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NBC News Delayed Russert Announcement

Posted Jun 13th 2008 3:56PM by TMZ Staff

NBC News waited almost 15 minutes to report the death of its colleague Tim Russert, mostly because his wife and son are on vacation in Italy.

The NY Times reported the story on their website at 3:23 PM ET. NBC didn't break in to make the announcement until 3:39 PM.

NBC sources tell us they delayed because they could not reach his family overseas. They were on the trip to celebrate his son Luke's graduation.

NBC tapped veteran anchor Tom Brokaw -- a close friend of Russert's -- to make the announcement.

Story developing ...

Tags: NBC, TIm Russert, TimRussert

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Reader Comments

(Page 1 of 8) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

1. He was a great journalist, he was one of us. He was down to earth and he will be greatly missed by many....R.I.P. Tim..

Posted at 4:13PM on Jun 13th 2008 by jlewy

2. Wow....that's a surprise.

Posted at 4:13PM on Jun 13th 2008 by StarrStruck

3. good they should have waited

Posted at 4:14PM on Jun 13th 2008 by paptart

4. He was a great newsman. He will be missed!

My thoughts and prayers are with his family.

Posted at 4:14PM on Jun 13th 2008 by suzy

5. He died with his boots on.

Posted at 4:15PM on Jun 13th 2008 by jFp

6. And yet that drug addicted douchebag Rush Limbaugh is still with us. Life is not fair.

Posted at 4:22PM on Jun 13th 2008 by Bald men wearing bandanas

7.
A true gentleman..... my thoughts are with his family.

Posted at 4:16PM on Jun 13th 2008 by Phillip

8. This is such sad news. Tim was a great family man. I will miss him.

Condolences to his wife and son and all who loved him.

RIP Tim.

Posted at 4:16PM on Jun 13th 2008 by Janie

9. TMZ the article reads to might like it was a bad thing that they waited to report the news. Any respectful person whether its an employer or not would wait until the family is notified.

Posted at 4:17PM on Jun 13th 2008 by Parents learn to entertain your own kids.

10. How horrible to die at work.

Posted at 4:18PM on Jun 13th 2008 by Mali Bu

11. TMZ, please remove the grotesque comment 7! That is uncalled for!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted at 4:17PM on Jun 13th 2008 by LLS

12. They waited 15 minutes so they could run their normal schedule of commercials. Especially the ones they run twice in the same segment.

Posted at 4:23PM on Jun 13th 2008 by Ask your doctor about (fill in the blank)

13. TMZ ADMIN, PUT A "Flag this comment as spam or inappropriate." LINK ON EACH COMMENT LIKE YOU HAVE IT FOR THE PHOTO GALLERY ON YOUR SAME TMZ WEBSITE HERE

WE ALL HATE CENSORSHIP, BUT WE SHOULD HONOR THE DEAD, REGARDLESS OF GENDER, RACE, POLITICAL STRIPES.

Posted at 4:19PM on Jun 13th 2008 by SELF-CENSORSHIP

14. he had just returned from Italy according to NBC. don't know if his wife and son are still there, but he was with them at some point.

such a loss.

Posted at 5:16PM on Jun 13th 2008 by nips

15. No censorship, don't like it don't read it. This is a celeb website for fecks sake.

Posted at 4:23PM on Jun 13th 2008 by FlBiker

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