THE CLASS OF 2006

The summer's hottest group: Brian and the Interns

Before we get to the news, a word about some folks we're saying goodbye to around these parts starting today. We've been fortunate enough this summer to have a stellar group of summer interns. I cannot remember a group that has had a greater impact, nor do I recall a group that enjoyed each other's company quite so well. Knowing that at least one Web site that covers our industry is trolling for tales of skulduggery -- soliciting the stories of summer interns in the media -- I asked our interns to write an essay, up to 500 words, summing up their experience with us. Starting a little later today, in a column we will call INTERN(AL) AFFAIRS, you'll hear from this great class of college students. They have been an enormous help, and we have profited greatly by having them here. And to the parents of our 2006 interns: You raised your children well. Thanks for loaning them to us.

To the news: We have developments tonight on many fronts, and it will take the reporting of a lot of our folks to tell the complete story. David Gregory has the White House angle, Bush & Blair & diplomacy. From there, it.s off to Messrs Maceda, Fletcher and Engel... who have done astounding work, in dangerous and exhausting conditions, covering this conflict. We'll check in on the heat situation in this country, and we also have a great business trend story tonight -- albeit a trend for those with enough money to buy... their own plane. Also in the broadcast tonight: our popular series MAKING A DIFFERENCE. It has to do with New Orleans. The headline is this: however grim it might be there these days, there will be someone who is someday grateful to those who are chronicling the damage in what passes for New Orleans these days.

To those who have e-mailed us suggesting an hour-long newscast: that has always been our goal and our dream. While telling the world's daily story in 30 minutes has its own unique editorial and visual challenges, all of us would kill for more time. How I envy my friend Jim Lehrer. It would require a re-working of the current balance of airtime as it is shared between the network and our affiliates. Absent that (and given the fact that our Internet outlet has given us a huge repository for our reporting that otherwise would never see the light of day or be shared with the audience), we must work to keep our broadcast the best possible half-hour long summary of the day's news.

As violent weather roars into the New York area, we now set about the task of compiling tonight's broadcast. I'm off to get my photo taken with our interns in the studio. Have a good weekend. We hope you will join us. We'll see you back here on Monday.