NBC News president Steve Capus, whose purview includes MSNBC, had been under intense pressure to drop Imus since he referred to the national runner-up Scarlet Knights as "nappy headed hos" on the air April 4.
Some of the heaviest lobbying came from within NBC's ranks.
About two dozen NBC staffers, including African Americans Al Roker of Today and New York-based correspondent Ron Allen, met with Capus on Tuesday in New York. Some called in on speakerphone.
The emotional gathering, scheduled for 30 minutes, lasted two hours.
"There were many strong feelings," Allen said. "We felt if we continued to have Don Imus and his brand of programming on the air, we would be tainted. We all believed we could rise above this.
"We needed to say to America, to the people who watch us: 'We believe there's a higher ideal we can hold ourselves to. We stand for something better.' "
Capus and Jeff Zucker, president and chief executive of NBC Universal, made the call. Neither was available for comment.
But Bo Dietl, a security expert who is a frequent guest on Imus' show, told the New York Times last night that he had just talked by phone with the host and that his mood was "very down, very upset about what occurred with MSNBC."
NBC's Tim Russert, CBS's Bob Schieffer, MSNBC's Chris Matthews and ABC's Cokie Roberts - all longtime Imus regulars - did not return calls or e-mail.
"I'm not sure what else could have been done," says Rene Syler, an African American and exiled coanchor of CBS's The Early Show. "He certainly had to be held accountable. He hurt so many people."
Rutgers coach C. Vivian Stringer told the Associated Press late yesterday that she had not called for Imus' ouster but was pleased with the outcome.
Despite Imus' repeated public apologies, national outrage against him has been growing by the day.
Bruce Gordon, former head of the NAACP and a director of CBS, yesterday urged the company to fire the radio host.
