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NBC News President responds to the White House complaint

Posted: Tuesday, May 20, 2008 10:25 AM by Daily Nightly Editor

NBC News president Steve Capus responded to Ed Gillespie's letter complaining about the editing of NBC News' interview with Pres. Bush.

Here is a link to the text of  Ed Gillespie's letter. Below is Capus' email:

Mr. Gillespie,

I'm in receipt of your email and want to assure you we take this matter very seriously.

We appreciated President Bush's decision to do the interview with NBC News, and believe Mr. Engel's reporting accurately reflects the discussion with the President.

Let me assure you, there was no effort to be "deceptive," as you suggest. Furthermore, the notion this was, "deceitful editing to further a media-manufactured storyline," is a gross misrepresentation of the facts.

In fact, the entire interview was posted Sunday on our website, MSNBC.com, thus allowing everyone to draw their own conclusions about it, the subject matter and our editing. In addition, the entire section in dispute has already aired, unedited, on NBC's Today program and in edited form on other NBC News broadcasts.

Editing is a part of journalism. We take the collective body of information surrounding a story, distill it and produce a report. We strive in all cases to be fair and accurate. In some instances, where appropriate, we offer interviews in their entirety — in live broadcasts, or posted on our website.

Your letter goes on to address a series of issues beyond this matter. I think it wise to discuss those matters in a more appropriate forum.

We take our jobs and responsibilities seriously and respectfully suggest the interview was conducted in like manner.

Sincerely,

Steve Capus

Editor's note:

Here was the video as in it aired on Nightly News last Sunday:

 

Here is the full interview, posted on msnbc.com on Sunday:

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Comments

Guess I can scratch another National Network off of my regular viewing. If you can be so deceptive in your reporting and still try to argue your case when caught being deceptive, then one must realize they are not watching true news, but instead personal opinion that is totally biased. Looks like you are following in the Footsteps of Dan Rather... Maybe you will have the same outcome.

Ted Hanson, Seattle, WA (Sent Tuesday, May 20, 2008 10:52 AM)

Wow. What possible purpose could this edit have other than changing the message being delivered by the speaker. Shameful manipulation by NBC.

David Lortsher, Concord, CA (Sent Tuesday, May 20, 2008 11:06 AM)

EDITING PRES. BUSH'S INTERVIEW THE WAY YOU DID...AND WITH COUNTDOWN WITH KEITH OBAMA, WHY NOT CHANGE THE NBC TO ONN (OBAMA NEWS NETWORK) BUT WHO WATCHES NBC EXCEPT FOR JAY LENO ANYWAY...I JUST HAPPEN TO LIKE YOUR MSNBC.COM .THANKS COL. BEN

COL. BEN D. STEEN (ret) (Sent Tuesday, May 20, 2008 11:07 AM)

Why do we need to go on this website to get the whole truth. An interview with the Presindent of the United States should never be edited - there is way too much room for spinning the truth. Shame on you, NBC!

joyce bushorr, columbia, sc (Sent Tuesday, May 20, 2008 11:07 AM)

During my first 46 years of life, I never wrote to a network news service. This is the third time I am writing to NBC in this past year. I do believe it will be my last, for I have no intention of ever watching NBC or MSNBC again. My last two e-mails concerned the disgraceful performances of your MSNBC "stars", Matthews and Olbermann. This correspondence concerns a similar complaint of bias.

I generally watch FOX news with Brit Hume. I also tried watching NBC. But gthe most recent editting of the President's interview prompts me to discontinue my association as one of your viewers.

Congratualations, you have now "lost" another mid-aged white, male viewer.

Edward Troy, Huntington, NY (Sent Tuesday, May 20, 2008 11:08 AM)

It is unbelievable how you justify your editing of the Presidents interview.  I have noticed more and more the way the media takes things out of context and edits story's it suit their views.  It is the same way you report on the Iraq war and the housing market.  Those of us that are really informed as to the reallity of most situations just laugh, but the people like my 81 year old mother that believes what she hears on the news, it becomes irresponsibile.  What happen to the day when you reported the news instead of making it up as you go along.

Rebecca Machoka, Buford, GA (Sent Tuesday, May 20, 2008 11:11 AM)

I was trying to figure out from Bush's speech if he was president of Israel or the US.  I think he made it pretty clear where his true interests lie - and it ain't with us!

