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Tag: NBC News

  • NBC acquires Stringwire live video service

    NBC acquires Stringwire live video service

    NEW DELHI: NBC News has acquired the user-generated live video service Stringwire as part of an effort to strengthen its newsgathering efforts.

     

    As part of the deal it has also hired Stringwire founder Phil Groman, who will join NBC News as product lead and work out of the NBC News Digital Group’s San Francisco office. Other terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

     

    “Stringwire is at the leading edge of user-generated video products, with immediate value to our on-air and digital businesses,” explained NBC News senior VP and chief digital officer Vivian Schiller in a statement announcing the deal. “Long-term, we think there is great commercial potential.”

     

    NBC News believes that Stringwire’s technology will provide its TV and digital platforms with new tools for newsgathering and for using eyewitness user-generated video content.

     

    Stringwire allows news organisations to request video from a network of verified contributors with connected mobile devices capable of streaming video across the globe. For breaking news and stories, Stringwire has the ability to recruit and direct contributors based on geographical location via Twitter and then to instantly access their live footage.

  • NBC News sacks journalist in misleading coverage case

    NBC News sacks journalist in misleading coverage case

    MUMBAI: Facing flak over misleading coverage of Trayvon Martin murder in March, NBC News correspondent Lilia Luciano who was part of the team that covered the incident has been fired.

    The case dates back to 22 March when NBC News broadcast an edited segment from a 911 (US’ national emergency number) call placed by George Zimmerman at the time of the killing of Trayvon Martin.

    In the NBC segment in which Luciano was the correspondent, the channel twisted the actual transcript of the call between the Dispatcher and Zimmerman to give an impression that the later was a ‘racist’. NBC’s broadcast kept harping on Trayvon Martin’s ethnicity.

    The transcript that NBC put out on its show read, “This guy looks like he’s up to no good or he’s on drugs or something. He looks black.”

    However, the unedited tape shows the following conversation:

    Zimmerman: “This guy looks like he’s up to no good, or he’s on drugs or something. It’s raining and he’s just walking around, looking about.”

    911 operator: “Okay. And this guy, is he white, black, or Hispanic?”

    Zimmerman: “He looks black.”

    The editing led a media watchdog organisation to accuse NBC News of engaging in “an all-out falsehood”.

    While NBC News initially refused to comment, the news broadcaster did issue an apology to viewers.

    “During our investigation it became evident that there was an error made in the production process that we deeply regret. We will be taking the necessary steps to prevent this from happening in the
    future and apologize to our viewers,” NBC News said in a statement.

    This is the second head to roll as reporter Jeff Burnside from WTVJ in Miami was earlier dismissed.

  • Meredith Vieira to replace Katie Couric on NBC’s ‘Today’ show

    Meredith Vieira to replace Katie Couric on NBC’s ‘Today’ show

    MUMBAI: American television personality Meredith Vieira has been named co-anchor of US broadcaster NBC News’ Today,

    This announcement follows the departure of Katie Couric to CBS News.
    NBC Universal Television Group CEO Jeff Zucker says, “”This is an announcement that I couldn’t be happier to be making. Meredith’s vast experience as an award-winning journalist, as well as talk show host, make her the ideal candidate for this job. She joins a distinguished legacy of Today show co-anchors: from Barbara Walters to Jane Pauley to Katie Couric. We are lucky to have her as the newest member of Today and I am thrilled to welcome her to the NBC family.”

    Vieira said, “Before Jeff changes his mind, I am honored to accept this amazing opportunity. Not only is the Today show a great program within a superb news organisation, it’s also where America turns to begin the day. I look forward to joining Matt, Ann and Al in giving America the best each morning.”

    Matt Lauer who co-hosts the Today show says, “Meredith is a real pro, and I think it speaks volumes that NBC has brought her here to Today. I have been her fan for years and I can’t wait to be her partner. She has the perfect background and personality to make a real mark on this show and in morning news in general. I’m thrilled to welcome her aboard.”

    NBC News president Steve Capus says, “It is a tribute to everyone at ‘Today,’ and all of NBC News, that someone of Meredith’s caliber has joined our team. She is an eight-time Emmy award winner, a 60 Minutes veteran and real pro — her skills will be invaluable at ‘Today’ and throughout the division. We can’t wait to get started.”

    Vieira has been moderator of ABC’s The View since the show’s inception in 1997. She has been the host of Who Wants To Be a Millionaire since 2002. She started at the network in 1993 when she joined their news division as chief correspondent of Turning Point which debuted in March 1994 and where she earned her seventh Emmy Award.

    Vieira spent more than a decade at CBS News, where she garnered five Emmy Awards for her work as a correspondent on the top-ranking news magazines 60 Minutes and West 57th.