An important and well written take on this Williams story, perhaps underscorin the seriousness of it versus something like a fictional soap opera...

"The role of the network news anchor has changed dramatically over the years.

Walter Cronkite was known as the most-trusted man in America when he presided over the "CBS Evening News." In the 1987 film "Broadcast News," Jack Nicholson played a network anchor who strode around a Washington, D.C. station like a colossus, almost a deity, and the portrayal was considered both funny and accurate by those in the news business.

Without question, the influence of the network anchors has waned over the years, with the fragmentation of news delivery. Fewer people wait for the anchors to read the news (though millions still do – just fewer millions). Why wait when you can get the latest headlines on your phone or laptop? We get the news we want now, or whenever we want it. To a growing number of people, waiting for the nightly news is so old-school as to be archaic.

Yet the one thing mainstream media, a term used with increasing derision, has been able to count on is credibility. Sure, we may not get it first, goes the argument, and it may not be as flashy, but we spend the time to make sure it is accurate. Implicit in this is a suggestion that news delivered by other sources is less reliable. Now Williams, in shooting himself in the foot with fabrications, opens the door to criticism that no media can be trusted.

It's a stunning development, really.

Brian Williams: How bad -- and how important -- is this?

And his employer has been known to go the 'extra step' and distort news coverage. Doesn't say much for NBC: Zimmerman, Martin, the Pledge of Allegiance, the Offerman ad, blaming Israel for a strike on the Gaza Strip. Did anyone lose their job over any of those incidents?

It is foolish to lie, when the truth will serve you.

So, is lying acceptable - white lie or not?

Meet my horse - his name is 'High' :0000000000luvmyhors

I believe Brian was stretching the truth to emphasize the seriousness of the situations he was reporting on, not to make himself look good. This is a non issue for me. There's always plenty of people just waiting to bring someone down when they are at the top.

This is why I have not watched NBC news for over fourteen years, thank you Fox News Channel!

You do understand they are investigating several other of his possible embellishments. If he is found guilty of others will this still be a non issue?

It is hard to stay at the top, and I liked Brian Williams, but if your job is to report factual information than that was a very poor judgment call in my book.

We have two journalists in our family who are still young and idealistic and tease their grandmother about my reporting of family activities. They say that I make it far more interesting than it was, but I don't get paid for my reporting.

This incident involving Brian Williams is disturbing given his job as the top news correspondent and news editor. But since I do not watch NBC because of their editorial content or lack of A more complete coverage on news worthy events. I think it is up to those who watch NBC News to decide his future with NBC.

I think, as I told my children, one lie always leads to another lie.

Thanks for that link. There seem to be two key questions. Some of the participants report that there was a convoy of 4 helicopters one of which held Williams and a general. When the lead helicopter was shot Williams' turned back for safety then rejoined the other 3 an hour later. A second version is that Williams' helicopter was never with the other 3 and never saw the rpg attack. There is no difference of story on whether the helicopter with Williams spent 2 or 3 days on the ground with the other helicopters due to a sandstorm.

In the first situation Williams' convoy clearly came under attack and as he most often told the story the helicopter directly in front of him (not an hour in front of him) took a hit and his helicopter may have received some gunfire. If he and the general were really completely out of visual range and harm from the attack then his career is over. It would be best to ask the general who would be a hopefully trustworthy source, but he is dead.

Next options would be to interview the others who were on the helicopter with Williams if they can be located and are willing to be interviewed. I must say however I do not always believe the recall of eyewitnesses especially when it has become politically expedient to recall a certain way to torpedo someone's career. See swiftboat. Does the military create a mission report for every incident especially one with a general aboard? that one I would trust.

I would venture to say that no matter how busy one may be, there are certain things in life...let's call them significant events.....that are just not forgotten.

I would think being in a helicopter in a war zone and being struck by enemy fire would be a crystal clear memory for life!!!

All the rationalizing, the ones that are trying to give Brian the benefit of the doubt, is just that...rationalizing.

Isn't it a shame that being number one isn't sufficient. Secondly to knowingly dupe the audience that made him number one.

He needs to be removed, his credibility and the network (what little they may have) is damaged.

I watch them all, and I even tried to watch Al Jazeera again last night because someone on this forum said it was good. I really can't say I like it. Some woman with bad make up and an accent was reporting and she just didn't sound professional. Maybe that is called prejudice.

I think that the problem lies with news channels that go on and on and on is that you can only say so much that is factual and then you get into speculation and that is no better than gossip over the back fence. OR the game of telephone. Things get distorted and blown out of proportion.

He was caught lying about his lie! Fire him.

In my opinion it's much easier to tell the truth as then you have to remember only one story.

I gave up watching Brian Williams years ago and am now glad I did.

No "news" channel is constantly wrong more than Fox.

Fox News more wrong than ever: New Politifact review finds pundits spewing mostly lies


As for Brian Williams ... I am deeply disappointed in him and he will forever be tainted by both the lie/stretching of the truth and the lie to cover up / rationalize the first one.

Would suggest reading the attached link which analyzed the claim in your Polifact claim.......the attached link concludes as follows:

But the fact is that unsupportable, boneheaded claims such as “over half of ALL” — thanks for that all-caps attack, Einstein von Brainstorm — “statements made on Fox News Are False” will live forever, because people are mostly interested in having their biases confirmed and their values affirmed rather than learning new things about the world and how it works. True, much as I like yelling at people on television, it is pretty hard to feel too bad for Fox News and MSNBC over an exercise in confirmation bias, but this sort of sloppy thinking and malicious manipulation does have the effect of leaving the polity a little dumber than it absolutely has to be. And that is an unforgivable sin.

