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Subscribe to RSSAs I left New York for London last night, I was haunted by one thing: the radar image I had seen on the Weather Channel before departing. It showed an active tornado over the top of Tuscaloosa, Alabama—just one cell in this active, sprawling weather system, which for the 4th night in a row was firing off brutal, monster intensity storms. We talked about it in the newsroom before I left—about how it would take hours before we knew anything.
I landed in London, morning their time, and checked my Blackberry before we taxied off the runway. I saw the death toll. 83 and climbing. Before long, it was posted at 172. Two colleagues picked me up at baggage claim and Customs, and our coverage conundrum wore away at me as we drove. I kept thinking of the four-inch Royal Wedding briefing binder in my bag—I had devoted the night flight to studying it—a global media event outside my area of expertise.
Rather than driving from Heathrow all the way into Central London, we decided to get off the highway and park in the residential neighborhood of Chiswick. We symbolically aimed the car back toward Heathrow. We watched as people left for work and school, people walked their dogs and collected the trash, some pausing to notice the idling car with passengers in it, talking on the phone. Our NBC News staff in London was just awakening to the news from home. Minutes later, NBC News President Steve Capus made the call: He said I should go home. We both agreed the tragedy would dominate our newscast and our coverage. I never got to see our infrastructure in London, or any of my colleagues beyond the confines of my car. We had a magnificent setup—the result of months of planning—to cover the big day in London, and we still will, live and wall-to-wall. But for now, for us, for this story, one of us had to go back and lead a separate coverage team—as the death toll grows.
Three hours after arriving in London, I was in the departure lounge for British Airways flight 177 to JFK. I am now back in New York. We hope you can join us for the broadcast tonight.
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Wow Brian, that is a lot of traveling! It is unfortunant that these storms have taken so many lives in our nation. I was looking forward to the broadcast from London tonight, but this story is mutch more important. I am glad to see you and NBC News think quick on this matter for the best coverage possible. Great Job! I will always be watching Nightly News!
Brian: you absolutely did the right thing to head back to NYC. Why should we care about this frivolous royal wedding anyway? There's no reason the news anchors should be there to cover this nonsense with the bad economy and natural disasters in the U.S going on. The monarchy and British titles are so oppressive -- Americans realized that 250 years ago. What's really sad is that the monarchy props up the British titled classes -- without the Queen or KIng there would be no lord or lady either-- and "Those People to the manor born" still run England. Why should we help perpetuate their class system by fawning over this wedding.?
I praise you for doing so and deciding so quickly. The Royal Wedding is overblown and really has nothing to do with regular people here in the U.S. Yes, it is a fun fantasy for people to dream about, but leave that coverage to Entertainment Tonight or the morning news programs. There are thousands of people affected by this storm, and it is really not much different than Katrina, just not as centralized. Right now, the photos look like Japan--so we'll be tuning into your coverage to see how we can help.
Brian, Good call. This storm system has been devastating. Certainly a more important story than the wedding. There's plenty of people to cover that fluff piece. You definitely don't need to be at the wedding. Glad someone is showing some common sense.
As I watched the death toll grow in my home state of Alabama, I wondered if NBC (my news source of choice) would make the right decision. Thank you for putting your viewers' reality at home ahead of the fantasy going on in London.
Sorry you had to make two crossings but it was the thing to do. The nation is here looking at this as it continues today. Can you make a trip down to Alabama? We need to give this at least the same level of coverage/concern as international disasters. Those people need to know the nation is witnessing their distress. Thanks for all you do.
Your professionalism comes through--again--and reminds me why we call it "The Brian Williams Show" in our house. I hope you got some rest on the flight or can get some rest soon. Good luck with the storm coverage, which is no doubt both physically and emotionally draining for you and your team.
Brian, you are without a doubt the most sensible newscaster. You realize that yes, the upcoming wedding nuptuals of the famous of ANOTHER COUNTRY is important, but NOT as important as the weather tragedy at home. As always Brian, right call to return home
i salute you for making the right decision to come back to your country & cover the devastation in AL.
your integrity makes you our favorite. you have endeared yourself more to your countrymen. more power to you, mr. williams. God Bless You.
Brian – I’m glad you’re back on American soil, however, the reason you’re back is absolutely horrific, so many people have lost their lives and homes in Alabama and surounding states as well.
I knew you were scheduled to cover the wedding in London, but I think all the networks are in “overkill mode” regarding this Royal Wedding. I’m of the opinion that there’s more interest across the pond than there is here in the USA. I not surprised that the Today Show and other morning shows are on location, just didn’t understand why you and other anchors of the National news needed to be in London as well. I think the networks are going to find out that their ratings for all the wedding coverage are not going to be as high as they thought they would be.
What a class act you are, Mr. Williams. You are following the story that matters and I applaud you for that.
