The Daily Nightly began on May 31, 2005. As Brian wrote in his first post it aims to provide a narrative of the broadcast day and a window into the editorial process at NBC Nightly News. Brian weighs in every weekday and NBC News correspondents and producers post regularly.
Brian Williams became the seventh anchor and managing editor in the history of NBC Nightly News on December 2, 2004. Read his full biography.
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We have so many compelling stories to report tonight, I could make a rational argument for any of three or four stories to start us off as the lead. There's the Anbar province story I mentioned here yesterday. There's the reaction today to the President's speech last night. How about the overnight developments in Syria? How about looking to the Western United States, where the prediction is: this will be the worst season for burned acreage in 75 years?
There are several major stories about American life and health... and it would be unfair to pass them off as light or "lifestyle" stories in any way. One deals with our definition of religion and God, another with childhood ear infections. Yet another story has to do with the early admissions process at some colleges (the story today was not so much that Harvard was doing away with it... as it was the ripple effect throughout higher education)... and a story you may have heard about on the radio today has to do with predictors of longevity. We will sort it all out by air time.
I noted an unusual number of complimentary and kind comments to this blog after last night's broadcast. My personal thanks to all of you who watched and wrote. Getting the tone of last night's broadcast exactly right was of great importance to me, as was correctly and respectfully portraying what we found at Hangar 17. That piece was the beautiful work of producer Subrata De and videotape editor Rob Kaplan... and with production help from the razor-sharp Megan Marcus. My thanks as well to Rudolph Giuliani and to Tom for joining me last night.
Ground zero is an awfully sad and striking place still, made all the more eerie by nightfall. I can't help but think that the family members who gathered there yesterday deserved something more than the rubber-lined temporary wood-frame "reflecting pool" set up for yesterday's anniversary. We could all use a proper place to go to pay our respects. Perhaps someday...
We're getting ready for a big day tomorrow for my friends on the morning shift, as Meredith starts what I'm certain will be a spectacular run. I'm thrilled to have her here, and equally excited for my colleagues at Today -- who tomorrow will test-drive their new digs...an HD-ready set and control room. Nightly News is next up.
I hope you can join us for this evening's effort.
Read more from Brian Williams 2006
Taliban in our sights -- an update
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This is to Mark Mullen....and Brian Williams for collecting the scraps on the floor. If only every Nightly News would show happy animals...crazy, monkey-ish, whatever animals and endangered species to end the "news", it would give all of us watching laughter and hope....hope that our local news following would be as kind...but most of all....just laughter, joy, and happiness.
PLEASE KEEP UP THE PANDA FOOTAGE! Atlanta's Zoo Lun Lun gave birth to its first giant panda (most of us who blog think SHE is female). Us many of us panda fans have donated thousands of dollars specifically to our pandas here in the US. We have mightly contributed to panda enrichment beyond imagination, especially ice day at the NZ.
So I plead...keep up the panda footage! Us panda fans spread the word of ANY giant panda info.
Susie, Chicago, IL (Sent Sep 19, 2006 11:58:06 PM)
Brian and team,
Thanks for the delightful story about Mark Mullen and
the adorable pandas!! It is so heartwarming to end
the night with a happy story and a very funny video.
I even had to hunt down the video online so I could
enjoy it over and over again!
Patricia Masuda, Encino, California (Sent Sep 18, 2006 10:55:58 PM)
I enjoyed your story of the pandas. I thought it was funny. I laughed at Mark Mullen so much. He looked like he was having a good ol' time. I DVR...so I watched it over and over. Thanks for the "lighter" side!!!
Karen Castevens, Mount Airy, NC (Sent Sep 13, 2006 12:34:21 PM)
Brian & Team
Thanks so much for the piece on the pandas last night. I wish the news could have at least one happy news segment each day. They are such an amazing creature. Mark Mullen looked like he was even having some fun with them!
