by Mark Silva
It's official: Tom Brokaw's tenure as interim moderator of NBC News' Meet the Press is ending and the David Gregory era is beginning.
Gregory, a tenacious questioner of presidents and more, will become moderator of the long-running Sunday morning news show "effective immediately,'' NBC announced this morning - on a day in which the influential program will feature President-elect Barack Obama.
Gregory replaces the late, long-time moderator, Tim Russert, whose death surprised colleagues, family and audience alike last summer.
"For 61 years, this program has played a vital role in our nation's political discourse and millions of Americans' Sunday mornings," NBC News President Steve Capus said in a statement issued today. "We lost a legend this summer, and today we hand the program over to someone who has a true appreciation and respect for the 'Meet the Press' legacy, and a keen sense of what it needs to be in the future.
"I'm filled with a great sense of purpose as I join a superb team to cover Washington and the world from a treasured platform in our country,'' the incoming Gregory said. "Above all, I want to make Tim proud."
Meet the Press has been the top-rated Sunday morning public affairs show for nearly 11 consecutive years, the network says, noting that it's also the longest-running program on network television. It started Nov. 6, 1947.
NBC also says this of Gregory (pictured above in NBC photo AP):
From the network's release:
In addition to his "Meet the Press" responsibilities, Gregory will be a regular contributor for "Today" and will continue to serve as a back-up anchor for the broadcast. He will also continue as a regular contributor and analyst on MSNBC, and lend his voice and reporting to all NBC News broadcasts including coverage of special events.
Gregory first joined NBC News in 1995. He served as White House Correspondent during the presidency of George W. Bush, reporting extensively on the 9-11 attacks as well as the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Gregory has also covered three presidential campaigns in 2000, 2004 and 2008.
Earning a reputation for being one of the toughest questioners of President Bush and his press secretaries, Washingtonian magazine named Gregory one of Washington's 50 best and most influential journalists, labeling him the "firebrand in the front row."
On the campaign trail in 2004, and during his years covering the White House Gregory was among the most heavily utilized network correspondent on television, according to the Tyndall Report.
Beyond politics, he has covered nearly every major story for the network: from the O.J. Simpson trials, to the trial of Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh, to the impeachment of President Clinton, and the death of Pope John Paul II.
Previously, Gregory worked as an NBC News correspondent based in Los Angeles and Chicago. He began his journalism career at the age of 18 as a summer reporter for KGUN-TV in Tucson, Arizona. Gregory also worked for NBC's flagship West Coast affiliate KCRA-TV in Sacramento.
A native of Los Angeles, he graduated from American University in Washington, D.C. with a bachelor's degree in International Studies. In 2005, Gregory was named the School of International Service's alumnus of the year and now sits on the Dean's advisory council.
Gregory lives in Washington, D.C. with his wife Beth Wilkinson, an attorney, and their three children.
Comments
David Gregory speaks truth to power - Ds or Rs - strengthen the 4th estate.
Posted by: Doug Zook | December 7, 2008 11:54 AM
NBC Suits:
"Let's see, why don't we replace one know-nothing Republican (Brokaw) with another one (Gregory)"?
Yes, BRIILIANT!....not
Karl Roves dance partner is a complete joke:
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYZre8kEsuw
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Posted by: Hal | December 7, 2008 12:21 PM
Pathetic! A conservative shill with an extremely average intellect. I won't be watching "his" show because he is boring and offers nothing new or interesting. He's not Keith Olbermann or Rachel Maddow bright, and he's comes across as somewhat of a dullard who can't grasp complex political issues. Frankly, he's a pushover who doesn't challenge Republicans for their failures and he lets them get away with reinventing history. Tim Russert will be looking down wondering why someone so bloody average is sitting in his seat.
Posted by: osage | December 7, 2008 12:28 PM
If Gregory is indeed "a tenacious questioner" that will be a welcome change from the late Tim Russert, who was at best deferential.
Posted by: MJ | December 7, 2008 1:21 PM
I like Gregory, and I am eager to see how he runs the show. I would be shocked if it is as good as Tim did, but it is hard to project Gregory's previous experience as a corospondant with to his new one as show host, where he will have much more control on the outcome. RIP Tim.....we sorely miss your kind.
