AUSTIN (KXAN)– Lester Holt officially signed off Friday, May 30, as the support of NBC Nightly News , following his last broadcast. He will change to Dateline NBC full-time now. He is currently handing off the baton to Tom Llamas.
KXAN’s Avery Travis spoke to Tom Llamas about when he obtained the news he would take over as Lester’s replacement and what his future holds for him.
Read a transcription of the meeting listed below, or watch in the video clip player over. Some feedbacks have actually been edited for quality.
Avery Travis: Tom, congratulations and thank you so much for joining us today. I intend to start with when you found out you had been named the brand-new support of NBC Nightly News. What were you feeling because minute? And did you ever desire for remaining in this placement?
Tom Llamas: Yeah, you know, it was a surreal minute. It was incredibly emotional. There was every feeling you can picture, happiness, giggling, stress and anxiety. I suggest, there existed was every little thing. It was wonderful. And it was really excellent to inform my better half, who has actually constantly been by my side, and she’s simply been so extraordinary, my kids also. I imply, we couldn’t talk my children due to the fact that it hadn’t been announced yet. And my little guy’s got a really big mouth. He’s only 7 years old, so he found out basically last. But after that just to speak to my moms and dads, that sacrificed so much for me. I mean, there were a lot of splits there also, yet it’s been a lot of joy, and currently it’s exhilaration to kind of start and to take control of.
Avery Travis: Well, so deserving to be stepping into this big function. We intend to keep in mind for individuals, you’re not simply the support, yet the managing editor. So talk about what sort of stress you’re anticipating taking over this task, and how are you preparing now?
Llamas: Yeah, you recognize the managing editor. It’s intriguing, due to the fact that not every person understands really what that means. So as a news support, you obviously reviewed the information, but that has to do with, I would certainly claim, a small percent of the work. Most of the task, probably more than 90 %, takes place prior to that light begins and millions of people tune in and how we put the show with each other. And as a handling editor, you’re dealing with the press reporters and the producers on the tales. What tales are inside to cover the inquiries we wish to ask, the investigations we intend to introduce, and afterwards we have this great franchise at the end of the show– there’s Good News Tonight Due to the fact that regardless if you’re a Democrat or Republican or you’re independent– there are stories that bring us with each other as Americans. And I always wish to highlight those stories at the end of the day, because we reside in some wild times. However there are still points that bring us with each other as a nation.