{"id":344680,"date":"2021-09-27T01:21:10","date_gmt":"2021-09-26T22:21:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/staff-at-msnbc-are-panicking-over-networks-direction-under-rashida-jones\/"},"modified":"2021-09-27T01:21:10","modified_gmt":"2021-09-26T22:21:10","slug":"staff-at-msnbc-are-panicking-over-networks-direction-under-rashida-jones","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/staff-at-msnbc-are-panicking-over-networks-direction-under-rashida-jones\/","title":{"rendered":"#Staff at MSNBC are panicking over network&#8217;s direction under Rashida Jones"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;<strong>#Staff at MSNBC are panicking over network&#8217;s direction under Rashida Jones<\/strong>&#8221;<\/p>\n<div>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module alignleft\">\n        <\/aside>\n<p>MSNBC staffers are panicking over the direction of the left-leaning <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">news<\/a> network under newly-minted President Rashida Jones, fearing that she\u2019s gearing up for a costly and potentially disastrous battle with CNN, The Post has learned. <\/p>\n<p>Staffers say recent meetings with Jones and her boss, NBCUniversal news chief Cesar Conde, have focused on hard news \u2014 with the execs boasting of ratings wins over CNN on breaking stories, such as this summer\u2019s congressional hearings on the Jan. 6 attack on the US Capitol.<\/p>\n<p>That makes some employees nervous that MSBNC isn\u2019t adequately focused on shoring up its primetime lineup of opinion-focused shows that draw in the most loyal viewers. The issue burst into the open last month when news leaked that Rachel Maddow, the network\u2019s star, had been negotiating a new contract and had threatened to<strong> <\/strong>leave.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRashida\u2019s love is in hard news,\u201d an insider said, pointing to the exec\u2019s past roles guiding MSNBC\u2019s daytime news coverage and NBC News\u2019 coverage. \u201cShe doesn\u2019t really get what primetime does.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Maddow ended up <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/articles\/rachel-maddow-strikes-multi-year-deal-with-msnbc-11629658420\">inking a broader deal<\/a> that was worth a whopping $30 million a year through 2024, according to the Daily Beast, which cited anonymous sources. It will let her develop projects across the network and also allow her to step aside from hosting her 9 p.m. primetime show within the next year. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/09\/rachel-maddow.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1024\" alt=\"Rachel Maddow\" class=\"wp-image-19541726\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/09\/rachel-maddow.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1535 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/09\/rachel-maddow.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/09\/rachel-maddow.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=512 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>Rachel Maddow recently renegotiated an expansive contract that will see her eventually step away from her primetime show. <\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">NBCUniversal via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Still, that leaves the big question of who will fill Maddow\u2019s shoes. Network insiders told The Post they worried that the hard-news focused Jones doesn\u2019t have the contacts or the drive needed to find someone to replace Maddow \u2014 and fill out the rest of MSNBC\u2019s schedule.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRashida has a lot of good qualities, but I don\u2019t think she is someone who corrals big talent,\u201d said an MSNBC insider. \u201cShe isn\u2019t creative \u2014 and that concerns me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Insiders described Jones, who succeeded longtime MSNBC President Phil Griffin in February, as \u201cbuttoned-up,\u201d \u201cyoung\u201d and \u201clacking a creative vision\u201d for the network, which is known for news analysis from talking heads like Maddow, Lawrence O\u2019Donnell and Brian Williams.<\/p>\n<p>Most alarming to some, Jones <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>ears to be re-examining the mission of MSNBC, signaling she wants to battle CNN on breaking news rather than focus on its \u201cpersonality-driven, opinion programming with big stars,\u201d a source said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe need to embrace our brand on primetime or we are going to lose big-time,\u201d one employee said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2017\/07\/gettyimages-509207718.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1024\" alt=\"Cesar Conde\" class=\"wp-image-11067031\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2017\/07\/gettyimages-509207718.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=2048 2048w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2017\/07\/gettyimages-509207718.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1536 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2017\/07\/gettyimages-509207718.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2017\/07\/gettyimages-509207718.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=512 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>Cesar Conde grabbed the role of chairman of the NBCUniversal News Group in May 2020, and has been described as more of a \u201ccorporate\u201d boss than a creative one by insiders at MSNBC. <\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>The source cited an all-staff Zoom call last week, in which Jones pointed to examples where MSNBC beat CNN in the ratings on big news events.\u00a0During the call, Jones said, \u201cWe are meeting our competitors where they are in hard news,\u201d according to a source. Jones also touted strong ratings on MSNBC\u2019s \u201cMorning Joe,\u201d thanks to its news coverage of the hearings on the Capitol riots.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Jones has also recently directed the network to put in \u201ca lot of energy on weekend breaking news, which seems like a loser,\u201d the source added.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPeople have never watched on the weekend except for [prison documentary] \u2018Lockup,\u2019\u201d the source said. \u201cWeekends are not a winner for CNN, either. It feels like a waste of time.