Dateline - Definition and Overview

Dateline NBC (sometimes called just Dateline) is a US weekly television newsmagazine broadcast by NBC similar to ABC's 20/20 or CBS's 60 Minutes. The show, which has aired since 1992, is currently hosted by Stone Phillips. Previous hosts include Jane Pauley, Tom Brokaw, Katie Couric and Maria Shriver.

Notable incidents

On 18 February 1993 Dateline NBC aired an investigative report about General Motors pickup trucks allegedly exploding upon impact during accidents, because fuel tanks were badly designed. Although there were fuel tanks design problems with GM cars before, Dateline's film showed a sample of a staged low speed accident with the fuel tank exploding. Dateline NBC did not disclose the fact that this accident was staged, including planted with explosives. The viewers were never told about it. It appeared to be a major discovery of investigative reporters. GM investigators discovered a hoax by a study of the Dateline film. GM subsequently filed an anti-defamation lawsuit against NBC. Brian Ross and a few persons responsible for the incident were fired from NBC, and Ross found employment with ABC News, where he continues to work today.

The lawsuit was quickly settled by NBC.

External links

• Dateline NBC official web site (http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032600/)
• Dateline NBC (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103396/) at the Internet Movie Database

Example Usage of Dateline