|
NYTV
In Russert Wake, NBC News Seeks New D.C. Chief
Washington Bureau May Go to VP Mark Whitaker, Former Newsweek Editor
MORE NYTV
On the morning of Sunday, June 22, NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams made a much anticipated announcement at the end of Meet the Press, which he was moderating in the wake of Tim Russert’s sudden death of a heart attack nine days earlier.
“Beginning next week, my friend Tom Brokaw has agreed to step in as moderator of Meet the Press, to get us through this election season,” said Mr. Williams. “And allow me to add, during these past difficult days, Tom’s been an enormous comfort here in this Washington bureau.”
A comfort: yes. A full-time presence in Washington: no. In recent days, Mr. Brokaw has told several reporters that he will continue to live and work at his cabin in Montana while commuting to D.C. on the weekends to moderate the show.
And while Russert’s Sunday morning television appearances are what most Americans will miss most about the late Washington bureau chief of NBC, it was his stewardship of the bureau—and his successful consolidation of power within it—that was the great organizational achievement of his tenure. That position remains vacant.
On Monday afternoon, NBC News spokeswoman Allison Gollust confirmed to The Observer that Mr. Brokaw will not be assuming the title of D.C. bureau chief and that NBC executives will continue to look for someone to fill the role.
“We feel like we’re in good hands in the meantime,” said Ms. Gollust. “We have a great team in place there. The folks that are keeping the bureau running are doing a great job, particularly in light of what they’ve had to live through in the past 10 days.”
By all accounts, the job of Washington bureau chief for a broadcast news division is what you make of it. It can be an easy life, if you are happy to take direction from headquarters and run errands for the head of the news division. Or it can be challenging, if you mean to make your Washington bureau one that has the power to call its own shots.
But at a minimum, a bureau chief is expected to oversee the division’s roster of über-competitive correspondents, handling such delicate tasks as, say, doling out candidate assignments at the start of presidential elections. The chief must also serve as the liaison to all the major institutions in Washington, from the White House to the Pentagon. And the chief must continuously grapple with producers in New York to make sure his reporters get plenty of airtime on the morning and evening newscasts.
Beyond that, the title of Washington bureau chief is a great license to serve as a kind of all-purpose beltway bon vivant. Wining and dining sources, handing out tickets to the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, trafficking in gossip, trading news bits, jockeying with rivals and racking up booth time at Cafe Milano are all part of the job. It’s a coveted position, and already there has been much speculation among D.C. insiders about whom NBC will tap for the position.
In recent days, several sources at the network told The Observer that they believe NBC News’ senior vice president, Mark Whitaker, is the most likely candidate to land the gig.
Mr. Whitaker, who is 50-years-old, joined NBC News in May 2007 as the No. 2 executive in the news division behind its president, Steve Capus. At the time, Mr. Whitaker had little television experience, having spent the bulk of his career at Newsweek, where he held several editing and reporting positions before eventually serving as the top editor from 1998 until 2006. Next Page >
There are no words to say how I will miss my Sunday mornings with Tim Russert. I looked to him to stir through the week-to-week political gumbo. I had no idea how much Tim did as Bureau Chief other than to assume it is a huge responsibility. At present, there is one man I look to at White House Press Conferences to ask the perfect questions and not back down when faced with ambiguous answers, who may be considered for Bureau Chief. That man is David Gregory. In the past year, especially, he stands out and above many reporters, and I'm not referring to his physical height. He seems to have the balance and civility we need in the news business, even while extracting what we need to hear. His humor would get him through the rough days, and at social events, he can outdance anybody in Washington, from what I've seen when he's been at Today Show concerts. What's not to like?
Andrea Mitchell should be named bureau chief and David Gregory should take over as the permanent host of Meet The Press. Tim Russert was a man who not only understood, but also loved politics therefore his successors should fit that mold.
i think gregory would be a great choice for mtp. far superior to the two buffoons, mathews and olberman.
