NEW YORK, NY. (KPLR) – Senator Portman is the type of guest news anchor Matt Lauer might find himself interviewing on the Today Show. But for how long?
Larry Mendte looks at why Lauer at the center of a media firestorm these days..
You and i have a unique relationship.
A relationship that can be studied dissected and evaluated by researchers, focus groups and surveys to see if we have a connection.
Why all the trouble? Because television news is a lucrative business and that`s why anchors, reporters, host and commentators can make a lot of money, especially at the network level
And that brings us to Matt Lauer.
The host of the Today Show is reported to be the highest paid news person in America making 25 million dollars a year.
That`s because the Today Show makes more money than any other network news show or at least it used to, in the past couple of years Good Morning America has passed the Today Show in the ratings.
And much of the reason is that Matt Lauer`s connection with the audience has been tarnished by one uncomfortable moment.
When a crying Ann Curry was booted out of her seat as Lauer`s co host and was visibly cold to Lauer, people blamed him for her demotion and misery.
Suddenly Lauer became a favorite target of the tabloids and then the New York Times ran a story on the demise of Lauer on their front page just under the announcement of the new pope.
The article describes viewers in a focus group no longer feeling a connection to Lauer and even mentioned possible replacements.
All because of one uncomfortable moment.
With all Lauer’s successes and experience, one bad moment lasts forever on the internet and now defines him.
Ironically it would seem the only person who could help him now would be Ann Curry, if she were to publicly endorse Lauer; maybe, but somehow I don`t think that`s going to happen.
