The CBC, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, has had an hour long news at 10:00 P.M. (and now repeated but shortened to 20 minutes at 11) for many years. Daily hard news lasts usually no more than 30 minutes, but that is followed by in-depth reports on topics of current or broader interest. It works for me. Of course, the news in pre-empted in season by hockey playoffs. Not only are we excellent at journalism, this is hockey country, EH?

That piece on "Head On" was welcome comic relief.

Aren't you glad the "Head On" formula isn't being followed by Preparation H, Vagisil, or any brand of condom?

Brian,
We are looking forward to "Making a Difference" this evening. Further, your hour long special (as you announced in your SAJA Keynote Address), following Katrina's one year anniversary will be formidable. Your team's comprehensive, "what's going right, and what's not?" along the stricken Gulf Coast, is necessary. For you too Brian, make a huge difference. Have a look at Bayou la Batre, Alabama if time permits please. Cheers.

I can't believe that you read viewer concerns last night and then responded that it's a big world out there and we will continue as we have. Do you really want to address concerns or was that just a 'fluff' piece?

Dear Brian. Your viewers should be aware that what is going on in Lebanon has a direct and indirect impact on Iraq. Iraq was invaded by the US and its limited allies because of a plan architected by Mr. Wolfowitz and Israel in 1998. When President Bush won his seat in court, his thank was to Israel and AIPEC and he has to repay them somehow. Iraq was a threat to Israel under Saddam for their Scud missile that reached Tel Aviv in 1991, so they invaded it. Hezbollah's rocket have been a threat to Israel all the 90s and 2000s, so they are invading it now after destrying the entire country for the past 16 days. A lot of us know that AIPEC controls the US government. We all know anyone who criticize Israel is called Anti-Semitic and could be easily destroyed politically. We all know that some of your viewer wants diversion of the news so facts can be easily twisted as many of the US news media. You've been fair and reported the news as is and I thank you for it. I watch all the news at all channels and read every website and I applaud you for your great accurate reporting. Engel, god keep him safe, is also a great addition to your team and has been true to his people and to himself.
Please continue with your coverage of Lebanon, as Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Iran and Palestine issues are all interconnected. You cannot solve one alone. The US and other nations do not get this. Believe me, the only way to solve the ME crisis is by putting all the issues on 1 table and solve them for once.

Thanks and God bless you.

P.S.

HEAD_ON! You put it where? I didn't catch it...

Let me add my vote for an hour-long news cast. Let's bring some dignity back to the evening news (no offense, Brian, but when the news became a profit center, reporting went to hell). Uncle Walter never ONCE mentioned movie box-office receipts as "news." It all started to happen after Sony/Disney etc. bought the networks.

your repetitive announcing of the Head On commercial was as blatent as the commercial itself...perhaps that time would be better served actually making a difference.

Any plans in the works for a nightly 1 hour news broadcast? I miss the fuller, more in depth coverage. And it sure would beat those cheesy entertainment shows that follow.

Kudos on last night's segment where you read what viewers have been saying regarding NBC Nightly's Mideast coverage.

About the e-mailer worried about the lack of Iraq coverage in spite of increasing sectrarian violence because her son is over there: I must say that last week I was also concerned about it. I'd read where Ned Colt had posted in "Blogging Baghdad" that after a couple of major bombings early last week in Iraq, he was afraid they could be a sign that she's sliding into civil war. Which made me worry that when this happens it could catch Americans off guard because of all the concentration on the Israel/Lebanon/Hezbollah mess.

I must add that this week NBC Nightly's Iraq coverage has been excellent, with a full report every day. Wish I could say the same about post-Katrina coverage. I can hardly wait to see "Making A Difference" tonight.

Last but not least, thanks for quoting one of my e-mails. It made my evening. In honor of this, just this once, I'm going to sign off...

Kudos on last night's segment where you read what viewers have been saying regarding NBC Nightly's Mideast coverage.

About the e-mailer worried about the lack of Iraq coverage in spite of increasing sectrarian violence because her son is over there: I must say that last week I was also concerned about it. I'd read where Ned Colt had posted in "Blogging Baghdad" that after a couple of major bombings early last week in Iraq, he was afraid they could be a sign that she's sliding into civil war. Which made me worry that when this happens it could catch Americans off guard because of all the concentration on the Israel/Lebanon/Hezbollah mess.

I must add that this week NBC Nightly's Iraq coverage has been excellent, with a full report every day. Wish I could say the same about post-Katrina coverage. I can hardly wait to see "Making A Difference" tonight.

Last but not least, thanks for quoting one of my e-mails. It made my evening. In honor of this, just this once, I'm going to sign off...

I believe that NBC News has a wonderful newcast and that Brian Williams is doing a fantastic job. I agree that it is time to make NBC Nightly News a one hour broadcast so all the news can be covered. I understand that MSNBC has one hour news programs, so I would hope that NBC Nightly News could evolve into one of those programs. Brian, with all the pain and suffering in the world, it is nice to come home to someone who can make sense of everything, much like Tom Brokaw. No doubt in my mind Katie Couric will have nothing on this newscast. Continue your hard work and your dedication to journalism.

