Harry Smith Has Rejoined NBC News as Contributor

Veteran journalist Harry Smith has returned to NBC News to produce feature stories after a brief departure.

Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Remote Work

Harry Smith Has Rejoined NBC News as Contributor

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Journalist Harry Smith has rejoined NBC News as a regular contributor. He will produce Common Good feature stories for Today, NBC Nightly News, and various live events.

Why it matters

The return of a seasoned broadcaster highlights NBC News effort to bolster its feature reporting capabilities. Smith brings decades of experience to the network, having previously served in high-profile roles across major news organizations.

Harry Smith returns following a 12-year tenure at the network that concluded in March 2024. He has rejoined the team after a 2-year period away from NBC News.

The players

Harry Smith

He is a veteran broadcast journalist who has held long-term roles at both NBC News and CBS News throughout his career.

NBC News

This is a major American television news division that produces programs including Today and NBC Nightly News.

Central College

It is an institution of higher education located in Iowa where Smith served as a faculty member.

The details

Smith, who previously taught at Central College in Iowa, will focus his efforts on creating Common Good segments. His transition back to the network was marked by an appearance at a live Common Ground event.

Timeline

  1. Harry Smith departed CBS News in 2011.

  2. Smith concluded his 12-year NBC News tenure in March 2024.

  3. Smith officially returned to NBC News on September 28, 2026.

Market Landscape

This move mirrors industry-wide trends where major networks leverage veteran talent to anchor specialized reporting segments. It follows a career path established by the 2011 departure of Harry Smith from CBS News.

Viewers can expect to see Smith reporting on Common Good stories during regularly scheduled network programming. This change restores a familiar voice to the network's lineup for daily news consumers.

The takeaway

The return of experienced journalists to legacy networks often signals a renewed focus on long-form, human-interest storytelling. Audiences benefit from the return of veteran voices who bring historical context to ongoing news coverage.

Further reading

Learn more about the shifting nature of Remote Work and professional transitions within the media industry.

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Do you generally trust the motivations of journalists returning to their former news organizations?