would not comment on its investigation or on Williams, who is scheduled to anchor “Nightly News with Brian Williams” Friday evening.NBC said Friday it would not comment on its investigation or on Williams, who is scheduled to anchor “Nightly News with Brian Williams” Friday evening.
Williams and NBC won a Peabody Award for their reporting on Katrina’s impact on New Orleans and its surroundings. Williams reported daily from the city’s French Quarter and its convention center and SuperDome, where residents sought shelter.Williams and NBC won a Peabody Award for their reporting on Katrina’s impact on New Orleans and its surroundings. Williams reported daily from the city’s French Quarter and its convention center and SuperDome, where residents sought shelter.
But the anchorman has made several inconsistent statements about what he saw and reported from the city. But the anchor has made several inconsistent statements about what he saw and reported from the city.
In a documentary aired in October 2005 on the Sundance Channel, “In His Own Words: Brian Williams on Hurricane Katrina,” Williams said, “We’d heard the story of a man killing himself, falling from the upper deck” of the SuperDome, which sheltered thousands of people in chaotic circumstances.In a documentary aired in October 2005 on the Sundance Channel, “In His Own Words: Brian Williams on Hurricane Katrina,” Williams said, “We’d heard the story of a man killing himself, falling from the upper deck” of the SuperDome, which sheltered thousands of people in chaotic circumstances.
But in a subsequent video chat with former NBC anchor Tom Brokaw made after he accepted the Peabody Award, Williams’s story changed from hearing about the suicide to actually witnessing it. “We watched . . . all of us watched as one man committed suicide” inside the SuperDome, he said.But in a subsequent video chat with former NBC anchor Tom Brokaw made after he accepted the Peabody Award, Williams’s story changed from hearing about the suicide to actually witnessing it. “We watched . . . all of us watched as one man committed suicide” inside the SuperDome, he said.
A suicide did occur inside the SuperDome, The Washington Post reported at the time, although the National Guard official who confirmed the death said the man had not jumped from the fourth level. A suicide did occur inside the SuperDome, The Washington Post reported at the time, though the National Guard official who confirmed the death said the man had not jumped from the fourth level.
If Williams witnessed the episode, he did not report it before then. On Sept. 1, he left New Orleans and began reporting from nearby Metairie, La. If Williams witnessed the episode, he did not report it before then. On Sept. 1, 2005, he left New Orleans and began reporting from nearby Metairie, La.
In an internal memo Friday addressed to NBC News staff, Deborah Turness, the division’s president, wrote the following:
“This has been a difficult few days for all of us at NBC News.
“Yesterday, Brian and I spoke to the Nightly News team. And this morning at the Editorial Exchange, we both addressed the wider group. Brian apologized once again, and specifically expressed how sorry he is for the impact this has had on all of you and on this proud organization.
“As you would expect, we have a team dedicated to gathering the facts to help us make sense of all that has transpired. We’re working on what the best next steps are — and when we have something to communicate we will of course share it with you.
“Since joining NBC News, I’ve seen great strength and resilience. We are a close-knit family, and your response this week has made that even clearer.
“As a relentless news agenda marches on, thank you again for continuing to do what we do best — bring the most important stories of the day to our audience.”