I've watched ABC NEWS for 20 years because of the late Peter Jennings. Recently, I switched to NBC because of you Mr. Williams. You are the future legacy of news broadcasting. You cover what is important and the Israeli-Lebanese struggle is not a contained conflict. It is in fact, a regional problem that could escalate to a global world war. Your coverage is needed and essential so those who are interested can keep track of the daily injustice and the suffering of the Lebanese innocent people. Those who are complaining, they want the news to focus on other issues so Israel can do inhuman massacres in Lebanon while no one is watching. They've done it in 1982 in Lebanon for the Palestiniens refugees in Sabra and Shatila Camps. Today, they are doing it to the Palestiniens in Gaza while the news is on Lebanon. Once you stop the coverage, more innocent Lebanese die and no one would know as it happened many many times before. I urge you to continue the coverage for Americans'sake as most are one-sided and sympathyze with Israeli blindly.

God Bless You. Your greatest viewer.

Landis - one test out of how many during the entire race comes up positive. It sounds like a case of sour grapes (wine) on the part of the French.

The Head On commercial is very good... because it does give everyone a headache. It's just another reason why people are more inclined to make that switch to TIVO! The commercial is very effective though, but is very annoying.

What is the deal with Brian's black wristband? Perhaps to remind us of the sad sorry state of the world...

You're doing a great job covering both sides of the situation in Israel. I have a brother in Iraq, and I live in Louisiana. So two of your top stories over the last year affect me twice. I think you're doing just fine reporting news. Its been 11 months since Katrina hit and its time for New Orleans to heal. The job isn't done in New Orleans but the healing can start right now. Keep up the good work.

i watch the nbc4 nightly news everyday and it is a very good place to learn about what is going on outside this country. one thing i want to say is that your coverage on Africa is very very poor. there is a chance of War between Ethiopia and Somalia, which may include Eritrea too and i haven't heard you mention that atleast once.

The broadcast tonight ended with your defense of your coverage of the Israeli/Hezbollah conflict. You mentioned that it was a big world to cover in 30 minutes. I know the ratings for NBC Nightly News are higher than the other networks, so it seems like it's working well for you. Not only do you have the viewers; you have the viewer email to prove it.

Is it time to add another 30 minutes to the broadcast in order to cover all of the news here, there and everywhere else??

It was good of you to bring up the issue of authenticity in the news, even if it meant still your head above the parapit. The same issue is for any medium - you can only go on what you have and create a product you assume will be appropriate to its consumers (in this case, viewers).

I think (and ok, I'm in Scotland) you're doing a good job of covering world news. At least you're not like the BBC News who tend to over analyse every-single-detail. Good work guys.

As you were reporting on the Head On commercial which is catchy, but when you signed off you repeated your sign off statement, it made me look back at the screen to see what I may have missed. You did get attention.

The NBC Nightly News just wasted time on HEAD ON HEADACHE relief. How about talking about the news??
There certainly is enough of that in the middle east.

HOW ABOUT SHOWING SOME FILMS OF THE PEOPLE IN NORTH BEIRUT. THEY SEEM TO DISLIKE THE HEZBOLLAH AS MUCH AS THE PEOPLE IN ISRAEL.

This country has an awful lot of work to do if it is to leave behind a better nation for our children. As a former homeless person and teen runaway I’ve since devoted my life to the benefits of communal/extended family living where we allow our children and teens the chance to stay on with us as long as they need to (or to return home – perhaps even w/ family in toe if as adults). Through proper planning with home designs intended to permit the most privacy we can gain a much needed advantage for ourselves that we otherwise are lacking. No longer would we need to send our elderly parents off to the home for the lack of space. No longer would we have to watch as our friends endure one layoff after another without being about to help them.

So too such homes benefit from the economy of scale where they are easier to heat, cool, and take up 75%+ less land than contemporary homes. Rooftop hydroponic gardens and patios also save land. If you really want the best for your ecology and children, the fundamental design of our home’s is a great place to start. For more info please see either of my books at Trafford.com

You should be covering the pre-censorship of TV programming. Ken Burns - of The Civil War fame on PBS - is running into potential trouble with the FCC because some of the language used by soldiers and sailors MIGHT be considered offensive by the FCC in his making of a documentry on WWII.

The FCC does not preview a program before airing but will fine offenders after a broadcast.

How long will it be before the FCC receives enough complaints about the evening news and the pictures of bodies being carried out of the rubble before the evening news will have a Live from New York but without any pictures! format.

Just because a lot of GOP members grew up in the Fifties doesn't mean that the rest of the county should live in their fantasy of a kinder, gentler America America will become if they can revert television back to when they were children.

Television has evolved, for better or for worse, but then the GOP doesn't believe in evolution.

A Ken Burns documentry does not equate to Janet Jackson's breast, if I am permitted to use the word "breast" on this site.

If the GOP wants to clean up the media have them start with spam and all the ads we all get (including children) in the e-mailings complete with 4-letter words.