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May 27, 2012

Martin Bashir Leaving 'Nightline' and ABC for MSNBC

by Gary Susman, posted Jul 22nd 2010 4:02PM

Martin BashirIt's musical-chairs time in network news.

Martin Bashir, who's been one of the three co-anchors of ABC's 'Nightline' for the past five years, has announced he's leaving the show and the network to take a job at NBC and MSNBC. Replacing him alongside 'Nightline's' Terry Moran and Cynthia McFadden will be Bill Weir, the weekend co-anchor of ABC's 'Good Morning America.'

Bashir's new gig, starting in September, will see him anchoring an afternoon broadcast at MSNBC. He'll also be a contributor to the parent network's 'Dateline NBC.' In this, he's following in the footsteps of Kate Snow, who left ABC News in May for a 'Dateline' correspondent job.

"Martin has been an important part of the successful 'Nightline' effort," ABC News President David Westin wrote in a memo to his staff on Thursday. "All of us owe him a debt of gratitude for his many contributions to ABC News during his six years here, and I know that all of us wish him well."

Bashir issued his own memo to his colleagues bidding them farewell. "It has been my privilege to partner with you at ABC and I shall forever be grateful for your professionalism, kindness and support. I do believe that we have always sought to reach for the very best in all our journalistic ventures," he wrote. "I do trust that the show will continue to enjoy success and that you will be as welcoming of Bill Weir as you have been of me."

"I've followed Martin's career for many years and have always admired his work," said MSNBC President Phil Griffin in a statement announcing Bashir's hiring. "He fits in with what MSNBC wants to be: he's smart, original, and thoughtful. I couldn't be happier to bring someone of his caliber to the network."

Bashir, the British transplant who's still best known for his 1993 news special 'Living With Michael Jackson' (the two-hour documentary that led to Jackson's trial on child molestation charges), joined ABC in 2004 as a correspondent for '20/20.' After Ted Koppel retired from 'Nightline' in 2005, his anchor job was split among Bashir, Moran, and McFadden.

No word yet on who'll replace Weir at 'Good Morning America.'

•Follow Gary Susman on Twitter @garysusman.

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19 Comments

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steven d

Sorry to say it was hard enough to stay up until 10:35 without this guy lulling me to sleep. He couldn't have appeared less interested in the material he was reporting.

June 17 2011 at 10:06 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
b4real

Glad to finally see him go. Have hated him ever since the whole Michael Jackson fiasco. Michael would still be alive today if not for his trash "journalism". GOODBYE BASHIR, GO BACK TO HELL WHERE YOU CAME FROM!!

July 23 2010 at 3:40 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to b4real's comment
Kathleen

You people are nuts if you think Martin Bashir was forced out because of Michael Jackson death. Martin Bashir is an excellent reporter obviously you people dont know a good reporter. In the ealrly ninties Micheal Jackson was accused of child molestation, why did he pay millions of dollars to a family for it to go away. Of course he molestated those kids, are you people that dumb. Why would a grown man sleep with young boys, would you have let your son sleep in the same bed as Michael Jackson. There is a saying, there is no smoke without fire. If Michael Jackson was innocent, why did he pay millions of dollars to the victim that came forward. Please do not blaim Martin Bashir for Michael Jackson horrible actions. You know he was a weirdo, and a child molester.

July 23 2010 at 4:26 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Allen

Don't know much about Bashir but I can't help wondering why he would go to MSNBC if he didn't have to (leave ABC). Their ratings are in the dumper and the day is coming when the new owners of NBC (Comcast) are going to say "we want to make money, so all of you left-wingers either change your style to more "fair and balanced" or get out. You posters who claim that Fox watchers are "brainwashed" by Fox are unbelievably dense. The nutcases on MSNBC consistently lie and slant the news so as to benefit the Liberal Line. At least Fox gives the Dems and the Libs a chance to fire back.

July 23 2010 at 3:06 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Sweetpea Jones

Martin Bashir has NO credibility whatsoever and I quit watching Nightline long ago because they employed Bashir. I will not watch ANY news program that employes Martin Bashir. Martin Bashir is a world renowned liar and I cannot have respect for ANY news program that would employ the likes of him, PAST, PRESENT OR FUTURE. Michael Jackson trusted you enough to let you do your documentary, but not so much that he didn't make one of his own at the same time. You and your doctored "mockumentary" got so busted. I WOULDN'T LISTEN TO YOU IF YOU WERE THE WEATHERMAN (my apologies to our respected meteorologists).

