Matt Lauer Signs New ‘TODAY’ Show Contract, Shares Heart

Matt Lauer has reportedly signed a continuing contract with The TODAY Show. The morning news show has taken second place to Good Morning America for two years since the network’s demotion of Ann...
Matt Lauer Signs New ‘TODAY’ Show Contract, Shares Heart
Written by Kimberly Ripley
  • Matt Lauer has reportedly signed a continuing contract with The TODAY Show. The morning news show has taken second place to Good Morning America for two years since the network’s demotion of Ann Curry from her spot as Lauer’s co-anchor. Although no terms of Lauer’s new contract have been released, his previous one made him one of the highest paid people in the broadcast industry, bringing in an average of $25 million per year.

    “I consider this the best job in broadcasting,” Matt Lauer said in a statement. “I love people I work with every day, and I have such respect and gratitude for the people I work for. I couldn’t be happier to be staying.”

    Lauer has been with NBC for twenty years and is considered by some–especially those within the NBC family–to be among the very best.

    NBC News President Deborah Turness said Lauer is “the best in the business.”

    On a more personal note, Matt Lauer recently made news for the very powerful letter he wrote to his daughter Romy as part of a TIME magazine and women’s empowerment project that a few of the NBC dads took part in.

    “How did we get from those hysterical ballet lessons at the age of four, to the princess phase, when everything in your world had to be pink? How did we get from the little girl who loved animals to your fearlessness on horseback, despite the occasional trip to the emergency room? And how did you come to decide that you wanted to be one of just a few young ladies in our town to play Little League baseball? Did you have any idea how my heart was bursting with pride?” he wrote to his little girl.

    The letter shares a side of Matt Lauer that some have always believed lurked just beneath of the surface of the astute journalist’s on air facade. Others likely didn’t think he had it in him.

    Something Matt Lauer doesn’t have in him is an ability to maintain a social media image. His Instagram account holds only ten pictures. Here’s one from last fall.

    Even his Twitter posts shine light on his career but not on his personal life.

    Regardless of his lack on social media personality, congratulations are definitely in order to Matt Lauer for continuing on at NBC but congratulations even more for having the wisdom and the strength to share raw emotions with his daughter. That’s a gift not all children get to receive.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

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