NBC News Top Exec Out ?

Drudge reports: Neal Shapiro fired as head of NBCNEWS, top insider tells DRUDGE... Steve Capus, exec producer of NIGHTLYNEWS, to be named president.

UPDATE: TV Newser says: But NBC is denying the Drudge report. "Drudge is wrong on all counts," an NBC spokesperson said this evening. "Neal is the president of NBC News." UPDATE: 6:02PM: But another source tells TVNewser that Shapiro is literally packing up his office right now.

UPDATE: Drudge now says: Neal Shapiro soon to be moved out as head of NBCNEWS, top insiders tells DRUDGE... Shapiro found out last night and has told people he isn't coming back...

UPDATE: 11:04pm EDT The New York Times reports: Neal Shapiro, the president of NBC News since 2001, has told his superiors at the network in recent days that he would like to leave his post, two senior executives at NBC Universal said Wednesday.

In informing Mr. Zucker and Robert C. Wright, chairman of NBC Universal, of his desire to leave his job, Mr. Shapiro appeared to be seeking to jump before being pushed, said one senior network executive, who, like the other, insisted on anonymity because the network had not authorized them to discuss the matter.