NBC's “Today†show, already drawing widespread attention because of a recent decline in the ratings, received a barrage of online criticism on Tuesday for being the only network morning news show not to observe a moment of silence in commemoration of the attacks on the World Trade Center, which took place 11 years ago.
That the program was in the midst of an interview with Kris Jenner - mother of cable television's most gossiped-about family, the Kardashians - who was talking about her breast augmentation, only increased the volume of questioning about the show's value system.
Despite suggestions on social media that NBC apologize for the gaffe abounded, none will be forthcoming, a spokeswoman f or the show said. The simple reason: Unlike its competitors, the “Today†show has not maintained a tradition of offering a moment of silence on 9/11 mornings.
Though the show did include the moment of silence last year, the 10th anniversary of the attack, that was a special occasion, said Megan Kopf, the “Today†spokeswoman, when the entire show was dedicated the anniversary, with the anchor Matt Lauer at the memorial in Lower Manhattan.
Other than that observation, “Today†has not included a moment of silence in its 9/11 shows since 2006, Ms. Kopf said. “It is not a tradition on our show,†she said.
She pointed out that the program did include an extensive interview with Pasquale Buzzelli, a survivor of the attack on the buildings that morning. That interview appeared in the 7:30 half hour, when “Today†has a much larger audience.
Viewers in New York were unaware of discrepancy between the moment of silence on ABC and CBS and the Kardashian-themed interview on NBC because as they always do on the anniversary of the attacks, the local New York stations owned by the networks pre-empted the national morning news programs with their own coverage of the ceremonies from the site.
Bill Carter writes about the television industry. Follow @wjcarter on Twitter.