Dena, Jacksonville, Florida (Sent Tuesday, May 20, 2008 11:12 AM)

Your boy Engel comes off as a shoddy news man that resorts to molding the facts to suit his agenda.  I'll find another TV station and web site to get the news.

Steve Miller, Charleston, SC (Sent Tuesday, May 20, 2008 11:14 AM)

The irony is that your edit softened Bush's response. When he says "...we need to take the words of people seriously.", it only reiterates the barely masked charges he makes against Obama.

NBC doesn't need to make any apologies to the Bush White House. Their ongoing record is lies followed by lies followed by irrational attacks against any challenge to their lies.

Keep up the good work.

Raymond Voigt, Boston, MA (Sent Tuesday, May 20, 2008 11:17 AM)

Shame on you at NBC for continuously and deliberately distorting the news on a daily basis. You have lately driven so many of us away from your network news as well as away from our Democratic Party. AS a clergyman and psychological counselor we completely agree with the White House position!

A. Heller N.Y.C. N.Y.S. (Sent Tuesday, May 20, 2008 11:18 AM)

I know it doesn't matter that I am just one teacher down in Texas BUT.... I can't believe that the editing done on the interview furthur alienates those of us that just want the full facts without your spin. I too will now watch somewhere else and hope for the full story.

Elizabeth Gossett, Pleasanton, TX (Sent Tuesday, May 20, 2008 11:21 AM)

I have listened to the interview in it's entirety. Thank you, Richard Engel, and MSNBC, for addressing the President
with questions which honestly confront the issues of  U.S. failures in the MiddleEast.  The interview reveals a President who is simply unable to comprehend the complexities and dynamics of Iraq and the MiddleEast, because he stubbornly attaches to a grossly oversimplified view of what he wants to see there.
He also appears to be in denial. Does he actually NOT SEE the failures of US policy in Iraq? Does he actually NOT SEE that Iraqis are still leaving the country to escape the chaos? And the President condescendingly dismisses  those who see the situation differently.
What the President says, speaks for itself, and no editing-- or non-editing-- could change, or improve upon his remarks.  

Teddy Lovejoy, Chapel Hill (Sent Tuesday, May 20, 2008 11:22 AM)

OH MY GOD.  YOU MEAN THE NEWS ISN'T BEING USED TO PROMOTE BUSH'S AGENDA ANYMORE?  IT IS ABOUT TIME.  HOW MANY TIMES HAS HE LIED AND THE INTERVIEWER NEVER CALLED HIM ON IT?  

NICK (Sent Tuesday, May 20, 2008 11:22 AM)

I am a Democrat and can't stand Bush, but the President of the US should not be edited no matter who he/she is. At best it debases the legitimacy of NBC, at worst it proves a bias.

jason smith, Atlanta GA (Sent Tuesday, May 20, 2008 11:23 AM)

It's amazing. Various politicians, including the President, go out in public and make idiotic statements, or inadvertantly blather out their twisted agenda. Then, when those statements are reported by various media, they are summarily lambasted as being biased and untruthful. It is very troubling that this media-bashing is becoming so prevalent. In my estimation, it reflects the desire of an increasing number of our elected representatives to be cloaked in media-resistant Teflon. It also reflects a general downward trend in the quality of the people we elect. Just look at the choices we are being given in most elections. Most people in recent elections have voted for the lesser of two or three evils, but the winner usually ends up doing a lot more harm than good.

Mike Larkin (Sent Tuesday, May 20, 2008 11:24 AM)

HOW DID YOU PEOPLE FEEL WHEN THE NEWS WAS ONLY AIRING THE LIES BUSH PUT OUT THERE?  THEY DIDN'T DO THEIR JOB AND QUESTION THE PREIDENT, AND NOW WE KNOW WE WERE LIED INTO IRAQ.  SOMETIMES THE NEWS SHOULD POINT OUT THAT THERE MIGHT BE ALTERIOR MOTIVES WITHIN THE WHITE HOUSE.  THE AMERICAN PEOPLE CAN DECIDE.  BUT BEFORE THEY JUST PLAYED WHATEVER SOUND BITE CHANEY TOLD THEM TO AIR.  THAT'S GARBAGE.  

NICK (Sent Tuesday, May 20, 2008 11:25 AM)

To remove words that completely change the direction of the comments is absurd.  Apparently, you need some new editing personnel at NBC.  Although I have stopped watching your national news reports for some time now due to your slanted views and very obvious leanings toward the Obama campaign.

