NBC News is handing chief foreign correspondent Richard Engel his own production unit, which will produce both short-form and long-form pieces for all NBC News broadcasts and platforms.
The company has also named Madeleine Haeringer as the EP of the unit. Haeringer worked closely with Engel for years, and was most recently senior producer of NBC worldwide newsgathering.
“The Engel unit will not only deliver robust, real-time coverage of breaking international news such as the chaos currently unfolding in Egypt — but also pursue longer-lead reporting, carry out investigations, secure newsmaker interviews, and uncover stories of human interest and global significance,” wrote David Verdi, senior VP of newsgathering in an email to staff obtained by TVNewser. “The unit will combine speed, access, and analysis to bring our viewers and readers to the front lines of international developments wherever they take place.”
NBC is in the process of staffing up the unit. More details in Verdi’s email, below.
As part of our commitment to expand our international news coverage, we have begun forming a dedicated production team for Richard Engel. Our goal is to strategically strengthen the existing editorial structure in order to maximize the reach of Richard’s award-winning and groundbreaking reporting across all NBC News platforms — from broadcast and cable to the web and social media.
The Engel unit will not only deliver robust, real-time coverage of breaking international news such as the chaos currently unfolding in Egypt — but also pursue longer-lead reporting, carry out investigations, secure newsmaker interviews, and uncover stories of human interest and global significance. The unit will combine speed, access, and analysis to bring our viewers and readers to the front lines of international developments wherever they take place.
To lead this new team, Madeleine Haeringer has been promoted to Executive Producer, reporting to me. As everyone in this news division knows, Madeleine is a seasoned foreign producer who has years of experience working with Richard both at home and abroad, and has traveled the globe with almost every anchor at NBC News.
In her current role as Senior Producer of NBC Worldwide Newsgathering, Madeleine has overseen NBC’s distinguished coverage of the earthquake in Haiti, the death of Osama Bin Laden, the revolutions in Egypt and Libya, the abdication of Pope Benedict XVI, and the London 2012 Summer Olympics. When not traveling, she also serves as a senior producer for NBC Nightly News and Weekend Today. Previously, she was based in Beirut as Chief Foreign Producer from 2006-2010, where she and Richard extensively covered the ongoing wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, including more than 50 embedded reporting trips with U.S. troops.
Richard and Madeleine are in the process of staffing up, so stay tuned for more details about the team they’re assembling. We are all eager to see the great work they will produce through this new endeavor.
David Verdi
Senior Vice President
NBC News Worldwide Newsgathering