David Gregory to Host Meet the Press

NEW YORK, December 8: NBC
News' chief White House correspondent David Gregory will take over as host of Meet the Press, following the passing of
the show's long-time moderator Tim Russert.

"I've
thought a lot about what it means to succeed somebody like Tim Russert,"
Gregory said. "I'm not Tim. But along with this great team, I can just
work real hard to make him proud."

In
addition to his Meet the Press
responsibilities, Gregory will be a regular contributor for Today and continue as a backup anchor.
He will also continue as a regular contributor and analyst on MSNBC and for NBC
News coverage of special events.

Tom Brokaw has been
serving as interim moderator.

NBC
also announced that Betsy Fischer, the program's executive producer since 2002,
will stay on for "several years." Fischer began her career at NBC
News with an internship at Meet the Press
while in college, and has been with the program for 17 years.

—By
Kristin Brzoznowski