Karen Johnson, Danbury, WI (Sent Tuesday, May 20, 2008 11:27 AM)

VRRRRRRRrrrrrrrr! the sound my computer makes as i delete msnbc from my favorites.....it`s always quite obvious how your bias tilts but this, to me, is "defining".

kris mcclain (Sent Tuesday, May 20, 2008 11:28 AM)

More gross and deliberate bias.  A very sound business model, no doubt.  Just ask the New York Times, who lost 2 thousand readers a week last year, or your sister company, MSNBC, the lowest rated cable "news" channel, how well that's working.

D Farcus Miami Beach FL (Sent Tuesday, May 20, 2008 11:28 AM)

NBC was one of my favorite places to receive the news but lately they are no better then Air America.  The news isn't being reported . . . it is being manipulated by jounalists who despise President Bush.  I will no longer depend upon NBC or MSNBC for objective news until changes are made at NBC.

Ray Kuklinski, Lake Worth, Fla (Sent Tuesday, May 20, 2008 11:28 AM)

SHAME ON NBC!!! I am SICK AND TIRED of you editing your "news" to push your agenda. SHAME ON NBC for disrespecting the President of the UNITED STATES like that!

I will no longer watch NBC news again! Not that I ever did anyways.

Just admit you are wrong!
SHAME ON NBC.

Eric Detandt, Taylors, SC (Sent Tuesday, May 20, 2008 11:29 AM)

This is really disgusting!!!
I will never watch NBC News again...I hope you go out of business

Leon Galliano (Sent Tuesday, May 20, 2008 11:33 AM)

At what point are people going to stop stomping on others' "constitutional freedoms" in order to further their own agenda?!?!  President Bush has the same "freedom of speech" the rest of us have, and "freedom of the press" does not mean we can twist the words of any person to change the message that person was trying to present!  Personally, I think it should be illegal to edit the president's words---period.  This is a prime example of why.  Am I the only one who had to read "1984" in school??  There is an eerie similarity between the press and things which are taught now (i.e. there was no holocost??) and the way governments and press re-wrote history in that book to sway their citizen's opinions.  WAKE UP AMERICA!!

Amanda, Presque Isle, ME (Sent Tuesday, May 20, 2008 11:34 AM)

This is disgusting...I will never watch NBC news again and I hope you go out of business.

Leon Galliano Santa Ana CA (Sent Tuesday, May 20, 2008 11:35 AM)

People look down on China and other countries that manipulate the media to send a particular message. The actions of NBC, as well as other news media outlets in the US clearly show they are not any better. Freedom of the press, yeah right. More like freedom to manipulate messages to achieve an agenda.

Unhappy w/ the press in VA (Sent Tuesday, May 20, 2008 11:36 AM)

I'm at a loss to see how this edit changed the meaning or tone of what Pres. Bush said.  It just turned a rambling, evasive non-answer into a slightly shorter rambling, evasive non-answer.  How can you blame NBC for wanting to speed things up when the President insisted on making pat, political statements rather than answering the question?  If he wants us to pay rapt attention to his every word, then he should make his words say something.

This response had exactly the same content (none) in its edited and unedited forms.

L.J. Bird, W. Bridgewater, MA (Sent Tuesday, May 20, 2008 11:40 AM)

no news story should have answers edited, print or broadcast all of the answer. the answer in full is what you ask for not part of it. do your job. you hired the reporter to do the job be care full how you edit the story .

James F.McNally (Sent Tuesday, May 20, 2008 11:43 AM)

"Don't broadcast what I said... broadcast what I meant to say... that is, as long as it sounds sort of intelligent, at least in Texas... amongst the day labor crowd, if they're drunk (I like to get drunk. Do a little coke too... eh heheheheh). And if the end result doesn't sound right, it is YOUR fault. I'm the decider, after all."

Fascist Bush and his minions won't go into the night quietly. More than likely, you will hear them stumbling over trash cans while singing frat songs. When most lame ducks are happy enough to begin building their legacies, our Fascist-in-Chief realizes his legacy has been left floating in a white porcelain bowl, waiting for the flush. As a result, he will continue to try and appear relevant until they pry his fingers off the White House door frame. What a shame.

At some point, even Mussolini likely realized that he was no longer relevant.

Mongo Lloyd, Devonia, o-HI-o (Sent Tuesday, May 20, 2008 11:46 AM)

I always expected that NBC was a left wing media outlet, but now I know for sure. This interview has influenced me to stop viewing all NBC programing altogether.  I don't think I am alone either.

