Brokaw Takes Over Meet the Press

NEW YORK, June 24:
Beginning this weekend, veteran NBC News anchor Tom Brokaw will take over as
moderator of Meet the Press for
the remainder of the 2008 presidential campaign, following the sudden death of
Tim Russert on June 13.

The broadcast of NBC’s
flagship Sunday morning current-affairs talk show will continue to originate
from the NBC News Bureau in Washington D.C.

"A lot has been said
in recent days about what Meet the Press means to NBC News and to the nation," said Steve Capus, the
president of NBC News. "To have someone of Tom's stature step up and
dedicate himself to ensuring its ongoing success is not only a testament to his
loyalty to Tim, but his enduring commitment to NBC News and our viewers."

Brokaw said, "I've
been appearing on Meet the Press
since the days of Watergate when it was moderated by Lawrence E. Spivak right
through the distinguished tenure of my great friend Tim Russert, so I feel
right at home. Tim made Meet the Press the center of the universe for informative and lively discussions of
public affairs, particularly the exciting 2008 campaign for president, and I
intend to continue that commitment to our viewers."

Russert was just 58 when
he suffered a fatal heart attack on June 13 while working at the NBC News
Washington bureau. He had been the host of Meet the Press for 17 years, solidifying the show as a mandatory
stop for the country’s leading politicians.

—By Mansha Daswani