Losing Tim Russert was a blow, but I didn't realize how much until Meet The Press last Sunday. There was an emptiness. Chuck Todd has the traits to take over Meet The Press. He was hand picked by Mr. Russert as the numbers cruncher, so obviously he's very intelligent and I think he would be as serious about Meet The Press as Tim Russert.
Whitaker? A guy whose only reporting experience was at the Crimson (oh, yeah, and an internship at Newsweek's Paris Bureau). What he excelled at during his Newsweek years was flattering the right higher-ups. Mere mortals never registered on his radar. So great, good luck DC buro.
I would like to see David Gregory or Chuck Todd. Both would be great.
Read between the lines, folks. There's a new sheriff coming into town, if you believe the polls, or at least the late Hedley Lamarr.
Why not have a powerful bureau chief with the same [check off ethnic box] background as the sheriff?
It's more a schmoozing position anyway. NBC has two professionals as deputy bureau chief in DC that do all the heavy administrative lifting, anyway. One's female and the other's black. They've been in their jobs for years and they do just fine.
Mongo only pawn in game of life.
It is clear from these comments posted here that many of you don't have an understanding of it takes to moderate "Meet the Press" much less be a Washington Bureau chief. There will never be another Tim Russert. But thinking that Andrea Mitchell or Dick Gregory can take over the Bureau is quite another matter. What made Russert great at NBC was his leadership and ability to astutely play politics within the NBC organization. You have to be more than a good numbers cruncher or reporter to do that.
Anyone but Chris Matthews OR David Gregory! They are both too impressed with themselves for my liking. I'd love to see Andrea Mitchell (who has paid her dues) or Chuck Todd be selected for the Meet the Press gig. I am really high on Chuck Todd. I stop what I am doing to listen to him every time he comes on.
Chuck Todd was picked by Tim Russert for his political director position. Having listened to the numerous accounts of Mr. Russert's ability to see talent for the Washington Bureau, I think that Chuck Todd might be a good replacement. He has grown dramatically in his knowledgeable presentations of the political scene during this primary season--he certainly isn't just a number cruncher.
My Sunday morning cup of coffee will never be the same without my political fix with Tim but I could see Chuck Todd coming in real close. I've really come to enjoy listening to him and Tim Russert was 'big' on him and handpicked him for his 'numbers' crunching knowledge from what I understand. David Gregory would be okay but not as good as Chuck Todd in my mind. You need to get Andrea Mitchell in there somehow too - bureau chief - might be a good fit? Sorry but no way Chris Matthews should be considered as he's too brash, opinionated and never gives his guests time to answer without talking over them - Keith Olbermann isn't as overpowering with his guests but not close to a Tim Russert personality or political treasure. They have a big job ahead of them - they can just be grateful the bureau employees, moderators and analysts seem to be dedicated to carrying on in the "Tim Russert" style which should give them a little time leeway.
Chuck Todd has my vote!
I can't stand David Gregory. Sounds like a neocon. John Horwood or Chuck Todd are good..
Come on, David Gregory,Please!!!!!! this is the guy that was doing a dance with Karl Rove, and is in the tank for McShame.
Matt Lauer who has been in NBC for a long time and does great interviews should be the one to replace Russert. He works well with the other reporters, he knows the news well and can handle the Chief position.
Todd is a great choice!
You think Andrea Mitchell isn't too opinionated? Really?
I like Andrea Mitchell, but I don't think she would be a good fit for Bureau Chief. Chuck Todd fits that bill pretty well.
Chuck Todd please........
Re: Meet the Press
David Gregory and Andrea Mitchell are way too conservative.
Chuck Todd is not seasoned enough.
Chris Matthews has the gravitas and the existing viewship on the sunday morning Chris Matthews Show to adjust into this less opinionated role.
Let's not forget Keith Oblemann if he wants to do it. This guy can do any thing...let's forget he transitioned from a very successful sports guy to a very sharp and astute polticial guy. Plus the intangible Keith has major star power thus enormous potential.
External candidates should include Gwen Ifill and Gloria Borger.
