Around the age of 13 I started getting interested in the news and understanding what was happening in the world. I started watching NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams every weekday night with my dad. We would sit on the couch together and watch the news together. It was something that I enjoyed doing, and allowed my dad and I to spend time together. I really liked Brian Williams as a news anchor, and thought he did a really good reporting the news and stories. I have always liked the Making a Difference reports that he would have on his show showcasing someone doing something good. I also appreciated that he never hesitated to go on scene to report a story. Like during Hurricane Sandy or the oil spill. He would go wherever a big story was to cover it, which I don't think a lot of other big news anchors do. So I have grown up watching Brian Williams and learning about the world and what is happening.
Now jump to recently. If you don't know what happened, in 2003 Brian Williams was in Iraq reporting, in an airplane, when the airplane behind his was attacked by missiles. About two weeks ago, Brian mentioned that experience on air because it was the 10 year anniversary. He said live on air, that it was his airplane that came under attack, and then proceeded to thank veterans and all who serve our country. People immediately called out Brian, especially veterans, and said that it was not his plane that was fired at. He quickly realized he had made a mistake on recalling that time, and on air, apologized to viewers saying he misremembered the events and was deeply sorry to anyone he may have offended. In the days that followed, he continued to get criticism for falsely reporting, and accusations surfaced that he might have missreported some things during his Hurricane Katrina reports. Brian himself, then decided to take a few days off to figure things out and let things calm down. But then it was only a few days later that NBC announced that they were suspending Brian for 6 months without pay.
My question is how come we can't make mistakes anymore? Brian Williams made a legitimate mistake, and yet that is not okay. To everybody that is saying it is unacceptable what he did, I have to ask have you ever made a mistake before in your life. I know the answer is yes! Everyone has! It is a part of life. We make mistakes, and learn. How come Brian Williams can't make a mistake? Seriously!
Secondly, I would like to point out the fact that the events that took place were 10 years ago. That is a long time. If I think back to 10 years ago, I was 10 years old. I don't remember much about being that age. On top of that, it was a traumatic event. Being on the front line is traumatic in and of itself, let alone to be in a plane, where missals are being shot into the air, and you are trying to cover a story. I am sure that there would be so many things racing through the mind at the moment, that you wouldn't be taking notes on the details. I saw on some Facebook post a lady commented saying it goes to show that news reporters can get PTSD and it is so true. We don't know for sure if Brian Williams has PTSD, but is possible given the situation that he was in.
Next, I would like to talk about how Brian realized his mistake, and then apologized on air to the viewers. And if you watched the apology, you would see that it was very heartfelt and honest. He said that he had never intended to hurt of offend anyone by misrembering the events, and that he truly did appreciate our veterans. You could tell that he did not mean what he had said before.
And now I would like to talk about the punishment that was given to him. In my opinion I think that apology was enough. He was sincere, and explained what happened, but for a lot of viewers, it was not enough, and apparently for NBC it wasn't either. A 6 month suspension is crazy and outlandish! It way too much, and I don't think he deserves it all, especially over something this small. I feel that now because he was suspended, he is put in the corner, and doesn't really have any other option but to quit. Trying to come back as an anchor in 6 months would be hard, and who knows if he would have any supporters left by then. It really is humiliating the way NBC is handling it, and I now really don't like NBC. I have always trusted them and liked them as a news team, but I have lost my loyalty with them. I truly do hope that Brian Williams doesn't quit, and that he comes back in 6 months stronger and a better anchor because of it. I will be waiting for him to come back, and not watching Nightly News until then. If he ends up quitting, I will be devastated and I will have to find another news to watch, although I don't think any can top his.