MSNBC Journalist: "The Situation At Our Network Is About To Blow Up"

Politico:

DENVER -- Amid a spate of awkward on-air conflicts among MNSBC anchors at this week's Democratic convention, some staff members say there are sharp internal disputes at the cable network over whether its opinion and personality-driven political coverage has crossed the line.

"The situation at our channel is about to blow up," a high-ranking MSNBC journalist told Politico on Wednesday.

Two other MSNBC sources said some of the testy on-air exchanges between Keith Olbermann -- whose quick-witted and often caustic commentary has fueled ratings growth -- and other network personalities were a public glimpse of much more intense behind-the-scenes turmoil.

As replays of the conflicts became YouTube hits, MSNBC President Phil Griffin gave his first public defense in a Politico interview.

"MSNBC does not have an ideology," Griffin said. "We hire smart people who are passionate about their love of politics and love of news."

"Do I want them to have squabbles?" Griffin asked. "No. But I understand they're human."

Read the whole story: Politico

Comments

[maxwellinformed]

Says it all:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bob-cesca/cable-news-covers-the-dnc_b_122176.html

[mckatt]

I have been a liberal democrat al of my life and it makes me crazy to read all of these posts from people who are so proud to say that they never listen to an opposing point of view..Good God folks..do you not have any interest in what the other side has to say?? Jesus this arrogance of ignorance is just so non productive

[frappe]

MSNBC is the only cable news station that I will watch and that is only because of Keith Olbermann, Rachel Maddow, and David Shuster. I watched the "Morning Joe" show for a brief time when it first started but I quickly became disgusted with it as Joe Scarborough's arrogance and Republican leanings became very obvious and just too much to bare. I refuse to watch Scarborough any more and if I see his miserable, obnoxious face on the screen, I'll immediately switch channels.

[CorinneA]

Me too.

[GunnyJ]

Me too.

[soylentgreenleftovers]

MSNBC is my network & I don't have any problems with this. I like D Shuster, but "are you Rip Van Shuster?"...now THAT is funny!

Only thing is, I have watched Morning Joe before with MILF Mika & the gang winging it, waiting for Joe to stumble in, so that is a pot/kettle situation.

[dajay]

MSNBC executives: In case, you weren't sure if your personality driven, opinioted bias coverage crossed the line, here's an answer from a once long time viewer, who won't even put your channel on again.

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[frappe]

You'd be more comfortable with Faux Noise, anyway. Good riddance.

[dajay]

frappe: I don't watch Fox News either. I watch CNN.

Good riddance to you smartie pants.

[Elderlady]

An MSNBC "Journalist"?

Is there such a thing - besides Olbermann?

Not too many people at MSNBC do "journalism."

Most of what they do is "pontification."

I hope they give Ms. Maddow a format that does require "journalism." There should be at least two.

[WhyAreYouWearingStripes]

Keith Olbermann isn't a journalist, and neither is Rachel Maddow. Rachel Maddow is absolutely briliant and always has something worthwhile to add to the conversation. She is not a journalist though. Keith I can do without.

[WolfLarsen]

This is what you get when corporations run the news departments. Intense competition for ratings and advertising revenue trumps investigative journalism and lucid reporting. News has become a spectacle and that spectacle is getting harder and harder to watch.

[GWHayduke]

Scarborough gets up at three in the morning now, but his brain still doesn't get up till noon.

[AC500]

Are we finally witnessing the beginning of the unraveling and downfall of the mainstream media and its spin doctors? Can't happen soon enough for me.

[Housewife]

No you are witnessing the power vacuum that occurred when Tim Russert passed away. This is an all out ego battle. There will be winners and losers and then stability will return for better or worse.

[JustTheBasicFacts]

You are correct.
And KO is on a different kind of Countdown now...

[VegetableMan]

" 'The situation at our channel is about to blow up,' a high-ranking MSNBC journalist told Politico on Wednesday."

how much you wanna bet it was abrams? : )

[dajay]

Good for him. I hope it was Abrams.

[reliant1]

cspan, bbc and pbs give better news and straight forward analysis.

if you want/need someone to spell it all out - as it happens, tell you what to think or just like watching well paid people - talk to each other - about each other - for the amusment of each other - then the cable news are great.

But real honest news is not on their agenda.

[j0em0mma]

Good luck finding "real honest news."

I haven't seen any on TV for quite some time, unless you count the Daily Show. As John Stewart said: "Stop running stories asking whether the public is buying the Administration's line and start telling us whether it is TRUE! At the very least, Keith Olberman tells the truth. That's bound to cause trouble in a country where 95% of the Mainstream Media is owned by 5 Corporations.

[Housewife]

You should try watching Bill Moyer's Journal. It is by far the best journalism on tv.

[UnbiasView]

What did MSNBC expect?

They have allowed pundits to run the show and not professionals. You don't see CNN giving the coverage to Larry King and Glenn Beck or Fox News giving it to Hannity and O'Reilly . . . they let actual newsmen do the coverage and use the other guys for what they are good at, being pundits.

[j0em0mma]

Lol, CNN is nothing but pundocracy... The difference is they don't hire anyone with a belief system, apparently.

