NBC suspends Brian Williams: What now?

By now, we know that NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams played fast and loose with the truth, a few times too many.  The details have been widely reported everywhere from The New York Times to “Entertainment Tonight.”  No doubt, NBC had to take action.  When you’re the face of NBC News, you’re held to a very high standard.  Once you lose a substantial portion of your credibility, it affects the reputation of the entire organization.  When NBC suspended Williams for six months (without pay) on Tuesday night, it sent a strong message to Williams, his colleagues, and his viewers: trust is of utmost importance.

Based on what we know, and the misstatements for which Williams has apologized, he deserves to pay a price.  Six months off the job, which amounts to half of his annual $10 million salary, is a substantial price.  But assuming he’s financially secure, I doubt the loss of income is the worst of his punishment.  A week ago, he was the trusted anchor of the nation’s top-rated newscast. He was a popular, witty talk show guest.  Today, he’s the subject of scorn on social media.  His name doesn’t mean what it did a week ago.  His reputation, his stature, and his legacy have all been tarnished.  Even if he successfully resumes his career, and lives to be 105, his “misremembering” will be prominently featured in his obituary.  You can’t put a price tag on that kind of personal damage.

So what happens next?  Will he return in six months, like nothing happened?  Will he look into the eyes of America, utter a heartfelt apology, and be the number-one  anchor again?  Will NBC live up to its end of the deal, or will they place him in a lower-profile position?  What if fill-in Lester Holt (who is excellent) captures a larger audience than Williams did?  Would NBC pull the rug out from under Holt?  We’ll just have to see how it all plays out.

In the meantime, though, it’s time to give Williams a break.  The entertainment media reporters have been brutal in their pursuit of “scoops,” quoting unnamed sources, who have often been proven wrong.  (Funny how they get away with inaccurate reporting.)  The constant coverage was not so surprising.  It was disappointing, however to see the unmitigated glee in which they celebrated Williams’ fall from grace.  I expect that from the New York tabloids.  They thrive on the misfortune of others, especially the famous.  But to see a nationally-known Associated Press writer tweet jokes about Williams was jarring.  A few other writers who are employed by major media outlets (or what’s left of them) breathlessly tried to top each other with snarky headlines, claiming to have inside information.  At least two told us that former NBC anchor Tom Brokaw was “furious, demanding Williams be fired,” until Brokaw said later that day, “No, that’s not true.”  To my knowledge, those “journalists” have not been suspended.

Finally, there’s the social media crowd, many of whom proudly say they don’t watch the Nightly News, but that didn’t keep them from attacking the guy they don’t watch.  Again, I’m not saying Williams didn’t deserve criticism.  He most certainly did.  But what does it say about us, or some of us anyway, that we take such joy in Williams’ downfall?  Does his career crisis make us feel better about our own lives?  Did we have such a bad day that it makes us giddy when we see a big-shot newsman caught fibbing, and then being raked over the coals?

I’ve met Brian Williams, I’ve interviewed him in person, and via satellite (below), and I’ve seen him speak, off-the cuff to a large, live audience.  I’ve always been impressed.  He’s been married to the same woman for almost 29 years, and has raised two children, successful in their own careers.  He’s led the evening news ratings since taking over for Brokaw in 2004, which is no small achievement.

Yes, he is a flawed human being, and his shortcomings have been in the national spotlight for the past week, unlike yours and mine.  I believe in forgiveness.  I think he deserves a second chance, and I hope NBC, or someone will give him that chance at the end of the six-month suspension.  It may or may not be a news anchor position.  But clearly his long, successful career proves he is a gifted broadcaster.

There are some very prominent people in this city, and elsewhere, who made serious mistakes earlier in life. They paid for those mistakes. They were given a second chance, and are now doing great things. Why anyone wouldn’t wish that for Brian Williams, I’ll never know.

Based on what we know now, and assuming he is not guilty of more serious infractions, I think it’s time to leave him alone, and let him work on rebuilding his life, his career, and his reputation.