Former Meet the Press host Chuck Todd is departing NBC News in order to pursue other opportunities. He wrote in a memo to coworkers that he was looking forward to future projects and that his Chuck Toddcast podcast would be moving to a new location. His departure coincides with the exploration of digital media by traditional TV journalists, as demonstrated by the actions of Jim Acosta, Don Lemon, and Megyn Kelly.
Todd stressed the importance of restoring public confidence in the media and argued against depending too much on social media algorithms in favor of a grassroots strategy. Citing a Gallup poll indicating that 36% of Americans lack faith in the press, he emphasized the waning confidence in the national media. Todd’s contributions over almost 20 years were acknowledged by NBC News.
Todd wants to start new media businesses that focus on local journalism because public trust in the media is at an all-time low. Instead of trying to overcome the obstacles presented by large platforms, he thinks that bolstering local news is essential to reviving trust in reporting.