Amanda, Ridgewood, NJ (Sent Sep 13, 2006 11:03:36 AM)
Brian,
Would the decline in gas prices likely get equal play as did the rise. Is anyone going to argue that the President should get as much credit for the decline as he did blame when prices rose? Is it the "market" influences when prices decline and oil co. relationships the blame when prices rise? Interesting wouldn't you say?
(Sent Sep 13, 2006 10:46:25 AM)
I have a question: How is the HP scandal any different from what the US Gov. is doing on gathering
information to "protect" their domain?
(Sent Sep 13, 2006 8:43:48 AM)
I've only one thing to say about that report on pandas at the end...
Awwwwwwww!
Olivia Elizabeth Burdon, Peoria, Ill. (Sent Sep 13, 2006 7:25:19 AM)
WOW!! Nightly News and Brian Williams in HD?? That's cool!! Looking forward to seeing that!
Arthur Tran, Las Vegas, NV (Sent Sep 13, 2006 1:43:12 AM)
Brian, I was so glad you covered the Anbar province story. I felt it was so important yesterday when I read about it. Thanks for letting people know about it. I am sure not everyone is like myself, "a news junkie". (Smile)
(Sent Sep 13, 2006 1:08:46 AM)
Once more a story about "faith" in America. It seems that asking questions as in the survey about "heaven" relates pretty specifically about Christianity. I was pleased to see the use of the words "higher power", but you folks have a long way to go towards inclusivity.
I watch the broadcast every night, but as a Zen Buddhist, I feel completely marginalized. We have a faith that has no diety and no belief in afterlife. Our practice is our religion.
Once again, faith equals Christian in your report.
Melissa Barton, Portland, OR (Sent Sep 13, 2006 12:22:22 AM)
Pandas and Dinosaurs????
If anybody wonders why United States students lag behind other countries in the understanding of simple science, all they had to do was watch Tuesday's NBC Nightly News.
Mark Mullen stated that the Giant Panda "has roamed the planet since the age of the dinosaur." How such inaccurate and irresponsible "reporting" by a supposed top-notch journalist could have got by your editors is staggering and incredible.
You DO have editors, don't you?
Vicki Felmlee, Grand Junction, CO (Sent Sep 12, 2006 11:29:44 PM)
I was so happy to see Tom Brokaw standing next to Brian Williams last night on NBC. I must say that I would have wanted to hear more from Mr. Brokaw, but I understand that you were short on time. I must say I was touched when the former mayor thanked Tom for his coverage. Brian, I am happy to hear you will be getting a new set and you will start to broadcast in HDTV.
Greg, Phoenix (Sent Sep 12, 2006 9:11:00 PM)
I hope your newscast makes clear that geographical “predictors” of longevity apply only to groups of people, not individuals. We must look behind the population data to discover the lifestyle and environmental variables that actually bear on how long an individual might live. Even then, any prediction applies to an “average” person who shares those characteristics.
Walter Brown, San Antonio, Texas (Sent Sep 12, 2006 5:40:39 PM)
BW - I thought that the treatment of Tom Brokaw last night was awful. You let Rudy filibuster the whole piece and ironies of ironies - HE acknowledged Tom at the end ! Tom Brokaw deserves better and I suspect his take would had been as interesting.
Elmo Jones Hoover Al. (Sent Sep 12, 2006 5:01:42 PM)
Dear Mr. Williams and Mr. Brokaw,
As a Westerner, raised in Montana, living in Washington dealing daily with the impact of the wildfires around us, I deeply appreciate your coverage. It's hard to imagine the impact of these fires until you drive through these ravaged areas. 100's of thousands of acres of trees, homes, national parks, and peoples lively hoods are gone. Thank you for showing our story.
Mr. Brokaw, I also want to thank you for showing how the "War on Terror" is affecting Montana and other western states. We are proud that you have adopted our state as your home.
Pam, Shoreline, WA (Sent Sep 12, 2006 4:58:14 PM)
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