DC Trawler

Which NBC producer defamed George Zimmerman?

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We’re a little bit closer to knowing. Reuters:

An internal NBC News probe has determined a “seasoned” producer was to blame for a misleading clip of a 911 call that the network broadcast during its coverage of the Trayvon Martin shooting, according to two sources at the network.

NBC News brass interviewed more than half a dozen staffers during its investigation of the misleadingly edited 911 call placed by George Zimmerman just before he shot the unarmed Florida teenager, said the sources, one of whom is an executive at the network.

The clip aired on the network’s flagship “Today” morning show last week.

The edit made it appear that Zimmerman immediately told police that Martin was black, when, in fact, the full tape reveals that the neighborhood watch captain only did so when responding to a question posed by a dispatcher.

There was no clear indication on Thursday of what, if any, disciplinary actions would be taken against the producer or other staff involved in the incident.

The sources at the network, who declined to identify the producer, said NBC News executives did not know the 911 call was misleadingly edited until news reports surfaced days later on right-leaning blogs including Newsbusters.org and Breitbart.com.

Some people claim James O’Keefe’s videos are “deceptively edited” because he gave the impression he wore a pimp costume into the ACORN offices when he really didn’t. That’s why we’re not supposed to bring it up when NBC edits 911 audio in a racially charged case to give their target a racist motive. A target who’s the subject of death threats and has a New Black Panther bounty on his head. Whoopsie.

These anonymous sources are insisting it wasn’t deliberate. Really? The dispatcher’s question was cut for time, then? It wasn’t seen as relevant? The geniuses at NBC have really painted themselves into a corner, when their best option is to claim stunning incompetence.

And they refuse to name this “seasoned producer.” I’m sure they’d accept the same lack of transparency from, say, Breitbart.com.

Weeks ago, this stopped being just a story about a shooting in Florida. This is about the utter corruption of the mainstream media. Hey, it’s your reputation, NBC News. It’s been taking a beating for decades now. If this is how you want to finally destroy it, fine by us. No wonder you actually made nice-nice with Sarah Palin. You’re just that desperate to win us back.

Update: As JWF points out, Jim Bell is executive producer of The Today Show. He’s @jfb on Twitter. I just asked Bell if he did it, and if not, who did. If you’re curious too, go ahead and ask him.

Update: Bryan Preston has more on Bell.

Update: Apparently, NBC hires people without names.