It amazes me that no one is giving a nod to Al Gore and the fact that he told us, clearly, simply, and with amazing foresight, that all this sever weather would happen, exactly as it has happened. Severe storms of every variety, record breaking and more powerful than anyone has ever seen: stronger tsunamis, more powerful winter storms (remember this February, the winter storm that covered one third of the entire country?), and now 400 tornadoes in two days, many of which more powerful than anyone has ever seen.
Please people, rising seas due to global warming is the reason. If you want to understand it, rent and watch "An Inconvenient Truth". And if you voted for Bush when you could have voted for Al Gore, then perhaps you might feel a bit like an idiot, especially if you live in these areas where your neighborhood has been destroyed.
And Brian, maybe this is newsworthy?
Tears came to my eyes when I saw you at the anchor desk in NY. Thanks for being here for us!
Brian, you and your team made the right decision to come back to the USA...I appreciated seeing your face on the evening news tonight. Great call and I know that the affected areas and people will receive the coverage that they need and deserve. Your compassion is noble.
Thank you Brian for doing the right thing and returning home. The tragedy of devastation in the southeast is far more important than the glitz and indulgence of the fantasyland Royal Wedding. While Katie and Diane indulge themselves in the glamorous spotlight of Hollywood, you cover real news for real Americans.
Brian, so glad that someone realizes that the news here in the USA is more important than the wedding in London. I think a majority of our country is tired of news of a couple getting married and prefer to see what has happened to our neighbors that have suffered so much the last few days. Thank you!!!
Brian, so glad to see that you returned to the US to report on NEWS! Thanks.
Thank you to NBC for the sensitivity displayed by having the Nightly News team return to the US to cover the tornado disaster. My brother is a professor at the University of Alabama and our family was exteremly concerned for many hours until we were able to reach him by mobile phone and confirm that he, his wife and two kids were OK. His daughter's apartment complex at UA suffered a direct hit and several people lost their lives there. His daughter and some friends dove into the lower level of a nearby building and were spared. It will take a long time for all of the necessary physical repairs to be accompoished, but even longer for the emotional ones to start the reparation process.
I was very happy to hear that you were coming back to the states to cover this very devastating tragedy. I live in East Tennessee and it was very frustrating this morning to turn on the news after hours of storms & hours of tornado warnings(and very little sleep) and see nothing but wedding nonsense, there has been 33 people lose their lives in Tn, and 7 in Greene County (which is very close to my county), there is also a High school in Cocke Co. that has a lot of damage as well as the adult high school pretty much being destroyed. Anyway I have always watched NBC news and can say that that will never change THANK YOU so much for caring about covering the important things. So many states in the South are in need of help & prayers right now.
Thank you for covering the storms in the U.S. It's nice to know NBC actually has there priorities straight. Your coverage was sincere. The other news channels tried to cover the storms from London with people yelling, horns honking and people celebrating in the background....I can't believe they would do this, People are dead, families ripped apart, this is a huge tragedy! Again, THANK YOU!! The Southern states could care less about a royal wedding!!!
Eva Bright
Thank you for covering the storms in the U.S. It's nice to know NBC actually has there priorities straight. Your coverage was sincere. The other news channels tried to cover the storms from London with people yelling, horns honking and people celebrating in the background....I can't believe they would do this, People are dead, families ripped apart, this is a huge tragedy! Again, THANK YOU!! The Southern states could care less about a royal wedding!!!
#15 - Thu Apr 28, 2011 7:01 PM EDT
Thanks for coming back! Not to take away from their special day in London, but this is beyond astonishing. I live in Michigan and we have not had great weather but all people are talking about is the total devastation going on in other parts of the country. One thing I know - the people of Michigan and every other state will come together to help all of those impacted by these weather events. And with your help in delivering the news we will all stay informed in order to maximize our efforts.
Hi Brian
I agree with every other post here in that you made a great call to return to THIS country to report on matters in THIS country, even though you had gone to London to be part of the Royal Wedding coverage team. As Obama said in his remarks to reporters yesterday, regarding the birth certificate matter, "We have too many more important matters going on here in this country than to deal with all this sillyness" Granted his remarks had nothing to do with the wedding, but in a way his remarks, in a way, apply to the wedding in London.
There are too many pressing issues in the US to deal with, so, as all the other people who posted have stated, you made the ABSOLUTE right call to fly back to NY to cover OUR issues on your broadcast!
Once again you demonstrated why, as far as I'm concerned, you are THE BEST in the news business!
Thanks again for what you do!
Sincerely
Robert Fleming
We applaud NBC for making the decision to have you return to the U.S. to broadcast the tornado damage. It certainly should have more coverage by a major network than the wedding in London. We tuned in CBS and ABC and both anchors were in London. Kuddos to you!
Brian,
Thank you for having your priorities and heart in the right place. As a survivor of the Palm Sunday tornado out-break here in Indiana some 65 years ago trust me when I say it is courage like you have shown to do the right thing that will never be forgotten. Thanks Again, Phil H. Dunlap Indiana