We've been talking about the mess that is NBC News for weeks now. The Brian Williams embellishment problem and subsequent suspension was just the final straw for the network that has been putting out fires for months now. The Today show has had serious ratings problems since the year that Ann Curry co-anchored and Meet the Press was such a mess that poor David Gregory found himself kicked to the curb as host, on a weekday and with no opportunity to actually say farewell. NBCUniversal CEO Steve Burke has decided to woo back Andy Lack, the man who has helped the network through serious scandals in the past.
Lack was in charge of NBC news division from 1993–2001 and by the end of his tenure the network was rock solid on all fronts. Burke sent out a memo yesterday confirming the return of Lack, something that had been heavily speculated on this week.
"I want to let you know about some changes we are making within the NBCUniversal News Group. Andy Lack is returning to the company as Chairman, NBC News and MSNBC. Andy will join our Executive Committee and report directly to me. He will begin in April. Pat Fili-Krushel, who has been one of my most trusted advisers since she joined NBCUniversal four years ago, will move into a new corporate role on my executive team." said Burke.
There's also a catch to this change in the guard. Lack is good friends with Williams and personally spent years prepping him to take over the NBC Nightly News anchor chair when Tom Brokaw finally decided to leave. It seems highly unlikely that he wouldn't be intending to bring Williams back after his six month suspension is over. NBC is likely thinking that if anyone can pull that off it'll be Lack.
Do you think that the rumors are true and that Lack will be putting Williams back in his old anchor chair? If that happens do you think that people will give him another shot at accurate reporting without making himself part of the story? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!
