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.
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.”
Another family member returns in time of crisis
The need to cover the story when the show was part of the news isn’t foreign to “Today” — or Guthrie. NBC left it to her and Hoda Kotb to tell viewers in 2017 when Matt Lauer was fired for “inappropriate sexual behavior” with a colleague.
NBC’s Guthrie coverage made The Washington Post’s own decision more noticeable, amid its management’s choice not to allow their media reporters to cover the layoffs impacting their organization. The Post’s website instead ran a story about its own announcement that was written by The Associated Press.
As Guthrie remains dedicated to her family during this emotional time, the media coverage sheds light on the intersection between personal tragedy and the responsibilities of journalists to their audience.
