It’s been the highest-profile missing person story in recent memory. The FBI has been investigating around the clock to find 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, mother of beloved Today show host Savannah Guthrie. And the public is absolutely riveted.
The media are equally fixated. They are treading lightly in covering the tragedy for fear of further endangering Savannah’s elderly mother, and in part out of affection for one of their own.
When the authorities released hugely significant videos yesterday from Nancy’s Nest camera, it gave the first real look at the person who broke into her home. And investigators now have clues, including pictures of a gun, his gloves, a backpack, a unique sweater and a look at his gait. But, he is still very hard to identify.
The coverage has been packed with emotion, especially on NBC, but elsewhere there have been, with a notable exception or two, speculation that has fueled the anger of authorities in Arizona.
Nancy Guthrie disappeared on January 31st from her home in Tucson. Investigators found blood at the scene and security cameras that were disabled, leading to the conclusion that she was forcibly removed. The FBI and local police launched a full-scale manhunt.
And then came the high-stakes twist – ransom notes demanding $6 million in cryptocurrency were sent to local TV stations and TMZ – disturbingly, with no proof that Nancy was still alive.
After the second note, a tearful Savannah and her siblings pleaded for mercy with desperation in her voice. “We received your message and we understand…This is very valuable to us, and we will pay. We beg you now to return our mother to us…”
Adding to the palpable sense of urgency is that Nancy has a pacemaker and needs daily medication to survive.
Right before a second ransom deadline on Monday, Savannah posted another heart-wrenching video about the second week of her mother’s disappearance saying she believed her mom was still out there. “We are at an hour of desperation and we need your help.”
Savannah has said she will pay the ransom, without naming a figure. Who wouldn’t, if it would save your mom? But the deadline passed without further contact by the kidnappers, or any sign of proof of life.
I don’t know who could have watched those videos, and not felt extreme angst and endless empathy for the family. As a daughter of parents in their 80s who I love very much, I don’t know how I could ever keep my composure during such an awful nightmare, let alone record a video.
The unimaginable heartbreak for her family echoed across the media landscape, beginning with her Today colleagues, who were visibly distressed.
Co-host Craig Melvin – who has been friends with Savannah for decades – talked about the “unfathomable pain” the family was feeling and encouraged everyone to pray. “This is a deeply personal story for us.”
Former co-host Hoda Kotb returned to Today to support her longtime friend. “This whole thing is breaking my heart, and I’m happy to be sitting here with you. There’s this helpless feeling. We’re all so close with her and we all want to help her.” She took over as co-host a few days later, saying she is “part of the family” and that “we show up for each other.”
And on NBC Nightly News, anchor Tom Llamas made a rare emotional appeal to viewers. “Savannah has shared that it was her mother who taught her the power of prayer…Savannah and her family need your prayers tonight. They also need your help.”
CBS Morning’s Gayle King choked up: “Your heart can’t help but break for her.”
Morning Joe host Joe Scarborough said, “She’s a dear friend of all of ours… it’s just crushing news.”
CNN and Fox News anchors haven’t turned personal in quite the same way, focusing instead on facts and the seriousness of the disappearance.
But NewsNation’s Ashleigh Banfield – who departed her primetime show last month and is now in charge of an online true-crime vertical – brazenly speculated that a family member is responsible.
Citing a law enforcement source, Banfield announced a family member “may be a suspect.” The claim ricocheted across social media and the damage was done. A picture of Savannah’s brother-in-law was plastered everywhere.
As a journalist who has covered several grisly missing person cases when I worked in local TV news, reporting what a single source said was verboten, especially if there was a ransom involved. No reporter ever wanted to be the one who caused the case to go cold, or worse, brought harm to the victim – even though reporters want to be the first to break news.
Journalists, pundits, and the Pima County sheriff in Arizona cited Banfield’s headline-grabbing theory on cable news as a disturbing example of how commentary can feed the rumor mill.
“It’s reckless to report that someone is a suspect…you could do damage to the case,” said Sheriff Chris Nanos, insisting they have no suspects. He added, “I plead with you to be careful of what it is we put out there.”
Calvin Chrustie, a 30-year kidnapping negotiation expert, along with many other former feds who sounded off on cable, concurred. “Pure speculation online is actually making it more difficult for families and for police to secure the safe return of a hostage.”
Even President Trump has jumped on the case, saying he has been “closely following” it and is “receiving frequent updates.” Early on he sent in the FBI, called Savannah, and said authorities will have some answers “fairly soon.” As the new footage emerged, he and his team watched it. When a case of this significance reaches the upper echelons of the administration, the media coverage is increasingly intense.
Social media threads, especially on Reddit, have sharply criticized the tsunami of coverage the story is getting, especially when there isn’t new information. There’s been a steady drumbeat of attacks that Savannah’s bold-faced name is blowing the coverage of Nancy Guthrie out of proportion.
One person on a Reddit journalism thread said, “Is the newsworthiness of this story just that it’s a celebrity’s mother?…How many other families are going through something similar without any media coverage?”
There is truth to this comment. In the late ‘90s, working at WJLA-TV in Washington, I covered the disappearance of a young Asian woman who was abducted and presumed murdered. I was told not to cover it again until her body washed up on the shore of the Potomac weeks later. No endless pleas for her return ever made air.
When I was interviewed for a recent Hulu documentary called, Murder Has Two Faces, I made the point that lesser-known homicide cases are often overshadowed in the media by bigger names who receive massive attention – even if the cases are eerily similar.
Reddit users also posted about the relentless Nancy coverage pushing out other important stories. “Like a constant loop…I feel bad for Savannah & her family, but the constant coverage on her missing mom eliminates real world stuff like the Market…C’mon CNN, report the news.”
Another: “I am going to be honest. I think this constant 24/7 coverage is kind of shameful. Cable news is milking it, like they do every single big story like this.”
But there is no criticism that I could find from mainstream journalists. The stories focused on repeating law enforcement briefings, airing the family’s pleas, reporting on ransom notes with caution, and confirming that no suspect had been officially identified.
And that’s a good thing. While nonstop coverage can create the illusion of progress, responsible coverage – measured, factual, and restrained – keeps the spotlight where it belongs without pushing a human tragedy onto a media treadmill.
That said, most of us want a win for Savannah and her family. And we’ll keep watching until we know the truth.
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