A war veteran and longtime fan of news anchor Ann Curry, pictured interviewing country star Kenny Chesney last Friday on NBC News' "Today" show, has launched a petition to save her job.
PETER KRAMER/NBC
Sgt. Stephen Crowley
COURTESY
An Iraq war veteran is trying to save Ann Curry’s job… with a little help from her friends.
Sgt. Stephen Crowley, who served with the U.S. Army, 216th MI CO, Kirkuk, Iraq in 2005, has launched an online petition drive to save the NBC "Today" show co-anchor's job amid reports she is being ousted due to falling ratings.
Crowley, 49, who describes himself as a longtime fan of Curry's, launched the drive after finding out accidentally while searching for a story of hers on the internet that she was to be demoted, according to hollywoodreporter.com.
"All of a sudden I saw this article about how they were getting rid of her," Crowley told the website. "And I thought it was a stunt or 'The Onion' or something. Some kind of fake article."
When he realized it was true, he started the petition "Keep Ann Curry on The Today Show” on change.org, a petition website. It has drawn more than 20,500 signatures to date.
Crowley, who lives in Phoenix, suffered from PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) returning the war. He said he has admired Curry for her coverage of veterans' issues.
On the petition site, he explains:
"First, I have to say that I love Ann Curry. I am an Iraq Veteran and Aspiring writer with PTSD and a 60% service connected disability. Life is not always so easy for me. I tend to struggle.
"One of the things that gives me a sense of calm and certainty in life is Ann Curry's compassionate style of journalism. I was in Iraq for ten months in 2005. That experience changed me forever. I am now very sensitive to the hurt, pain and troubles on this planet, even though I feel that I only received a very small portion of that experience.
"Ann Curry's sensitivity to the human experience telegraphs through her journalism, to me and many other fans and viewers. Her compassion and dedication to her audience radiates every time she stands in front of a camera. She connects with people. She has definitely connected with me.
"In fact she favorited my Tweet when I sent her my Award Winning Non-Fiction essay 'A Marble in the Sand.' You can scroll down and see it on her favorites, from @survivalart :)
"So please, NBC Universal. Do not take this from me. Do not take this from us.
"Respect Ann Curry, cherish her. She is one of the best things you have going and to throw her away would be nothing short of a crime.”
Crowley said his admiration of Curry comes from her "sensitive" coverage of veterans’ issues, reported the website.
The news anchor, who has been with NBC News for 15 years and was named to the "Today' position one year ago following the departure of Meredith Vieira, led NBC's "Hiring Our Heroes" job fair for veterans held in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. It is an initiative that included more than 400 job fairs across the United States, reported the website.
Asked what he would say to Ms. Curry if he could, he said: "I would just tell her not to let this get her down.
"Because she has a lot of people behind her, who love her, who love her journalism and her style,” Crowley said. "I'd just tell her to hang in there."
The network has not commented on the reports of Curry’s allegedly impending departure from the show. Tmz.com is reporting that she will retain her $10 million salary for three years according to her contact, signed a year ago, and most likely will be named a foreign correspondent for NBC.
To sign the petition, go online to tulsaworld.com/keepanncurry
