TVNewser has learned NBC News' longtime southeast bureau chief Frieda Morris is retiring. Insiders tell us Morris and NBC News president Steve Capus are working out a deal that would keep the veteran NBC employee on in a consulting role. Based in Atlanta, Morris has been at the helm during several southeast U.S. news events including the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and Hurricanes Katrina & Rita.

>More: Capus' note to the staff is after the jump...

-----Original Message-----
From: Capus, Steve (NBC Universal)
Sent: Tue Jan 08 10:00:59 2008
Subject: Frieda Morris

It's with great mixed emotions that I want to let you know our colleague and dear friend, Frieda Morris, will be leaving the Southeast Bureau and taking on a new consulting role within NBC News. I say mixed emotions because Frieda is as good as they get ... both in her role as an outstanding journalist and as a friend to so many of us. To say she will be sorely missed doesn't seem to go far enough... Frieda is one of those unique talents who surfaces in our industry all-too rarely. Her work over nearly 39-years at NBC News in places like Atlanta, New Orleans, Chicago, London and so many others has resulted in some of the best work ever produced by this news division. She's been a mentor, role model, principled journalist and tireless colleague. But I am pleased she has agreed to work with us in a new role within our news division - the details of which we will announce soon. So it's not goodbye, but thank you to one of NBC News' finest... for all she has given us, and all that she will continue to offer. Below is a note from Frieda that she asked me to pass along, as usual she is punctual and cuts right to the point.

--Steve