[DIMPLES]

bleck & fox news professionals plzzzzzzzz back away from the kool-aid , cnn is far from perfect in fact all media outlets are tabloid trash and propaganda , they are all pundits , its just their opinions they only tell you what they want you to hear , these are all the same idiots that brought us iraq they are mouth peices . period

[renatam]

But, we do see coverage given to Wolf Blitzer - whose center pivot is the Middle East vs. the US. We do see Carville/Begala as frequent guests on Wolf/CNN's pro-Hillary Clinton daily show(s). We do see nightly Larry King's focus being, not what is going on at the Democratic Convention and/or interviews from Democrats -- but, the opposition Republicans, which have leveraged CNN along w/the triangulating Clintons via Fox "News" (Wolfson, Rove, Davis) as well.

[renatam]

High time Keth challenge the Republican-leaning mockery and LIES of the embedded media who never challenged out of fear the Iraq War, etc. Chris Matthews was one of those cheerleaders, when he isn't promoting PA ad nauseum -- because his brother is a pol there. Keith and David Schuster -- are trying REAL ANALYSIS for a change - instead of Scarborough/O'Reilly/Hannity daily hit jobs. Buchanan, neanderthal from Nixon infamous days - at least doesn't try to pretend he isn't totally biased. Scarborough is trying to maintain a career political show -- where the zeitgeist is changing under his feet. His commentary was always manipulative and more frat-boy bully -- w/Mica laughing and/or trying to stop him from going too far, but sadly not offering a competing perspective (aka Hannity's Colmes) -- to this BULLY. David Schuster, to his credit has taken him on this week -- and not given a word edge-wise.

[WhyAreYouWearingStripes]

Shuster really shouldnt be analyzing anything since he considers himself a reporter and not a tlaking head. Give the viewser the facts and let them make their own judgements.

[CitizenInformed]

I had been watching CNN coverage the past few months. But they REALLY got on my nerves leading up to the convention and the first day. Finally on the first day of the convention, bloggers reminded me that PBS and C-SPAN were superior alternatives. CNN has been way, way too tabloidal. Wolf Blitz, John King, and crew have been annoying. None of these stations cover substantive issues.

Now that Hillary has delivered a great unity speech, what will the pugnits talk about now?!

[BushBites]

I think this is good.

MSNBC has a variety of opinions so you're going to see fights.

Fox News people never fight because they all agree on their ideology.

[UnbiasView]

"MSNBC has a variety of opinions so you're going to see fights"


Who are the regular guests that Olbermann allows to have a differing opinion on his show?

[hlhicks]

But Countdown isn't the only show on MSNBC. I am starting to be really suspicious about this story because Keith Olbermann is the only person on any of the cable news stations who is blatantly against McCain and all of the sudden this story pops up. David Gregory and Joe Scarborough are blatantly pro-McCain, yet there is no criticism. It's only Keith that has the problem. Wonder why this is popping up 60+ days before the election. The story isn't about his reporting being inaccurate it's about the fact that the guys on the network don't like one another. BFD!

[j0em0mma]

You really want to go there?

http://www.commondreams.org/news2005/0121-06.htm

Conservatives are a trip. They go on and on about unfairness, even after the game is tipped in their favor.

[mooph]

Hell, if you don't want to hear the punditry, watch the convention online at MSNBC.com. No commentary, no commercials (except at the beginning of the video feed), no non-sense. And since it's full coverage, you get to see everything, even the "lesser" speakers that the networks and cable channels cut out.

[Vetiver]

ja, that's what I did yesterday. Much recommended! They have right leaning "talking heads" on abc streams who talk over some speakers.

[Prism]

Rabid, competitive, obnoxiuous propagandists. PBS is indeed the last refuge of thinking people!

[mooph]

Depending upon which show one watches.

[UsofA]

Countdown with Keith Olberman is currently the last bastion of truth in mass media. He and his show are fearless and unrelenting when it comes to presenting facts that have a direct effect on America and our future. If Olberman is squabbling with others at MSNBC like Scarborough et.al. it is because they often slant and color the truth; trying to manufacture Democratic dissonance where there is none and who cynically misrepresent themselves and their ideologies. For instance, Scarborough, a notorious windbag, loves to go on about how independent he is. But nobody ever points out it was Scarborough who was shown jumping up and down, clapping his hands and beaming on the same stage as McCain and Bush when they had their famous hug. He became apoplectic on air the other day when David Schuster had the temerity to question him as being a mouthpiece for Republicans. I thought they were going to have to wrap Scarbrough in cold towels. MSNBC has great potential as an outlet for facts that counterbalance the corporate media machine, a machine that distracts our attention while corporate-owned government picks our pockets. Any infighting at their station simply stems from those who respect truth taking on those who do not. They are endeavoring to kick the merchants from the temple.

[UnbiasView]

"Countdown with Keith Olberman is currently the last bastion of truth in mass media"

Countdown is an opinion show that is no different than any other cable news opinion show. The stories are brought up to reflect on side of an argument and then he brings on on of his 3 guests to agree with him to validate his opinion.

[numbnuts]

The truth hurts.
CNN, Fixed news, MSNBC.
ABC has gotten into the act now with George and Charlie.
Pick your poison.
Countdown and Rachel are 2 that don't buy right wing spin.