Bert Medley, who started the “Today” show’s American Story in 1975, and who would later be one of the pioneers of digital media, died last night at the age of 69. Medley and “Today” correspondent Bob Dotson were a team for 9 years. It was Medley’s fascination with evolving broadcast technology that helped lay the groundwork for the digital media we have today.
In 1995 NBC was the first broadcaster to go online and one of the first news organizations to produce original journalism on the internet. The NBC Supernet, as it was called, was absorbed by the partnership between NBC News and Microsoft. Medley then directed news coverage for the new MSNBC.com. It was his final assignment at NBC, where he spent 33 years.
Medley died after a battle with cancer. His funeral service will be held at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church in Manhattan.