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, Maddow\u2019s new contract, which has her stepping away from her daily show within the year, does put Jones in a tough spot.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe question is what do they do with primetime? It\u2019s going to be a test for Rashida,\u201d the source said.<\/p>\n<p>According to a source, Jones had earmarked Nicolle Wallace, who currently hosts \u201cDeadline White House\u201d and fills in as a political anchor, to take Maddow\u2019s 9 p.m. show on a temporary basis had Maddow left the network in August.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn every interview Rashida does, she points to Nicolle as the future,\u201d said an MSNBC insider. \u201cBut I know for a fact that Nicolle does not want to work late nights.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/09\/nicolle-wallace.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1024\" alt=\"Nicolle Wallace\" class=\"wp-image-19541700\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/09\/nicolle-wallace.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1535 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/09\/nicolle-wallace.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/09\/nicolle-wallace.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=512 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>MSNBC\u2019s Nicolle Wallace has been described by Jones as the \u201cfuture of the network.\u201d<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">NBCUniversal via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Although Wallace has been a workhorse for the network, her star power doesn\u2019t approach Maddow\u2019s. What\u2019s more, Wallace, who is going through a divorce and has a young son, has been vocal about not wanting to work late nights.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNicolle Wallace does not want to work a second later\u201d than she already does, the source said. \u201cShe is already making north of $2 million now, which is enough,\u201d the source said, adding that even if the network threw more money at her, Wallace\u2019s priority is her family.<\/p>\n<p>MSNBC declined to comment. Reps for Wallace didn\u2019t return requests for comment.<\/p>\n<p>On the positive side, MSNBC staffers are <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/general\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"3\" title=\"General\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">general<\/a>ly relieved at how well Jones and Conde have gotten the network back to normalcy after a chaotic year marred by Ronan Farrow\u2019s explosive reporting, which claimed that NBC brass killed his expos\u00e9 on Harvey Weinstein and swept<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pagesix.com\/2019\/10\/09\/ronan-farrow-book-claims-matt-lauer-raped-ex-nbc-staffer-in-sochi-hotel-room\/?_ga=2.255638088.1796766140.1632156610-814661974.1571627530\"> a rape allegation by a former employee against \u201cToday\u201d host Matt Lauer<\/a> under the rug.<\/p>\n<p>But while things are calmer, employees worry that new management has become a little too corporate. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cCesar Conde is a business school boss and Rashida Jones is very buttoned-up,\u201d a source noted.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/09\/msnbc-staffers-worried-about-rashida-jones2.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1024\" alt=\"Phil Griffin speaking into a microphone at a podium \" class=\"wp-image-19584718\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/09\/msnbc-staffers-worried-about-rashida-jones2.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1535 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/09\/msnbc-staffers-worried-about-rashida-jones2.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/09\/msnbc-staffers-worried-about-rashida-jones2.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=512 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>Former MSNBC president Phil Griffin, who was replaced by Jones early this year, had been regarded by many at the network as a team builder. <\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">Getty Images for Global Citizen<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Griffin, who had been with NBC News and MSNBC almost 25 years, exited when the company was dealing with the fallout over sexual harassment allegations that roiled the news division for two years. While Griffin was never the subject of allegations himself, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pagesix.com\/2019\/10\/13\/msnbc-exec-showed-off-revealing-pic-of-maria-menounos-reports-on-book\/\">Farrow\u2019s book \u201cCatch and Kill\u201d recounted the exec<\/a> revealing a photo of a woman\u2014 who a source said was TV personality\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pagesix.com\/tag\/maria-menounos\/\">Maria Menounos<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 at a staff meeting, smirking and saying, \u201cNot bad, not bad.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Some of MSNBC\u2019s most successful shows like \u201cThe Rachel Maddow Show and even the entertaining and popular \u201cCountdown with Keith Olbermann,\u201d which aired from 2003 to 2011, \u201cwouldn\u2019t have been born under this leadership,\u201d one employee explained.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPhil Griffin was a team-builder, who built confidence in the talent and staff,\u201d the source noted about the network\u2019s old boss. \u201cHe gave people a sense of belonging and a common goal. Now, there\u2019s a colder, corporate feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The well-liked Griffin often met with individual teams across the company and wanted their feedback, which sparked creativity.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPeople with ideas were boosted,\u201d the source added. \u201cI just don\u2019t see a pipeline for real ideas now.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>By comparison, Jones holds more Zoom meetings with the entire staff, which makes it difficult to have a dialogue to share suggestions.\u00a0Recently, the exec has held in-person coffee meetings with small groups, however. