After offering nothing but silence on Brian Williams, NBC's Today on Sunday finally covered the evolving scandal related to the anchor's lies of being struck by an RPG in Iraq. The morning show only allowed a scant 20 seconds, however. From Thursday to Monday morning, Today's reporters managed 20 seconds out of 14 and a half hours of possible air time.
In comparison, less than 48 hours after a scandal involving Chris Christie and a traffic jam broke, NBC produced 34 minutes of coverage. On Sunday, Today news reader Sheinelle Jones carefully explained, "A word this morning about our colleague Brian Williams, who has been under scrutiny over his recollection of certain stories he's covered." Jones never used the words "lie" or "false."
On Saturday's Nightly News, Lester Holt treaded lightly on the accusations, saying that Williams "has been under scrutiny this past week over his recollection of certain stories he's covered."
Despite a four hour run time, Today's anchors on Monday couldn't even manage the 20 seconds. On Good Morning America, Amy Robach offered 21 seconds and noted that Williams has cancelled a scheduled appearance on David Letterman. Unlike NBC, she offered some bluntness: "...Several veterans called him out for falsely claiming that his helicopter came under fire during the Iraq War. NBC is conducting an internal investigation."
CBS This Morning on Monday devoted 25 seconds. Jeff Glor noted, "Williams admitted he misled the public when he claimed on several occasions he was in a helicopter struck by a grenade during the war in Iraq in 2003."
Transcripts of Sunday's Today segment, Monday's GMA and CBS This Morning can be found below:
Today
2/8/15
8:10SHEINELLE JONES: A word this morning about our colleague Brian Williams, who has been under scrutiny over his recollection of certain stories he's covered. On Saturday, Brian issued a statement that says in part: "It has become painfully apparent to me that I am presently too much a part of the news due to my actions." He goes on to say, "I have decided to take myself off of my daily broadcast for the next several days."
GMA
2/9/15
7:13AMY ROBACH: Well, NBC's Brian Williams cancelled his scheduled appearance on the Late Show With David Letterman this week. Today marks the first day that Williams will not be anchoring his broadcast after taking himself off the air for several days. This after several veterans called him out for falsely claiming that his helicopter came under fire during the Iraq War. NBC is conducting an internal investigation.
CBS This Morning
2/9/15
7:32JEFF GLOR: The New York Times says Brian Williams is on leave this morning from NBC Nightly News. Last week, Williams admitted he misled the public when he claimed on several occasions he was in a helicopter struck by a grenade during the war in Iraq in 2003. In a statement on Saturday, Williams said, quote, "It's become painfully apparent to me that I am presently too much of a part of the news due to my actions. I have decided to take myself off of my daily broadcast for the next several days." Williams was scheduled to be on the Late Show With David Letterman on Thursday, but has cancelled that appearance.
