Why Brian Williams is making headlines

Who is he?

NBC’s star anchor.

What about him?

The network suspended him for six months without pay for lying on air.

What did he say?

He falsely claimed that the US helicopter he was travelling in had come under fire in Iraq in 2004.

How did he get caught?

The military newspaper Stars and Stripes interviewed US army veterans who had accused Williams on Facebook of cooking up combat experiences in Iraq.

And Williams admitted to his mistake?

Yes. He made an on-air apology acknowledging some inaccuracies.

How big a star was this guy?

Pretty big. Williams was the most-watched news anchor in the US. His programme averaged more than 10 million viewers and had just signed a new contract with NBC, reportedly for more than $10 million a year.

The network must have been hit bad huh?

Very. Reports suggest the channel lost about 27 % of viewership soon after the news broke.

What was the channel’s reaction?

Steve Burke, NBC Universal’s chief executive said: “By his actions Brian has jeopardized the trust millions of Americans place in NBC News. His actions are inexcusable and this suspension is severe and appropriate.”

Think he will make a comeback as an anchor?

Difficult to say. But speculation is rife that Williams’ career with NBC could well be over, even though there are other players who may still be interested in a known face. You never know. Even the US media is unable to take a call on the long term for Williams.

Anchored ain’t he?

For now, yes!