July 23 2010 at 1:57 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Bryan Merritt

Who cares?? just another yellow liberal journalist going from one left wing publication to another. Big deal!!!!!

July 23 2010 at 1:32 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Seymour

Whew! What comments! It seems that 90% of Americans have been severely brainwashed by Fox News. Too bad. This used to be a great country before Fox turned you all into mealy-mouthed hate mongers.

July 23 2010 at 1:31 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Seymour's comment
MIMI

Sage0401,GET REAL PUT DOWN THAT KOOK-AID IT'S KOOKA ROTTING YOUR BRAIN. FOX NEWS GIVES BOTH SIDES SO YOU CAN MAKE UP YOUR MIND ON WHO IS TELLING EVERY THING ABOUT BOTH PARTY. I FINE THAT TO BE VERY FAIR, I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THEY ALL HAVE TO SAY, THEN I VOTE. I DIDN'T VOTE FOR OBAMA BECAUSE I SAW WHO HE IS FRIENDS WITH ALLL WHITE HATER AND HATERS OF AMERICA ,SO I ASK WHY IN THE HELL DON'T THEY JUST GET OUR OF THIS GREAT COUNTRY THE ONLY COUNTRY WHERE THERE IS FREEEEEEEOM, I WILL NEVER VOTE FOR THE PARTY OF SLAVERY, NEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FREEDOM NOT SOCIALISM. I'M GOING TO GET A BUMPER STICKER THAT WILL SAY FREEDOM NOT SOCIALIISM!!!!!!!!!

July 23 2010 at 3:46 PM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down Reply
d

martin bashir ruthlessly tricked michael jackson pretendending to befriend him & just wanted to further his own career at the expense of michael life. he definitly lead to michaels death with his trickery

July 23 2010 at 1:30 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
MIMI

THE MAIN STREAM MEDA IS ON IT'S WAY OUT, MOST PEOPLE WANT THE NEWS ALL THE NEWS , AND THESE SO CALLED NEWS SHOWS ARE NOT GIVING ALL THE NEWS. THAT'S WHY MOST PEOPLE I KNOW WATCH ONLY FOX NEWS YOU GET TO SEE AND HEAR BOTH SIDES, THAT'S WHY ALL THESE OTHER SO ALLED NEWS SHOWS ARE FALLING,BIG TIME,BUT THEY STILL DON'T GET IT, WHEN THE CHILL GOES UP THEIR LEGS THAT THEY ARE OUT OF WORK THEY ONLY HAVE THEM SELVES TO BLAME CAN'T BLAME THIS ON PRESIDENT BUSH!!!!! IT'S ALL ON THEM NOW GOOD -BYE, NOT DOING YOUR JOB YOU SHOULD GO!!!!!!!!!

July 23 2010 at 11:58 AM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to MIMI's comment
sage0401

MIMI- It is so sad that you believe Fox News tells both sides of the story. The problem is when people chose to be so narrow minded and only count on one outlet for thier information, they believe it to be the gospel truth. Thank God for fact and truth finders who investigate all news reports from all stations for fact and fiction. Most of Fox reports are fiction, very lopsided reporting with a political agenda behind all that they do. You are brainwashed and that is thier goal. You've been had!

July 23 2010 at 1:36 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
Robert

To Sage 0401. It is you who is brainwashed and/or brain empty. Fox provides insight that the other networks do not Fox gives you news the other networks do not. Read NYTimes, the leftist rag, and you will see ABC, NBC, CBS and MSNBC delivering the same news. I watch all channels and I always go back to FOX. Have you every wondered why these networks are losing their audience, that NYTimes has lost their readership...and why has FOX been rated NUMBER ONE time and time again. Wake up!!

July 23 2010 at 3:24 PM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down Reply
sammy

good let the rat go to msnbc, hit journalisn is his style anyway, he'll be right at home there.

July 23 2010 at 11:42 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Karen

You will be missed Martin. Your an awesome anchor! Good luck with your new career!

July 23 2010 at 11:40 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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