NEW YORK >> NBC News fired longtime “Today” show host
Matt Lauer today for “inappropriate sexual behavior,” making him the
second morning television show personality to lose his job because of
sexual misconduct charges in a week.
Lauer’s co-host Savannah Guthrie made the announcement at
the top of today’s “Today” show. Last week, CBS News fired Charlie Rose
after complaints from several women who worked for him.
NBC News Chairman Andrew Lack said the network had received a
complaint from a colleague on Monday night, and a review determined it
was a clear violation of company standards. While it was the first
complaint lodged against Lauer, Lack said in a memo to staff that “we
were also presented with reason to believe this may not have been an
isolated incident.”
Lauer, 59, has hosted “Today” for two decades. When paired
with Katie Couric, “Today” was the longtime ratings leader and was
highly lucrative for NBC. It now runs second in the ratings to ABC’s
“Good Morning America.”
Many “Today” show viewers took out their anger for the
unsightly 2012 firing of co-host Ann Curry on Lauer, sending the show
plunging in the ratings. But NBC stuck with Lauer and the show had
steadied with his pairing with Guthrie. The show runs for four hours,
with Lauer and Guthrie hosting the first two.
He joins a lengthening list of media figures felled by
sexual misconduct charges this year. Besides Rose, they include Lauer’s
former NBC News colleague Mark Halperin, former Fox News prime-time host
Bill O’Reilly and National Public Radio newsroom chief Michael Oreskes.
The New York Times suspended White House correspondent Glenn Thrush
last week.
Wednesday, November 29, 2017
Tuesday, November 21, 2017
Charlie Rose too?
CBS News and PBS fired Charlie Rose on Tuesday after eight women accused the veteran journalist of sexual misconduct.
"Despite Charlie's important journalist contribution to our news division, there is absolutely nothing more important, in this or any organization, than ensuring a safe, professional workplace-a supportive environment where people feel they can do their best work," said CBS News President David Rhodes in a memo.
"We need to be such a place," he added. "I'm deeply disappointed and angry that people were victimized-and that even people not connected with these events could see their hard work undermined."
PBS fired Rose not long after CBS News announced its decision to terminate the newsman.
"In light of yesterday's revelations, PBS has terminated its relationship with Charlie Rose and cancelled distribution of his programs. PBS expects all the producers we work with to provide a workplace where people feel safe and are treated with dignity and respect," PBS said in a statement.
The firings come after eight women accused Rose of sexual misconduct in a report published Monday by The Washington Post.
Rose, who co-hosted "CBS This Morning," was accused of making unwanted sexual advances ranging from making lewd suggestions during phone calls to walking naked in front of female employees to groping their breasts or genital areas, according to the report.
The accusations, which centered around behavior at Rose's PBS program, "Charlie Rose," date from the late 1990s to as recently as 2011.
Rose acknowledged Monday in a statement that he had "behaved insensitively" at times, but said that some of the allegations were not accurate.
"It is essential that these women know I hear them and that I deeply apologize for my inappropriate behavior. I am greatly embarrassed. I have behaved insensitively at times, and I accept responsibility for that, though I do not believe that all of these allegations are accurate. I always felt that I was pursuing shared feelings, even though I now realize I was mistaken," Rose said in a statement to the Post.
Rose's CBS co-hosts addressed the controversy on-air Tuesday morning.
"This is a moment that demands a frank and honest assessment about where we stand, and more generally, the safety of women," "CBS This Morning" co-host Norah O'Donnell said.
"Let me be very clear: There is no excuse for this alleged behavior. It is systematic and pervasive."
PBS announced Monday it would suspend distribution of Rose's program while it looked into the allegations against the 75-year-old host.
"PBS was shocked to learn today of these deeply disturbing allegations. We are immediately suspending distribution of 'Charlie Rose,'" a PBS spokesman said in a statement Monday.
"'Charlie Rose' is produced by Charlie Rose, Inc., an independent television production company. PBS does not fund this nightly program or supervise its production, but we expect our producers to provide a workplace where people feel safe and are treated with dignity and respect," the spokesman added.
"Despite Charlie's important journalist contribution to our news division, there is absolutely nothing more important, in this or any organization, than ensuring a safe, professional workplace-a supportive environment where people feel they can do their best work," said CBS News President David Rhodes in a memo.
"We need to be such a place," he added. "I'm deeply disappointed and angry that people were victimized-and that even people not connected with these events could see their hard work undermined."
PBS fired Rose not long after CBS News announced its decision to terminate the newsman.
"In light of yesterday's revelations, PBS has terminated its relationship with Charlie Rose and cancelled distribution of his programs. PBS expects all the producers we work with to provide a workplace where people feel safe and are treated with dignity and respect," PBS said in a statement.
The firings come after eight women accused Rose of sexual misconduct in a report published Monday by The Washington Post.
Rose, who co-hosted "CBS This Morning," was accused of making unwanted sexual advances ranging from making lewd suggestions during phone calls to walking naked in front of female employees to groping their breasts or genital areas, according to the report.
The accusations, which centered around behavior at Rose's PBS program, "Charlie Rose," date from the late 1990s to as recently as 2011.
Rose acknowledged Monday in a statement that he had "behaved insensitively" at times, but said that some of the allegations were not accurate.
"It is essential that these women know I hear them and that I deeply apologize for my inappropriate behavior. I am greatly embarrassed. I have behaved insensitively at times, and I accept responsibility for that, though I do not believe that all of these allegations are accurate. I always felt that I was pursuing shared feelings, even though I now realize I was mistaken," Rose said in a statement to the Post.
Rose's CBS co-hosts addressed the controversy on-air Tuesday morning.
"This is a moment that demands a frank and honest assessment about where we stand, and more generally, the safety of women," "CBS This Morning" co-host Norah O'Donnell said.
"Let me be very clear: There is no excuse for this alleged behavior. It is systematic and pervasive."
PBS announced Monday it would suspend distribution of Rose's program while it looked into the allegations against the 75-year-old host.
"PBS was shocked to learn today of these deeply disturbing allegations. We are immediately suspending distribution of 'Charlie Rose,'" a PBS spokesman said in a statement Monday.
"'Charlie Rose' is produced by Charlie Rose, Inc., an independent television production company. PBS does not fund this nightly program or supervise its production, but we expect our producers to provide a workplace where people feel safe and are treated with dignity and respect," the spokesman added.
Monday, November 06, 2017
mass shooting in Texas
At least 26 people were killed in Sunday's church shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott said at a press conference.
About 20 others were wounded, said Freeman Martin, a regional director with the Texas Department of Public Safety, with victims ranging in age from 5 to 72 years old.
Among the dead is the 14-year-old daughter of the First Baptist Church's pastor, Frank Pomeroy, according to his wife, Sherri Pomeroy, the girl's mother. The couple were traveling out of state when the shooting occurred.
About 20 others were wounded, said Freeman Martin, a regional director with the Texas Department of Public Safety, with victims ranging in age from 5 to 72 years old.
Among the dead is the 14-year-old daughter of the First Baptist Church's pastor, Frank Pomeroy, according to his wife, Sherri Pomeroy, the girl's mother. The couple were traveling out of state when the shooting occurred.
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