David Gregory takes over at NBC's Meet the Press
NBC made it official Sunday morning, naming David Gregory moderator of Meet the Press.
Gregory is by far the best of the NBC News in-house possibilities, and his selection over such MSNBC cable show hosts as Chris Matthews is a clear sign that management still understands the value of having a journalist rather than a partisan performer at the helm of a brand-defining news broadcast.
Equally important, Betsy Fischer, the program's longtime executive producer and the driving force behind all the preparation and research that makes the host shine so brightly, has extended her contract to stay with the show.
The succession of Tim Russert, who died in June, has been a source of great media attention. Tom Brokaw stepped in on Meet the Press and did a superb job through his last broadcast today in an interview with President-elect Barack Obama. Brokaw, whom I wrote about earlier this week, was gracious and wise in handing off the baton as he spoke about America's heightened engagement with Sunday morning public affairs shows as citizens try to make sense out of the troubled times. The retired anchorman compared the uncertainty and massive challenges of today with the tumult of national life in 1968.
"This is an incredible honor, and to have it come from you, makes it all the more special," Gregory told Brokaw at the end of the telecast.
"For 61 years, this program has played a vital role in our nation's political discourse and millions of Americans' Sunday mornings," said Steve Capus, president of NBC News. "We lost a legend this summer, and today we hand the program over to someone who has a true appreciation and respect for the Meet the Press legacy, and a keen sense of what it needs to be in the future.”
Capus continued: “David and Betsy are first-rate and I'm thrilled to have them in their roles at a key time in the program's, and the country's, history. I'd also like to thank Tom Brokaw, whose tremendous dedication has helped to lead Meet the Press through this critical transition and extraordinary election season. He did so out of honor and respect for our friend Tim Russert, and we'll always be grateful."
"I'm honored and deeply humbled as I take on this role," Gregory said in a statement from NBC "I'm filled with a great sense of purpose as I join a superb team to cover Washington and the world from a treasured platform in our country. Above all, I want to make Tim proud."
"It's an exciting next chapter in the long history of Meet the Press and I, along with the rest of the staff, am eagerly looking forward to this new era." Fischer said in the same statement.
"Tim so often said one of the most important things for a good journalist to do is be prepared -- and there is no doubt that David is prepared for this. Not only is he a huge talent, but his tremendous knowledge of Washington and his persistence for truth and accountability make him a natural fit to uphold the strong ideals of 'Meet the Press.'"
Meet the Press has been the top-rated Sunday morning public affairs show for nearly 11 consecutive years. It's the longest-running program ever on network television, premiering on NBC-TV on November 6, 1947.
Gregory isthe tenth person ever to be a permanent host of the program.
According to NBC: Gregory will also be a regular contributor for Today and will continue to serve as a back-up anchor for the broadcast. He will also continue as a regular contributor and analyst on MSNBC, and lend his voice and reporting to all NBC News broadcasts including coverage of special events. Gregory first joined NBC News in 1995. He served as White House Correspondent during the presidency of George W. Bush, reporting extensively on the 9-11 attacks as well as the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
(Above: NBC News photo of David Gregory)
Comments
I will not watch Meet the Press again, with that nut on it. He will not be fair to ALL his guest. He will be one sided.
Posted by: rt | December 8, 2008 4:25 AM
David Gregory isn't partisan???? You are really funny Z. He's as partisan as it gets.
Posted by: Steve | December 8, 2008 8:27 AM
In response to Steve: David Gregory isn't a partisan performer. Z uses the word performer as an adjective to describe the noun 'partisan'. Z is simply pointing out that David Gregory does not tap dance around passing off spin and idiocy as actual news. David Gregory is a journalist. A journalist is someone who presents a story from a position. That position is determined through the research that the journalist does on the article. It can be one sided in favor of either side, or it can be partisan. True journalists, stay true to their own beliefs while presenting a story clearly and effectively in the best possible manner. David Gregory does this superbly. A journalist is also not afraid to uncover truth through his or her findings. I'm guessing by the comment by 'rt', that David Gregory uncovered some truth that they were not ready to come to terms with.
Posted by: Conor | December 9, 2008 10:55 AM