First on TVNewser: Big changes afoot in the TV news world. ABC News “Nightline” co-anchor Martin Bashir is leaving the network and joining NBC News. At the same time, ABC has announced Bill Weir, who is co-anchor of “Good Morning America Weekend” is leaving that post to become a co-anchor of “Nightline.”
Bashir joined ABC News in 2004, not long after his landmark 2003 documentary “Living with Michael Jackson” prompted a police investigation of the singer. He has been co-anchor of “Nightline” since October 2005. Before joining ABC News, British-born Bashir reported for Britain’s ITV.
Bashir will be joining MSNBC anchoring a daytime afternoon hour on the NBC News channel. He’ll also contribute to “Dateline.”
Bashir is the second high-profile ABC hire by NBC News. Earlier this year, Kate Snow left ABC for NBC News where she has been reporting for “Dateline” and filling in for Brian Williams on “Nightly News.”
Weir, who was paired with Snow on GMA Weekend, also joined ABC News in 2004, from the network’s Los Angeles station KABC. During his time at ABC, Weir has hosted a newsmagazine called “iCaught,” he has contributed to ABCNEWS.com’s “The Quick Fix” and he’s traveled around the world — Madagascar, Zambia, Kiribati, Dubai and Tibet — reporting for all ABC News platforms.
He’ll join Cynthia McFadden and Terry Moran on the anchor desk on the ABC News program.
Weir began his TV news career in 1991 as a sports anchor in Rochester, MN before moving on to Green Bay, Chicago and Los Angeles.
• More: Internal email from ABC News president David Westin: “Martin has been an important part of the successful Nightline effort.” (After the jump)
• More, More: MSNBC president Phil Griffin: “[Bashir] fits in with what MSNBC wants to be: he’s smart, original, and thoughtful. I couldn’t be happier to bring someone of his caliber to the network.” (After the jump)
First on TVNewser: Big changes afoot in the TV news world. ABC News “Nightline” co-anchor Martin Bashir is leaving the network and joining NBC News. At the same time, ABC has announced Bill Weir, who is co-anchor of “Good Morning America Weekend” is leaving that post to become a co-anchor of “Nightline.”
Bashir joined ABC News in 2004, not long after his landmark 2003 documentary “Living with Michael Jackson” prompted a police investigation of the singer. He has been co-anchor of “Nightline” since October 2005. Before joining ABC News, British-born Bashir reported for Britain’s ITV.
Bashir will be joining MSNBC anchoring a daytime afternoon hour on the NBC News channel. He’ll also contribute to “Dateline.”
Bashir is the second high-profile ABC hire by NBC News. Earlier this year, Kate Snow left ABC for NBC News where she has been reporting for “Dateline” and filling in for Brian Williams on “Nightly News.”
Weir, who was paired with Snow on GMA Weekend, also joined ABC News in 2004, from the network’s Los Angeles station KABC. During his time at ABC, Weir has hosted a newsmagazine called “iCaught,” he has contributed to ABCNEWS.com’s “The Quick Fix” and he’s traveled around the world — Madagascar, Zambia, Kiribati, Dubai and Tibet — reporting for all ABC News platforms.
He’ll join Cynthia McFadden and Terry Moran on the anchor desk on the ABC News program.
Weir began his TV news career in 1991 as a sports anchor in Rochester, MN before moving on to Green Bay, Chicago and Los Angeles.
• More: Internal email from ABC News president David Westin: “Martin has been an important part of the successful Nightline effort.” (After the jump)
• More, More: MSNBC president Phil Griffin: “[Bashir] fits in with what MSNBC wants to be: he’s smart, original, and thoughtful. I couldn’t be happier to bring someone of his caliber to the network.” (After the jump)
From: Westin, David L.
Sent: Thursday, July 22, 2010 10:48 AM
To: #ABCTV News ALL
Cc: Sweeney, Anne X.
Subject: Nightline Changes
I’m pleased to announce that Bill Weir will be joining Terry Moran and Cynthia McFadden as a Nightline anchor. Since joining us in 2004, Bill has done some of our most innovative reporting from every conceivable venue, both as co-anchor of weekend GMA and for all of our other programs and platforms. He has traveled the globe covering breaking news and uncovering global trends, including his coverage of Afghanistan last January where he came under fire with American troops, his in-depth reports on the economic rise of China and India, and the primetime hours he’s done on topics ranging from the rise and fall of General Motors to the pursuit of happiness around the world. Bill has been at the forefront of our adoption of all that new technology makes possible, often shooting his own material in the field and embracing new forms of reporting now possible in the digital world.
