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NBC Fires Producer Who Edited Zimmerman Audio

Misleading tape put heavy emphasis on race

By Mark Russell,  Newser Staff

Posted Apr 7, 2012 6:16 AM CDT

(Newser) – NBC News has fired the producer who edited the George Zimmerman 911 call that aired in the aftermath of the Trayvon Martin shooting, reports the New York Times. The producer has not been named, but reportedly was based in Miami and had worked for NBC for several years. Sources say that NBC officials were upset by the misleading edit, which clearly violates the Today Show's policies.

The edited version of the tape: “This guy looks like he’s up to no good. He looks black." In the unedited version: “This guy looks like he’s up to no good. Or he’s on drugs or something. It’s raining and he’s just walking around, looking about.” After the dispatcher asks, “OK, and this guy—is he white, black or Hispanic?" Zimmerman responds, "He looks black." Conservative outlets first reported on the gaffe, accusing NBC of going overboard to make Zimmerman sound racist, notes the Hollywood Reporter.

The NBC producer who edited George Zimmerman's 911 call in a misleading manner has been fired.
The NBC producer who edited George Zimmerman's 911 call in a misleading manner has been fired.   (AP Photo/Orlando Sentinel)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 103 comments
Noskooc
Apr 8, 2012 2:27 AM CDT
You all seem to be confused!  This story is about the producer at NBC, who edited a tape that made it look as though, Zimmerman was a racist!  Now whether or not he is or is not is not what this stories about!  Its about misleading your audience with an altered tape!  NBC has fired this producer and I believe they did the right thing!  Now if we could only get Fox News to have the same amount of integrity, we would all be happy!
kthyregod
Apr 8, 2012 1:31 AM CDT
..., both sides are merely displaying (final) spasms in waiting for the inescapable, which is that we will never learn the truth in this case ...
Poochie38a
Apr 7, 2012 4:55 PM CDT
They trying to say it wasn't racially motivated when it was. Wasn't he stalking a black kid because of his color?  OK, we can't make out what he saying on the tape, but what we can make it is...HE KILLED A BLACK KID WHO WASN'T DOING ANYTHING WRONG.
 

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