Kevin Burke, Seattle, WA (Sent Tuesday, May 20, 2008 11:47 AM)

I wonder if the White House sent a letter to Fox News, complaining about their bias?

Andre Demeter (Sent Tuesday, May 20, 2008 11:48 AM)

What a Disgrace NBC! YOU ARE TRULY BECOMING AN OPINION NEWS NETWORK...I will never believe what you report without thinking there is some bias to any republican. Just want fair reporting!!!!

C.Daniels, Lithia Florida (Sent Tuesday, May 20, 2008 11:49 AM)

President Bush feels like he had a fast one pulled over him?  Welcome to the club.  It's been happening to the American people for 7.5 years.

David Gray, Pittsburgh, PA (Sent Tuesday, May 20, 2008 11:52 AM)

Based on the amount of time spent in Iraq by Richard Engels vs. the amount of time spent there by the President, I'm inclined to believe Engels.  If the White House has any complaint, it should be how ill prepared the President was with his "facts".

Andre Demeter, Charlotte, NC (Sent Tuesday, May 20, 2008 11:52 AM)

Posting this interview on the website is not the same as airing it on your National Network in front of millions of viewers. The website does not reach the same viewer who saw the fixed, distorted version on air.
I can only assume Brian Williams now feels he too is among the Keith Olderman's and Chris Obamatthews' of MNBC. No ownder ABC is cathcing up to you in the ratings. What was once a great news reporting network has dropped. Katie may be lower in viewership, but in reality she ahsn't lost the number of viewers as NBC News. Now I know why!
I will no longer watch NBC News. I'm with Gibson now!

JW, Minn, MN (Sent Tuesday, May 20, 2008 11:57 AM)

Having George Bush's White House calling NBC to task over editing is INSANELY hypocritical and is just another page in a huge book of Neo-con lies pushed on Americans.  The Propaganda machine of the Bush White House and FOX News (Bush O'Reiley) is unequalled on this planet so NBC is a drop in the bucket in the grand picture.  Bush is a disgrace to free speech, free press and integrity, how dare he takes NBC to task.

Mike S, Boulder, CO (Sent Tuesday, May 20, 2008 12:02 PM)

Unfortunately this editing of comments and events is done on a regular basis on all the three major networks. If you checkout BBC or Foxnews or other sources you will get a whole different perspective quite often. It is both the editing of what is presented and the choice of what is presented that is slanted to make the news fit an agenda. We have learned you can not believe politicians or legacy mainstream media. Thank God we have other options.

Nil Hruch (Sent Tuesday, May 20, 2008 12:05 PM)

NBC and MSNBC have clearly lost their journalistic integrity. Whether we agree with the President's view or not, NBC is still WRONG and misleading the public is just disgusting. I watch the Today show and the nightly news on NBC. Last night I decided, this is it and I switched to CBS this morning. My home page is MSBNC and that is changing too. I can't count on NBC to be honest. This network has clearly presented bias information over the last year and as the old saying goes this is the straw that breaks the camel's back.  NBC wonders why it is no longer at the top of the ratings, keep it up and NBC will be at the bottom of the barrel.  Instead of blogging about the President's speech and its important implications to our country now NBC has shifted the focus because they are liars.  The media holds a powerful position in public opinion and these rich executives are playing on the ignorance of unknowing Americans. Let the public decide for themselves what they think of the President's speech and quit treating us like we're your pheasants undeserving of the truth. To defend NBC is just ignorant. NBC's ego is bigger than the Presidents. This isn't about just apologizing to the President, but most importantly apologizing to the public and once again NBC's ego got in the way and obviously still believes the public is too stupid to judge right and wrong for themselves without having to bias their opinions. I'm just grossed out with NBC.

Susan W. Denver CO (Sent Tuesday, May 20, 2008 12:06 PM)

I understand that my voice is nill in comparison to a major network, but that being said, NBC is a disgrace to the reporting and news media atmosphere.

I will continue to support the only way I see fit of making my voice heard, which is not to support any of the advertisers on your network.

With all of the choices in the consumer marketplace today, thank you for eliminating one more entity and their supporters from my decision making list.

