Brian Williams sat down with “Today” show host Matt Lauer earlier this week in an interview scheduled to air Friday on “Today” and NBC “Nightly News.”
CNN’s Brian Stelter, who first reported the news, says the interview will begin Williams’ comeback tour at NBC News. Various reports suggest he will not be coming back as the flagship “Nightly News” anchor, but instead return to a different role, possibly even at MSNBC.
The decision for Williams to sit down with an NBC News anchor will certainly be met with mixed reviews among the journalism community; many media analysts have said Williams needs to do an interview with an outside figure in order for complete transparency to take place.
Lauer has a reputation as a good interviewer, but questions will certainly be asked about whether restrictions were placed on him by NBC honchos as far as certain topics being off limits.
Williams’ attorney, Robert Barnett, has been spotted at NBC News’ building in New York City recently, reportedly enthralled in cutthroat negotiations with NBC on Williams’ behalf. It’s unknown whose idea the Lauer interview was, or how specific it will be regarding stories Williams is accused of exaggerating.
NBC News did not immediately respond to TheWrap’s request for comment.