Posted by: Xcellentform | December 7, 2008 2:03 PM
The time has come to to decide on who shall permanently replace Tim Russel. Maybe David Gregory is a good choice.
Posted by: News Review | December 7, 2008 2:28 PM
This ought to be inetresting since Keith Overbite and Gregory don't get along.
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Hal & Osage - I never thought I would hear anyone call Gregory a conservative. You two have to be to the left of Ralph Nader. Osage, you seem to think Overbite and Maddow are bright, so now I know where you are coming from.
Doug,
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For your reading pleasure, an interview with your boss. I figure you never get over to this newspapaer.
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http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122852244367484311.html
Posted by: Terry | December 7, 2008 3:24 PM
Who cares!
I will not watch anything that NBC offers. There coverage of the last election was biased beyond belief.
Chris Matthews has admitted he is not a journalist and is meeting with Democratic officials about running for the Senate.
What has NBC done? Nothing!
Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow are shills for the Democratic Party and make O'Rielly look like a rational human being.
Boycott NBC.
Posted by: Joseph Jankovic | December 7, 2008 4:16 PM
David Gregory brings all the excitement of warm cream cheese. Even his mediocrity is mediocre. Also, his little dance with Karl Rove showed how serious a journalist he is - I never saw Walter Cronkite or Edward R. Murrow dancing with the the most corrupt political operative of their time. He continues the high level of averageness established by Russert and Brokaw.
Posted by: maddog | December 7, 2008 5:53 PM
Posted by: Terry | December 7, 2008 3:24 PM
Insecure Terry,
You've never heard anyone call Gregory a "conservative" because you live in a bubble world created by Druggy Rush, BillO the Clown, and GirlScout Seany etc, where everything that happened the last eight years has been great and all we need to do to fix things is do more of it.
Your all out dependence on tinfoil rightwing lunitic fringe news outlets and web sites for info is hilarious though!
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http://www.americablog.com/2008/10/david-gregory-meet-pollstercom-and.html
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http://swanpoliticsblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/david-gregory-faithful-republican.html
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http://www.oliverwillis.com/2008/12/01/david-gregory-new-host-of-meet-the-press-epic-fail/
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http://crooksandliars.com/2007/12/04/david-gregory-plays-blame-the-blogs
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http://thinkprogress.org/2007/04/09/gregory-pelosi/
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http://mediamatters.org/issues_topics/search_results?qstring=David%20Gregory&mm_audio=0&mm_video=0&sort=default&page=13
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....you'd think getting blown out in two straight elections would knock some sense into Republican dweebs like Terry......and you'd think wrong.
Posted by: Yes We Can! | December 7, 2008 6:44 PM
>> Pathetic! A conservative shill with an extremely average intellect. I won't be watching "his" show because he is boring and offers nothing new or interesting. He's not Keith Olbermann or Rachel Maddow bright, and he's comes across as somewhat of a dullard who can't grasp complex political issues. Frankly, he's a pushover who doesn't challenge Republicans for their failures and he lets them get away with reinventing history. Tim Russert will be looking down wondering why someone so bloody average is sitting in his seat.
Posted by: osage <<<
You've really lost control of your facilities haven't you osage? No one, and I mean no one is conservative, or for that matter even middle of the road at either NBC or MSBC. Gregory included.
Also, I'm glad you're entertained by the rantings and ravings of Maddow and Olberman. It's so much fun to watch those two as they set up their straw man agruments so that they can then knock them down. Life is so easy if no one is there to disagree with you.
Posted by: Sam I Am | December 7, 2008 8:09 PM
Dancing David going to host Meet The Press?
They didn't choose Sarah Palin?
Posted by: Terry | December 7, 2008 8:48 PM
why this fake jounalist--will he dance with rove for his opening show--sad that only the showboats are around to get serious jobs--no one will watch but his family,anyway--
Posted by: william john pappas | December 7, 2008 9:19 PM
Yes your dumb,
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For the record - I work during the day, so I can't listen to Rush and generally and too busy at night to watch O'Reilley and Hannity
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AmericaBlog - "News and opinion about US politics from a liberal perspective" Founded by John Aravosis - who is is an American Democratic political consultant, writer, LGBT activist and blogger. That will be a reliable centrist source.