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe\u2019s very organized, but it just ends up feeling canned,\u201d the source said, noting that people with ideas aren\u2019t valued as much, and instead Jones tends to promote the rule-following corporate types.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>While the Maddow situation festers, 40-year-old Jones has strengthened MSNBC\u2019s newsy daytime lineup, hiring Telemundo and NBC News anchor Jos\u00e9 D\u00edaz-Balart for a 10 a.m. show and moving Hallie Jackson, a straight-shooting White House correspondent, to anchor a political news show at 3 p.m. She also moved Ayman Mohyeldin to a primetime weekend slot.<\/p>\n<p>The shuffling signaled to some insiders a heavier reliance on serious news anchors, who historically have not pumped MSNBC\u2019s ratings.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/09\/3-rock.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1024\" alt=\"30 Rockefeller Plaza\" class=\"wp-image-19541834\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/09\/3-rock.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1535 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/09\/3-rock.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/09\/3-rock.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=512 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>NBCUniversal headquarters at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New York. <\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">Brian Zak\/NY Post<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>While Jones may lack Griffin\u2019s flair, insiders noted that she started during the pandemic and it might be too early to judge her performance under these conditions.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe pandemic has changed everything and it has made executives\u2019 lives harder. Rashida is friendly and approachable, but it\u2019s too soon to tell if she\u2019s a real team builder or someone who just wants to climb the ladder,\u201d the source said. \u201c I think she has to work to build trust. Phil had the trust. You knew he had your back.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>MSNBC usually beats CNN in primetime, but both networks consistently trail Fox News. Last month, ratings firm Nielsen said Fox News dominated with a total audience of 2.5 million viewers on average across all its primetime shows, far ahead of MSNBC with 1.2 million viewers and CNN with 819,000 viewers.<\/p>\n<p>In the same month, \u201cThe Rachel Maddow Show\u201d was MSNBC\u2019s highest-rated show, with a total audience of 2.1 million average nightly viewers, but it trailed five other cable shows, including Fox\u2019s \u201cHannity,\u201d which goes head-to-head with Maddow at 9 p.m. \u201cHannity\u201d logged 3 million viewers, second to \u201cTucker Carlson Tonight,\u201d which delivered an average total audience of 3.3 million viewers.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/09\/msnbc-1-1.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1024\" alt=\"NBC Studios Signage Inside 30 Rock, Rockefeller Center, NYC, USA\" class=\"wp-image-19554481\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/09\/msnbc-1-1.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1535 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/09\/msnbc-1-1.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/09\/msnbc-1-1.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=512 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>Staffers at MSNBC are worried about the fate of the primetime line up once Maddow leaves her perch.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">Alamy Stock Photo<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Meanwhile, MSNBC could lose Brian Williams, who anchors the network\u2019s 11 p.m. show, \u201cThe 11th Hour.\u201d Williams, whose contract is up this year, is threatening to leave and the latest buzz being floated is that he is looking to decamp for CBS, but one source called that a \u201claughable rumor\u201d meant to motivate MSNBC parent NBC to keep him.<\/p>\n<p>Although Jones has not made an explicit directive to cover hard news, one staffer noticed a shift in the kinds of stories MSNBC is now doing under her. The source pointed to live coverage of the SpaceX launch earlier this month on Chris Hayes\u2019 show \u201cAll In.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere were conversations about should we be covering that? In the past, we wouldn\u2019t,\u201d the source said of the rocket ship launch. \u201cDoes our primetime audience care about a SpaceX launch. Probably not.\u201d\n                        <\/p><\/div>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more News articles, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/news\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2021\/09\/26\/staff-at-msnbc-are-panicking-over-networks-direction-under-rashida-jones\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;#Staff at MSNBC are panicking over network&#8217;s direction under Rashida Jones&#8221; MSNBC staffers are panicking over the direction of the left-leaning news network under newly-minted President Rashida Jones, fearing that she\u2019s gearing up for a costly and potentially disastrous battle with CNN, The Post has learned. Staffers say recent meetings with Jones and her boss,&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":344681,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/09\/msnbc-staffers-worried-about-rashida-jones.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=1024","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[70897],"tags":[116592,78438,61594,63158,116614,92734,71238,53095,26256],"class_list":["post-344680","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-9-26-21","tag-brian-williams","tag-exclusive","tag-msnbc","tag-nicolle-wallace","tag-prime-time","tag-rachel-maddow","tag-rashida-jones","tag-tv-ratings"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/344680","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=344680"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/344680\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/344681"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=344680"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=344680"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=344680"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}