By Kali Holloway, AlterNet
The fabricated story about being shot down in a helicopter over Iraq may be just the beginning.
After a week of nonstop media attention and scrutiny, NBC announced that it has suspended beleaguered “Nightly News” anchor Brian Williams for six months without pay. Williams’ removal from the anchor chair follows his on-air admission last Wednesday that he fabricated a story about being in a helicopter that was shot down in Iraq in 2003. The suspension is yet another blow to Williams’ legacy, sullying the reputation of a media figure previously considered one of the most trusted names in news.
NBC News president Deborah Turness announced the decision in a statement that included harsh words about the anchor’s exaggeration. “This was wrong and completely inappropriate for someone in Brian’s position,” Turness wrote. “As managing editor and anchor of 'Nightly News,' Brian has a responsibility to be truthful and to uphold the high standards of the news division at all times.”
NBC Universal CEO Steve Burke also didn’t mince words in his criticism of Williams, going so far as to take the anchor to task for also tarnishing NBC’s image as a trustworthy news source. “By his actions Brian has jeopardized the trust millions of Americans place in NBC News. His actions are inexcusable and this suspension is severe and appropriate,” Burke said.
The suspension comes amidst an NBC investigation of Williams' claims that Turness says is “ongoing,” and suggests the network may have uncovered more lies Williams may have told. “In addition, we have concerns about comments that occurred outside NBC News while Brian was talking about his experiences in the field,” Turness said.
Several sources have questioned whether Williams “misremembered”—or rather, invented—his tales of harrowing experiences, including witnessing bodies floating in flood waters, getting dysentery and watching roving packs of lawless street gangs, during his coverage of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.
Meanwhile, others are now calling into doubt Williams’ story about being held up at gunpoint by a robber in the 1970s while he sold Christmas trees in Red Bank, New Jersey, near his hometown.
A report in New …read more
Source: ALTERNET
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