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Swan Politics Blog is run by Swan McSwannessy(?). Can't find a lot about ths Mesna member, but here is sample of the blog regarding Russert and Meet the Press - http://swanpolblogii.blogspot.com/2008/08/fight-power.html
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Just oozes of credibiity.
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Oliver Willis -sounds like a real person, let's see what we can find out about him
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http://apps.facebook.com/blognetworks/blogpage.php?blogid=4783
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His facebook page has 8 fans - I guess its a start.
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Here's more the guy who looks like he has never missed as meal
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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/oliver-willis/oh-thats-why-im-a-democra_b_124569.html
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Crooks and Liars and their dear leader John Amato, aka the "vlogfather". Souds like he takes clips from others' shows and puts them on his blog - the critcal thinking is dripping from this guy.
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ThinkProgress - "Think Progress is a project of the Center for American Progress Action Fund. The Center for American Progress Action Fund is a nonpartisan organization. With the blog, CAPAF seeks to provide a forum that advances progressive ideas and policies."
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A nonpartisian organization which seeks to advance progressive ideas and policies? Non-partisan between who - the loons and the kooks?
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At least it has a little more creditibility.
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As you yes you saved the best for last "Media Matters" - Media Matters for America is a Web-based, not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) progressive research and information center dedicated to comprehensively monitoring, analyzing, and correcting conservative misinformation in the U.S. media. Forgot funded by the Ceneter for American Progress which is funded by George Soros - minor detail.
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These sources of yours just drip with creditibility and gravitas. But I guess you are right, there are a few flatliners out there that would consider Gregory a conservative. You guys should start boycotting NBC and MSNBC until they put Keith Overbite on as host of MTP.
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Dweeb? Don't you have to get back to doing something matur like watching Beavis and Butthead?
Posted by: Terry | December 7, 2008 9:26 PM
Big mistake for NBC. Welcome to first place Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace. Even with fantastic writers, Gregory does not have the intellect for the good follow up questions. Calling him a "conservative shill" makes no sense and osage should have his head examined. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!
Posted by: Woody Wingren | December 7, 2008 10:41 PM
Looked up those great websites you listed - there's a bunch of well know mainstream websites. I think Oliver Willis has 9 friends on his Facebook Acct.
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Most of these folks are just unemployed living in mom and dad's basement.
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Different Terry than 8:48 p.m.
Posted by: Terry | December 7, 2008 10:52 PM
NBC News lost it's credability during the last election cycle. They once were a respected journalistic organization but in the last years they have become an outlet for the far left.
I no longer watch this network and have moved to CNN, I believe it is closer to the center.
Posted by: Pat H | December 8, 2008 7:46 AM
Terry,
Anyone that cites an opinion article in a newspaper as proof of anything needs to get their head examined. (per your WSJ article) Furthermore, I have found the WSJ opinions to be some of the most laudible articles in this whole election cycle. It is surprising that WSJ even allows them to be printed, as it really does jeapordize their readership numbers, which is one of the reasons why I will not read them anymore.
Posted by: Xcellentform | December 8, 2008 12:22 PM
Dweeb? Don't you have to get back to doing something matur like watching Beavis and Butthead?
Posted by: Terry | December 7, 2008 9:26 PM
Insecure Terry,
Can't you EVER just admit that you're wrong and just move on?
You are just like your hero Bush, never wrong no matter how much evidence there is to the contrary.
Posted by: What a joke | December 8, 2008 1:36 PM
Listen to Terry complaining about "liberal" sources....meanwhile he's quoting from the "Murdoch Street Journal"....
Hahaha....
Posted by: wrong again T | December 8, 2008 1:42 PM
Brokaw's plan to raise gasoline prices to $4/gallon is not only idiotic but elitist and typical of the Northeast liberals who have ruined this country.
Posted by: Anthony Afterwit | December 8, 2008 2:43 PM
Xcell,
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Don't sure what opinion piece and/or WSJ article you are referring to. As far as the WSJ's circulation, I wouldn't worry about that - there numbers are up as compared to other papers say goping bankrupt or those whose stock price has dropped 75% because they "print the news that fit to print".
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Wrong,
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WSJ was a great paper before Murdoch bought and he has been a smart enough business onwer not to mess with a good thing.
Posted by: Terry | December 8, 2008 7:22 PM