I cannot tolerate Andrea Mitchell, who has her own agenda and is married to the partisan former Fed. Chief Alan Greenspan. Nor can I any longer tolerate the very biased David Gregory! Chuck Todd would be a pleasure, however, and I understand that he was nurtured by Tim, himself!
First: It's 30 Rockefeller *Plaza*. It's within the much larger "Rockefeller Center", but that's not the address.
My vote goes to Chris Todd, mainly because he seems to be very knowledgeable, yet I can't detect any partisanship one way or another, which is a plus in my book. I'm sure that he has his opinions and preferences, but it seems to me that he would have no problem asking informed, articulate, probing questions of anyone, regardless of which side of the aisle or issue the guest represents. There is certainly room for hosts of other shows, mainly on cable, to display partisanship. But not as host of MTP, or as Washington bureau chief.
However, I am generally suspicious of the inside-the-beltway mentality altogether. If I knew who among the press was in the audience guffawing at GWB's "Where are the WMDs?" slide show (and it sure sounded like there were lots of guffawers), I would disqualify all of them for any job on which I would rely on them for information.
I certainly wouldn't want a MTP moderator who could dance with Karl Rove and be so oblivious as to why anyone would have a problem with that.
I think they may have to reach outside NBC. My vote goes to Gwen Iefil.(sp?)
My vote would definitely go to Matt Lauer, he seems down to earth and has the same quietness with effectiveness about him that Tim Russert [bless his soul] exhibited. However, having said this - Tim - no one can replace you, period.
Keith Olbermann would be a great choice, he conducts his interviews very well, has great knowledge of politics and hey someone has to take on the "big bad wolf" so, why not him. He does it well and God knows MSNBC does need one like him Chris Mathews and Dan Abrams around to be controversial.
I wish Tom Brokaw can be the permanent man, but he did retire and is standing in, which is so appreciated. Guys did y'll think of Brian Williams?!
Any one but Brokejaw, who IMHO is the most clueless and unconsciously biased 'journalist' on TV. If anyone remembers - this was the guy who was 'proud' of his 'special relationship' with W and was 'puzzled' when other journalists attempted to point out the potential conflict of interest with that. This is also the same guy who totally and uncritically fawns over all things military and literally worships veterans ("especially members of "the Greatest Generation"). Absolutely clueless and absolutely corporate.
I don't know much about Whitaker but I favor choosing a leader in-house. My pick for bureau chief would be Chuck Todd, but not until the elections are done. He needs to continue as Political Director for now. He is definitely one of NBC/MSNBC's brightest rising stars. My impression is that he may be a little too soft-spoken to be moderator of Meet the Press. I'd love to see NBC lure Gwen Ifill away from PBS. She's incredibly smart, an excellent, tough host, with a fine pedigree (NY Times, NBC). She's my choice for MTP.
Gwen Ifill deserves and has earned strong consideration...
Please, anyone but the most brash, egocentric and annoying pundits, namely Chris Matthews or Keith Olbermann. They would make a farce out of the jewel of NBC. I will miss Tim Russert each Sunday morning, but Tom Brokaw in the interim is a wise choice. Through the last year of primaries, Brokaw was the only voice of reason. He spoke up freely to the MSNBC pundits who had chosen the candidate and were shoving him down our throats daily. Brokaw called for balance and impartiality. A true journalist. NBC needs a journalist with a love or flare for politics.
Of all the names thrown about here the most qualified in my opinion is Gwen Ifell.
She has done great work, even putting up with some rather tedious assignments on The Newshour and has all the necessary gravitas for the job (for example her interview of Zimbabwe's diplomat to the UN the other night).
And frankly she even gave Russert a piece of her mind on HIS show, Meet The Press, in the wake of the Imus thing. She was fearless and priceless when she said she didn't hear too many criticisms coming from Russert that week about his friend Don.
Yup...she should get the job.
Chuck Todd is the only real choice. Has huge potential.
Gwen IS ALL THAT!