interviews

Description

Ann Curry announces new role at NBC News (June 28th 2012 Ann Curry speaks on Today Show - NBC about leaving the show Ann Curry sad on Today Show - NBC (June 28th 2012) Ann Curry cries on Today Show - NBC (June 28th 2012) Ann Curry's last day on Today Show - NBC Ann Curry speaks on Today Show - NBC about leaving Ann Curry leaving today show announcement 'Today' Co-Host Ann Curry Will Bid Farewell Today Ann Curry's voice chokes when she talks about saying goodbye this morning on NBC's Today show, years earlier than she had hoped.It's "going to be a bit of a tough day," she told USA TODAY in a 40-minute phone interview Wednesday, sounding as though she were fighting back tears. "I'm going to have to tell our viewers. That's what makes me more emotional than anything. I don't want to leave them. I love them. And I will really miss them." After a year as co-host, and days of fevered speculation about her future, Curry steps down today from the high-profile post held in the past by the likes of Jane Pauley and Katie Couric.Instead, Curry's new multiyear contract with NBC has her leading a seven-person unit with a ticket to cover the world's biggest stories, from the civil uprising in Syria to the plight of the poor in America. She'll produce network specials and pieces for NBC Nightly News, Dateline, Rock Center— and Today— and she'll occasionally fill in as anchor on Nightly News and elsewhere. While she describes her new job as one that any journalist would crave, she makes no secret that the very public process that pushed her out of the co-host chair amid rumor-fed headlines has left wounds. "I don't know who has been behind the leaks, but no question they've hurt deeply," she says. She admits she would have liked more time to work things out as co-host, and she bristles a bit at the suggestion that she lacked "chemistry" with co-host Matt Lauer. "You know, Matt and I have had great on-air chemistry for 14 years, been part of the No. 1 winning team for a history-making number of years," she says. "That said, I just finished my freshman year as co-host. In every single co-host's first year, there have been kinks to be worked out, and perhaps I deserve as much blame for that as anyone." Does she think she was given enough time to work out those kinks? "No, I do not," she says flatly. Would she have liked more time? "Oh, sure I would have," she says. Curry rejects the notion she's responsible for the ratings slip that threatens Today's long dominance on morning TV, though last week New York Times writer Mike Hale wrote an article examining the idea it was "Ms. Curry's fault" because of a perceived lack of warmth and ease. PEONBC Today Show Video Ann Curry Ann Curry Today Show Savannah Guthrie Savannah Guthrie Ann Curry Savannah Guthrie Today Show Ann Curry is taking on a new challenge at NBC News, she announced Thursday morning. "Today is going to be my last morning as a regular co-host of TODAY," she said. "I will still be a part of the TODAY show family, but I'm going to have a new title and a new role." As TODAY Anchor at Large and National and International Correspondent for NBC News, Curry will lead a new team covering stories spanning the globe. She'll anchor prime-time specials and report for TODAY, Nightly News, Rock Center, Dateline and MSNBC, and will have a major presence across all digital properties. "We're going to go all over the world and all over this country at a time where this country and this world needs clarity," she said. "After all these years I don't even know if I can sleep in anymore," she joked. TODAY Al Roker, Ann Curry, Matt Lauer and Natalie Morales talk about Ann's new NBC role Thursday. Matt, Al and Natalie expressed their love. "You have the biggest heart in the business," Matt said. "You put that on display every single day in this studio and you have for almost 20 years on this show." "Most importantly, you've made us better, and we thank you from the bottom of our...