David Gregory Succeeds Tim Russert on 'Meet the Press'

by Terri Potratz | December 7, 2008 at 04:25 pm

76 views | 0 Recommendations | 0 comments

Meet the Press is the longest running television program on TV (61 years on the air) and following the death of former moderator Tim Russert earlier this year, NBC has appointed chief White House correspondent David Gregory to fill the role full-time. Barack Obama was the guest today, and NBC opted for this opportunity to announce the Gregory's new job as moderator.

"The mission is very much the same, holding our leaders accountable and being a treasured platform to do that," he [Gregory] said Sunday afternoon, hours after NBC News had signed him to a multiyear contract to moderate "Meet the Press." "I'm humbled to be in the role that I'm going to."

And it comes at an important time for the country, Gregory said. He said viewers shouldn't expect a lot of changes right away, but he said he wants "Meet the Press" to continue to be a platform to help people understand the news from Washington, D.C. He'll have help with the experience of longtime executive producer Betsy Fischer, who NBC News also re-upped to remain with the program.

Meet the Press airs on Sunday mornings and allows politicians a platform to represent and defend their views and actions. Tim Russert moderated the top-rated news program for 17 years before Tom Brokaw filled in temporarily after Russert's death in June of this year. Brokaw handed the reins over to Gregory at the end of the show today, and Gregory will officially appear as the new moderator of Meet the Press next Sunday.

0 See all footage | View Slideshow

Share: email story | add to any | | facebook | stumbleupon