NBC News pioneered the morning news program when it launched “Today” over 56 years ago, with Dave Garroway as host. The four-hour live broadcast provides the latest in domestic and international news, weather reports and interviews with newsmakers from the worlds of politics, business, media, entertainment and sports. After more than 48 years of the standard two-hour format, the third hour was launched in October of 2000, making “Today” the only three hour national morning show broadcast. The fourth hour launched in September of 2007. The program is unparalleled in its ratings dominance in the morning news arena, serving as America’s overwhelming favorite for 11 consecutive years. Since the program’s premiere broadcast on January 14, 1952, “Today’s” hallmark has been its ability to revise an entire edition to bring viewers breaking news as it happens. In that fashion, “Today” delivered immediate coverage of such events as Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath, the Tsunami that wreaked havoc in a dozen Asian nations, the September 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, the death of John F. Kennedy, Jr., the tragic high school shootings in Littleton, Colorado, the crash of TWA Flight 800, the death of Princess Diana, and the Oklahoma City bombing and trials.
Matt Lauer and Meredith Vieira are co-anchors of "Today." Ann Curry is the news anchor. Al Roker reports on the day’s weather, and Gene Shalit contributes entertainment reviews and interviews. Willard Scott contributes with his popular centenarian birthday segments on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Curry, Natalie Morales and Hoda Kotb co-anchor the show's fourth hour.
In June 1994, “Today” moved from its longtime home at New York’s 30 Rockefeller Plaza to a stunning new site next door, NBC News’ glass-walled, ground-floor production facility at the corner of 49th Street and Rockefeller Plaza. The facility brings to mind the “Today” of the early 1950s, which also had its studio windows facing the streets of New York City. The three-story, 18,000-square-foot home of “Today” now attracts thousands of visitors each year to peer into its windows and become part of Today’s broadcast.
Today is also renowned for providing its audience with a window on the world by broadcasting from remote locations around the globe. The program has originated from Africa, China, the Soviet Union, France, Italy, the United Kingdom and Ireland, Australia, South America, Cuba and aboard the Orient Express. For what has become one of the program’s trademark series for the past four years, “Today” has broadcast live from remote locations around the world for the "Where in the World is Matt Lauer" annual trip. Lauer’s trip has taken him to Zermatt, Switzerland, Moscow, Machu Pichu, Peru, an oil rig off the coast of Scotland, Paris, Bangkok and Mykonos, Greece. Past trips have included stops in Hawaii, Bilbao, Spain, Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, Pisa and Florence in Italy, the Blue Lagoon in Iceland, Egypt, Venice, Athens, India, Australia, Mount Everest, aboard the U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt stationed in the Adriatic Sea, Rome and the Great Wall of China. In September 2000, “Today” spent three weeks in Sydney, Australia, providing live coverage of the XXVII Olympiad. The trip was the longest in the history of the program and began a tradition for the show to broadcast live from the host city for the Olympics.
Regular “Today” contributors include national correspondent Jamie Gangel; entertainment correspondent Jill Rappaport; financial advisor Jean Chatzky; food editor Phil Lempert; travel editor Peter Greenberg; and contributing correspondent Mike Leonard.
Story Ideas:
Please send story ideas to Noah Kotch, Senior Producer, 379E-1, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112. If your story idea is accepted, we will notify you. We do not have a general fax number.
If you have questions that need to be answered right away, or want to write to NBC News personnel, our address and phone number are:
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Video Tapes: TODAY videotapes are available for purchase through NBC News archives (212) 664-3797. Please fax your request to: (212) 703-8558. There is a minimum charge of $150.00 for up to five minutes of tape. Please include the date, subject and any other information that might help with your request. Once your letter is received, you will be sent an agreement form. Once the form is signed and returned to NBC with payment, your request will be filled.
Willard Scott Birthday and anniversary announcements: If someone you love is celebrating his or her 100th or 100 birthday or a 75th anniversary or over, Willard will try his best to announce it on “Today.”
Jim Bell is the executive producer of “Today.”
MATT LAUER Co-AnchorMEREDITH VIEIRA Co-AnchorANN CURRY News AnchorNATALIE MORALES National Correspondent, Fourth Hour Co-Anchor HODA KOTB, Fourth Hour Co-AnchorKATHIE LEE GIFFORD, Fourth Hour Co-HostAL ROKER Weather and Feature ReporterGENE SHALIT Arts Editor and CriticWILLARD SCOTT Weather ReporterBOB DOTSON National CorrespondentJAMIE GANGEL National CorrespondentTIKI BARBER National CorrespondentJIM BELL Executive ProducerClick here to send us an e-mail.