Brian's credibility is gone.
NBC should say goodbye.

How do you know Cronkite was honest?? That was before the age of the internet and vetting and fact checking, and all that other good stuff. Nobody called out presidents for anything till Nixon. Probably not trusted media types either.

Too bad. He lied about it more than once, too. On to Lester Holt!

Oh yeah, like FOX has never done that! Check out their apology for stating Paris has No GoZones, for just a start.

They"re all subject to exaggeration. Let he who lives in a glass house...

Good one. Too bad Lincoln didn't dodge, a bullet. :D

I think this episode will permanently damage his credibility. I hope this doesn't bring an end to his career as a news anchor, but I think it will.

Give me the days of Walter Cronkite, who always the news was more important than him.

It is foolish to lie, GG, and no, lying is not acceptable, njbchbum, but EVERYBODY has done it one time or another.

As a Law Enforcement Officer, I was (and most LEO's will agree) lied to everyday. Did I call them a liar? Nope, just kept writing the citation and if it was contested in court, I told the truth about why the ticket was written; funny thing, people usually had a way of hanging themselves in court.

Everyone wants to be #1 in news broadcasting; Brian Williams just went about it the wrong way. Was it wrong? Yes. Should he be fired? No, maybe suspended for a while but not fired.

My point was that Brian Williams didn't have to make up ANYTHING to be well liked and secure in his position.

And of course at the age of 75 I am well aware of people's behavior and my own.

But when you are in the news reporting business you are expected to speak the truth to the public.

Agree. I will not be surprised if he "decides to resign."

I don't see why people put these news readers on such a high pedestal in the first place.

It's not like they are making decisions in the Oval Office or anything. And they are paid a lot more than the President.

To me they are much ado about nothing.

Gracie, I am not defending Brian Williams or NBC. But the article you reference is only referring to cable news. FOX News has about 1.5 million viewers. NBC. Nightly news has 9.something viewers.

Of course, makes BW's falsehood even worse. IMO none of them are all that trustworthy.

Another thing about NBC Nightly News... They were first to announce (erroneously) that the Paris terrorists had been caught and killed, while CNN refused to go with that bit of info because they couldn't confirm it. BW later had to come on and apologize for it. Of course, they kicked the blame over to their "trusted" informant.

In some business yes, but reporting the news on national TV? How can I ever trust him again? Why tune in to watch him when I don't know if it is fact or his version of the truth?

Me thinks your bias is showing by speaking ONLY of Fox...

"CNN host Anderson Cooper apologized on Wednesday for factually inaccurate segments that mentioned so-called no-go zones, or areas in European cities that are off limits to non-Muslims.

It was an ironic twist considering CNN had landed -- and touted -- an exclusive interview in which Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo told the network she planned to sue Fox News for its inaccurate reports on the supposed no-go zones.

“On Monday night on this program, we aired a report that was critical of Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and Fox News for continually saying that there were ‘no-go zones’ in England and elsewhere,” Cooper said. “I think if you’re going to point fingers at others’ mistakes, you should also acknowledge your own mistakes, and we didn’t do that on the program."

“In the wave of the Paris attacks, several guests on this program mentioned ‘no-go zones’ in France,” Cooper continued. “I didn’t challenge them and twice referred to them as well. I should have been more skeptical, I won't make the same mistake again."

CNN apologizes for 'no-go zones' segments - POLITICO.com

I didn't know who he was. I don't watch TV channels for the news.
click here for Wikipedia
It says he only completed 18 credits in college. That's quite a career, 10 million a year, for 18 credits. People are looking at other stories he may have embellished or made up.

It seems to me that the stories he made up or embellished did not seem different than all of the other stories going on at the time in the same location. I agree, he didn't need to lie. I wonder if that's what you need to do to get ahead in that business.

For example he reported he saw a dead body floating in the water when in all likelihood he did not. I think we all saw dead bodies floating when Katrina hit that was recorded and played on the news. He just didn't see it first hand. That doesn't change what's upsetting. It's not a testimony to a murder.

just some random thoughts
not to be taken too seriously

Look up Peter Jennings. He only got a GED. Not defending either one, but there are lots of productive people who didn't go to college, and some who didn't finish high school.

My friend's son is one. Brilliantly successful salesman whose knowledge of mechanics led him into his job. Has a GED only.

His education or lack thereof means nothing to this story...not one single thing

Please be aware - the Mayor THREATENED to sue. An internet search does not reveal that she followed through with her threat.

I agree wholeheartedly. I know and admire the same kind of people. They're what made America great.

But I still think these guys are highly over-rated empty suits, NOT worth pay in the millions per year--more than even what the President makes.

I was referring to Williams' connection to the Carter administration. The connections matter.

Actually it much ado about something. Do you have any idea how many people watch these news people and believe what they say without question? And have gone so low in our society that we no longer demand the best of those we put in positions of authority and power. Never mind, I just answered my own question.

BLA BLA BLA BLA

Let it rest

NOOOOO, you can't be 75!!

Let's keep this conversation "Fair and Balanced."

I'm thinking I got 18 credits and I'm competing with others that have advanced degrees from prestigious schools. What can I do to compete to get the 10 million dollar job? Stay in good shape, save for a rainy day and embellish whenever I need to without changing history. What's the worst that can happen? I get fired and write a book about it or hire a ghost writer.

That's one possibility.