Under the leadership of James Goldston, Nightline has done what few imagined possible five years ago: It has combined groundbreaking and important journalism with an appeal to the audience that has led it to grow while others in its time period have declined. I’m confident that the addition of Bill to James’ extraordinary team will ensure Nightline’s success in the years to come, while at the same time the entire division continues to benefit from Bill’s contributions.
As Martin Bashir just announced to the Nightline staff, he will be leaving ABC News next month for a position at NBC News. Martin has been an important part of the successful Nightline effort. All of us owe him a debt of gratitude for his many contributions to ABC News during his six years here, and I know that all of us wish him well.
Please join me in congratulating Bill on his new job and thanking Martin for his service to ABC News.
—————
CONVERT BREAKS: __default__
From: Westin, David L.
Sent: Thursday, July 22, 2010 10:48 AM
To: #ABCTV News ALL
Cc: Sweeney, Anne X.
Subject: Nightline Changes
I’m pleased to announce that Bill Weir will be joining Terry Moran and Cynthia McFadden as a Nightline anchor. Since joining us in 2004, Bill has done some of our most innovative reporting from every conceivable venue, both as co-anchor of weekend GMA and for all of our other programs and platforms. He has traveled the globe covering breaking news and uncovering global trends, including his coverage of Afghanistan last January where he came under fire with American troops, his in-depth reports on the economic rise of China and India, and the primetime hours he’s done on topics ranging from the rise and fall of General Motors to the pursuit of happiness around the world. Bill has been at the forefront of our adoption of all that new technology makes possible, often shooting his own material in the field and embracing new forms of reporting now possible in the digital world.
Under the leadership of James Goldston, Nightline has done what few imagined possible five years ago: It has combined groundbreaking and important journalism with an appeal to the audience that has led it to grow while others in its time period have declined. I’m confident that the addition of Bill to James’ extraordinary team will ensure Nightline’s success in the years to come, while at the same time the entire division continues to benefit from Bill’s contributions.
As Martin Bashir just announced to the Nightline staff, he will be leaving ABC News next month for a position at NBC News. Martin has been an important part of the successful Nightline effort. All of us owe him a debt of gratitude for his many contributions to ABC News during his six years here, and I know that all of us wish him well.
Please join me in congratulating Bill on his new job and thanking Martin for his service to ABC News.
—————
MARTIN BASHIR NAMED MSNBC ANCHOR AND ‘DATELINE NBC’ CONTRIBUTOR
MARTIN BASHIR NAMED MSNBC ANCHOR AND ‘DATELINE NBC’ CONTRIBUTOR
NEW YORK – July 22, 2010 – Martin Bashir has been named MSNBC anchor and contributor to “Dateline NBC.” Bashir will anchor a daily afternoon program on MSNBC in addition to his new role with “Dateline NBC.” The announcement was made today by Phil Griffin, President of MSNBC. Bashir will begin at MSNBC and NBC News in September.
“I’ve followed Martin’s career for many years and have always admired his work,” said Griffin. “He fits in with what MSNBC wants to be: he’s smart, original, and thoughtful. I couldn’t be happier to bring someone of his caliber to the network.”
“I am absolutely delighted to be joining MSNBC and NBC,” said Bashir. “This is a rare and special opportunity – to host a daily news and current affairs show and also work on long-form journalism both at MSNBC and with ‘Dateline.’ This is an enormous privilege and I cannot wait to get started.”
Bashir is best known for making landmark documentaries including “Living With Michael Jackson,” which 27 million American viewers tuned in to watch in 2003 and prompted an extensive police investigation of the singer. He also conducted an exclusive interview with the Princess Diana, which remains the only television interview with her.
Most recently, Martin Bashir co-anchored ABC News’ “Nightline” since October 2005. He joined ABC’s newsmagazine “20/20” in September 2004. His first work for ABC was a memorable investigation into the BALCO steroids scandal that accused former US track star Marion Jones of cheating. In May 2008, Bashir anchored a documentary on the Sistine Chapel for “20/20,” which marked the 500th year since Michelangelo began painting the ceiling frescoes.
Additionally, his contributions to “Nightline” include an exclusive interview with a soldier in a prison cell in Kuwait. The soldier has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the premeditated murder of Iraqi civilians.