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Savannah Guthrie gets top billing every weekday morning when the “Today” show introduces its cast. In an anguishing twist, the disappearance of her 84-year-old mother has made Guthrie herself the top story, too.
NBC’s morning show is reporting news that it is part of, a journalistic challenge made more acute by the conceit that this television format has long been built upon: The on-air team is a family, one that viewers are part of each day. Guthrie has been co-host of “Today” since 2012.
The probable abduction of Nancy Guthrie from her Arizona home last weekend was the lead story on “Today” every morning this past week, as it often was on other newscasts.
“Our thoughts and our prayers remain firmly focused on our friend,” said Craig Melvin, Guthrie’s co-host. His partner has been replaced this week by Sheinelle Jones, who typically anchors the show’s fourth hour.
The “Today” show coverage stood in marked contrast to another journalism institution in the news this past week: The Washington Post did not assign any of its reporters to cover the announcement that the newspaper was laying off one-third of its staff.
Viewers ‘knew’ Guthrie’s mom, too
For the most part, “Today” was relatively straightforward in its coverage, while mindful of the fact that it affected a person that its viewers “knew.” Dedicated fans are also familiar with Guthrie’s mother, who has made a handful of appearances on the show with her daughter over the years — clips that were replayed this past week.
Melvin and Jones updated the story with each day’s developments, with the help of reporter Liz Kreutz in Arizona and Tom Winter, a law enforcement correspondent. At times, the details came at a frustratingly slow pace. “We’re getting new information,” Winter said at one point. “Unfortunately, it’s not really new information than can help advance the case.”
Rather than overdoing it, the show seems to have covered the developments as they would if another well-known person — and not the mother of “Today’s co-host — was involved, said Shelley Ross, a longtime ”Today” competitor as former top producer at ABC’s “Good Morning America” and, later, CBS’ morning show.
“They’re reporting it as stoically as possible without medicating themselves,” Ross said. “They were very professional in their coverage. I think it was pitch-perfect and helpful.”
When Guthrie recorded a video message with her brother and sister, addressed to their mother and potential kidnappers, “Today” aired it in full. That was one indication of the personal involvement — other networks generally aired bits and pieces of the video — but Ross argued that it made for effective television. “Today” seems to have sought — and was taking the advice — of experts in hostage situations, she said.
