By Brian Stelter, NCS
(NCS) — Top NCS journalists vowed to uphold founder Ted Turner’s legacy at a Warner Bros. Discovery occasion honoring the maverick businessman on Wednesday.
The Atlanta gathering of executives, staff and alumni was organized after Turner died final month on the age of 87. Speakers from TNT Sports, Turner Classic Movies and NCS acknowledged Turner’s large affect throughout the media business.
“Ted changed the world, and we’re going to continue to try and live up to his vision,” Warner CEO David Zaslav stated.
Turner was a dreamer and dealmaker, and lots of the tributes to him on Wednesday alluded to the present deal to promote his cherished property to Paramount, which is awaiting authorities approval in the US and Europe.
Several NCS anchors emphasised the significance of editorial independence — a matter of a lot concern given the latest controversies at Paramount-owned CBS News.
And Turner’s grandson, John R. Seydel III, stated “Grandpa Ted” could be “the first to speak up” about this second in media.
“Grandpa built NCS as an act of defiance because he believed fearless 24/7 independent journalism was oxygen for our democracy,” Seydel stated. “He would see what’s happening right now — larger and larger acquisitions; ‘60 Minutes’ hollowed; Dan Rather and hundreds of journalists around the world writing letters for editorial independence to be preserved and the First Amendment right for speech, especially for our storytellers, to be protected.”
“And by golly, he’d be the first to speak up,” Seydel stated, “especially now, as the very network he built and the leaders that are in those positions these days are facing similar threats.”
One of Wednesday’s fundamental themes was Turner’s steadfast adherence to all the most effective traits of a free press: Independence, equity, accuracy and fearlessness.
Speaking from Beirut, the place she is on project, Christiane Amanpour stated, “I am a complete and utter adherent to fighting for editorial independence and to being able to pursue independent news coverage without fear or favor, no matter who is in charge politically, no matter where we go. That is our mission. That is Ted Turner’s legacy, and that’s one that I intend to fulfill in my life.”
“Ted Turner was one of the greatest visionaries of our time,” Wolf Blitzer stated. “He always told me to make sure we report the news fairly and accurately, and, if possible, break those stories first on NCS.”
“We should thank Ted and remember him forever,” NCS CEO Mark Thompson stated. “This is the house Ted built, his podium, his house, and the best thing we can do is strive to ensure that this great house continues to stand strong and proud.”
The occasion, which was livestreamed to Warner Bros. Discovery workplaces and staff around the globe, conveyed lots of the feelings that Warner employees members have felt in the wake of Turner’s dying on May 6. It was held at “The Ted Turner Campus,” the Atlanta advanced the place NCS launched, and the place NCS and different channels at the moment are as soon as once more headquartered.
Anderson Cooper, who hosted the gathering, stated the rostrum on stage was the exact same one which Turner used when he launched the world to NCS on June 1, 1980.
Cooper known as Turner “a complex man of passion and guts and daring and drive,” a person who “saw what was possible when others didn’t, when others couldn’t.”
Former NCS president Tom Johnson obtained a prolonged standing ovation when he stated, “NCS will not bend and will not sway during this terrible, chaotic Trump era. We can best honor Ted by continuing to keep NCS a s the most outstanding news network of them all.”
Johnson returned to his seat, and Cooper exclaimed, “Tom, you should come back!”
“We just want you to stay here,” Johnson responded.
“I’m not going anywhere,” Cooper stated.
Turner’s household has stated {that a} public memorial will likely be held at a later date.
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