timster
02-20-2003, 07:50 AM
Jane Pauley, America's morning-show sweetheart in the 1980s who went on to co-anchor Dateline NBC, is leaving NBC News after 27 years.
Her contract is up this month, but she has extended it through May. After that, it's unclear what she'll do, although she is working on a book.
Steve Friedman, Pauley's former producer on Today, said Wednesday that she "came a long way from the little girl from Indiana" but stayed true to herself in the cutthroat world of network news. "She was the ultimate team player who made a lot of money for NBC."
Her exit won't surprise many in network news: Since leaving Today, she took herself out of the game, while still appearing on a top-rated newsmagazine.
Pauley, 52, left Today in 1989 in an embarrassing tradeoff between her and Deborah Norville, who ultimately was replaced by Katie Couric. Contacted Wednesday night, Pauley referred calls to an NBC News publicist, who refused to comment.
Her contract is up this month, but she has extended it through May. After that, it's unclear what she'll do, although she is working on a book.
Steve Friedman, Pauley's former producer on Today, said Wednesday that she "came a long way from the little girl from Indiana" but stayed true to herself in the cutthroat world of network news. "She was the ultimate team player who made a lot of money for NBC."
Her exit won't surprise many in network news: Since leaving Today, she took herself out of the game, while still appearing on a top-rated newsmagazine.
Pauley, 52, left Today in 1989 in an embarrassing tradeoff between her and Deborah Norville, who ultimately was replaced by Katie Couric. Contacted Wednesday night, Pauley referred calls to an NBC News publicist, who refused to comment.