Brokaw, execs fuming over NBC chief’s remark

[mountaineer]

Brokaw, execs fuming over NBC chief’s remark
By Emily Smith, NY Post
August 26, 2014 | 10:10pm

NBC News president Deborah Turness had to apologize after infuriating top execs and talent by announcing the network news organization had been asleep for 15 years.

Turness, who came to the job from Britain’s ITV News one year ago, dropped the tactless clanger in a New York Times interview on Sunday, saying, “NBC News hadn’t kept up with the times in all sorts of ways, for maybe 15 years . . . I think the organization had gone to sleep.”

Sources tell us Tom Brokaw, managing editor and anchor of NBC’s “Nightly News” from 1982 until 2004, Turness’ predecessor Steve Capus (NBC News president from 2005 to 2013 and now executive producer of “CBS Evening News”) and CNN chief Jeff Zucker “are apoplectic” over Turness’ remark.

One network insider fumed, “Turness is making enemies. Her ‘asleep’ comment is incredibly disrespectful to many of NBC’s top journalists, especially Tom Brokaw and Brian Williams, and her predecessors Steve Capus, Andy Lack, Neal Shapiro and Jeff Zucker.”

Another NBC source added, “The comment caused uproar inside NBC. Several people inside NBC News, including execs who report to Turness, complained. It offended everybody who preceded Turness as far back as Neal Shapiro.”

We’re told Turness was forced to send out apologetic e-mails to staff addressing her comment.

The source added, “It’s astonishing that she seems to have discounted 15 years of robust success before she arrived. Even Brian and Matt Lauer, who were forced to heap praise on Turness in the story, are privately concerned about the direction NBC News might take. There is talk of layoffs. This notion she is swooping in from England to save a snoozing news organization is simply wrong.”

Reps for NBC, Capus and Zucker didn’t get back to us.

[alicewonders]

Well, I know that I get far more "real" news from British sources - so I'm optimistic for NBC.

I didn't even know Tom Brokaw was still alive.   

[GourmetDan]

Well, I know that I get far more "real" news from British sources - so I'm optimistic for NBC.

Me too.  I check the Daily Mail every day to see what's going on in good old 'Merica...

[flowers]

Well, I know that I get far more "real" news from British sources - so I'm optimistic for NBC.

I didn't even know Tom Brokaw was still alive.   

Same here. I check the DM every day. It is slanted a bit to the left, so some stories you have to take with a grain of salt. The comment section is a great read as well on their articles.

[rangerrebew]

Perhaps she'll bring Piers Morgan in as V.P.

[mountaineer]

NBC exec unapologetic over ‘sleep’ claim
By Emily Smith
August 27, 2014 | 10:14pm
New York Post

NBC News President Deborah Turness joined an editorial call on Wednesday to calm the storm after she was quoted in the New York Times as saying, “For maybe 15 years….I think the organization had gone to sleep.”

But rather than apologizing, we’re told Turness said the context of the quote was about the division’s investment in digital infrastructure, and blamed Page Six for stirring up drama over it.

On Wednesday, we simply reported what industry and NBC insiders are saying — that she had offended current and former NBC News stars and execs.

The Times’ Bill Carter, who interviewed Turness, told us, “I completely stand by the story. It was on tape and I have heard no complaints from NBC.”

[rangerrebew]

Turness:  I didn't say I didn't say it, what I said was I didn't say that I said it.  And I want to make that perfectly clear.

[mountaineer]

At least she didn't trot out the popular non-apology:  I'm sorry if anyone was offended ...