NBC News President Noah Oppenheim is leaving his function on the community in a significant shake-up on the information division.
NBCUniversal introduced Wednesday that Rebecca Blumenstein, who has been deputy managing editor for the New York Times since 2017, is becoming a member of the corporate within the new place of president of editorial for NBC News.
The firm additionally elevated two of Oppenheim’s deputies. Janelle Rodriguez turns into government vp of NBC News Now, overseeing the fast-growing information streaming service. Libby Leist, the chief accountable for the “Today” morning franchise, is now government vp of “Today” and way of life for the division.
The three executives will report on to NBCUniversal News Group Chairman Cesar Conde.
Oppenheim, who has been within the president’s job since February 2017, doesn’t depart empty-handed. He has a deal to develop scripted long-form productions in partnership with NBCUniversal and will likely be based mostly on the West Coast.
Oppenheim is a screenwriter whose credit embody “Jackie,” which was awarded greatest screenplay on the 73rd Venice Film Festival. While at NBC News, he created a studio division that makes a speciality of scripted content material based mostly on tales reported by the division.
Oppenheim let NBCUniveral administration know final fall that he wished to return to pursuing his screenwriting profession full-time, in line with a number of folks aware of the discussions.
Oppenheim already has a restricted sequence arrange at Netflix, “Zero Day,” a political thriller that has Robert De Niro hooked up as its star.
Oppenheim is ending his second stint at NBC News. He rejoined in 2015 as government producer of “Today,” and two years later was tapped to switch Deborah Turness as president.
Oppenheim guided NBC News by a significant scandal throughout his time period, as standard “Today” co-anchor Matt Lauer was fired over allegations of sexual assault and harassment, together with an accusation from a former staffer who stated he raped her whereas on task masking the Olympics in 2014 (Lauer denied the allegation).
Oppenheim additionally took the brunt of journalist Ronan Farrow’s accusations that NBC News refused to air his reporting on disgraced film mogul Harvey Weinstein.
Farrow accused the community’s information division of a coordinated effort to close down his reporting with a view to shield Lauer. Oppenheim described it as a “conspiracy theory.”
Oppenheim was rumored to be on the new seat over the controversies. But his sturdy relationship with on-air expertise on the community and continued rankings success for the division’s applications helped hold him in place.
He additionally oversaw the launch of NBC News Now, the free 24-hour streaming information service, and the launch of All Day Today, a streaming website that makes use of content material from the morning program.