Mike K. Syracuse, NY (Sent Tuesday, May 20, 2008 12:08 PM)

"Shame on you at NBC for continuously and deliberately distorting the news on a daily basis. You have lately driven so many of us away from your network news as well as away from our Democratic Party. AS a clergyman and psychological counselor we completely agree with the White House position!"
A. Heller N.Y.C. N.Y.S.

There is no way a person can call himself/herself a follower of the Judeo-Christian tradition and agree in any way with the current White House position!

R. Lee (Sent Tuesday, May 20, 2008 12:11 PM)

I will no longer watch ANYTHING on NBC.  You are a disgrace and this action and flat out denial of editing out truth just demonstrates how liberal you have become.  NBC-OBAMA should be your new name.  

Gary Buckles, Beaverto, Or (Sent Tuesday, May 20, 2008 12:13 PM)

How sickeningly ironic that the Theocratic Fascist thug idiot clown-prince Bush would whine about anyone else committing fraud (not that you did, mind you).

Bush should be hung as a traitor.

Tom Vincent, Newport, DE (Sent Tuesday, May 20, 2008 12:17 PM)

I am tired of news outlets that willfully distort the comments such as those by President Bush in order to alter the intended message and favor a particular political viewpoint.  That appears to be the case in this instance and it causes me to narrow my nightly news selection to Fox news. I used to think that I needed another perspective besides Fox to offer some balance and used to watch both CBS and Fox  I switched to NBC after the Dan Rather incident and did so because I really thought Brian Williams was a person of character. I still feel that way and do not blame him for this piece but due to the willfully distorted editing as exhibited by NBC, I will rely solely on Fox news as my source of information. They have not given me pause to question their integrity or bias as had CBS and now NBC.    

RW, Schertz TX (Sent Tuesday, May 20, 2008 12:19 PM)

SHAME on the criminals in the White House. Like illegally deleting all those emails wasn't deceitful? When will you red b@st@rds stop appeasing Bush/Cheney? Go back to watching Faux News. You're far too ignorant to understand anything else.

B.D. WV (Sent Tuesday, May 20, 2008 12:22 PM)

While most of the time I tend to agree with Mr.Richard Engel and NBC I believe he was a little too hard on President Bush.

Carmen D Rivera Brooklyn New York (Sent Tuesday, May 20, 2008 12:23 PM)

Richard Engle's reporting is always filled with editorial, snide remarks that are always anti-administration, and sometimes, I think anti-American. This has brought NBC down to CBS' level, and that is REALLY low.

Robert Townsend, Charleston, SC (Sent Tuesday, May 20, 2008 12:27 PM)

Funny how NBC edited the part that was critical of them on their reporting only to be called out again by the WH a second time. Listen to the President and report what he is actually saying. How do you chop out those two sentences? Doing so distorted the meaning. I had a problem with the news trying to connect his speech to Obama to begin with.

Rob, Tampa FL. (Sent Tuesday, May 20, 2008 12:27 PM)

The reason why I stopped tuning in to NBC is because news is usually presented not as the event as it happened but how NBC interprets it.  This is no longer news.  This is editorializing. Not everyone has access to a computer to look up what actually happened.  Remember, you have standards to live up to.  If you want to be the spokes station of whatever you believe in, be upfront about it.  That is being honest.  That is how you will get back your viewership.  Right now I get my news from Tribune's Channel 38 or Channel 9. I dislike the hidden agenda of some of news people.  

Vicky, Chicago, IL (Sent Tuesday, May 20, 2008 12:29 PM)

I feel that the report shows that this administration is only interested in their positio on this and many other issues facing this contry and is not moved by many of the facts that we as citizens have to deal with on a day to day basis.  I will continue to be a loyal viewer keep up the good work.  

Odist Harmon JR, Blythewood, SC (Sent Tuesday, May 20, 2008 12:30 PM)

Way to go, NBC. You have successfully ruined the legacy of Tom Brokaw in the same way CBS let Dan Rather ruin the legacy of Cronkite and Murrow.  Perhaps their should be a class-action suit against your company for deceptively labeling your product as news.  No wonder everyone is flocking to cable.  jon Stewart had better journalistic credibility.

Chris Stewart (Sent Tuesday, May 20, 2008 12:30 PM)

This is exactly why I do not watch NBC, CBS nor ABC. Paraphrasing, out of context quotes, and questionable sources have contributed to de-legitimizing the news as well as the broadcast networks.  They are simply not believable any longer, if they ever were.

Don Gist Cutler Bay Florida (Sent Tuesday, May 20, 2008 12:31 PM)



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