How Maddow Is Rewriting The Rules Of Cable News

The American Prospect:

"I think I have a fear in general about whether being a pundit is a worthwhile thing to be," Rachel Maddow tells me over dinner at a Latin restaurant in lower Manhattan. It's more than the ordinary self-deprecation of someone who just got her own cable commentary show. It's an insecurity essential to the on-air style that's powered the 35-year-old's rapid rise from a wacky morning radio show in western Massachusetts to the liberal radio network Air America and now to her own prime-time show on MSNBC.

Maddow is not a Tim Russert or a Chris Matthews--an ostensibly nonpartisan interviewer who badgers politicians and policy-makers about contradictions in their records. Nor is she a Rush Limbaugh or a Glenn Beck--an attack dog who deals in calculated anger, bluster, and outrage. She's no mild-mannered liberal like Alan Colmes or a veteran observer like Wolf Blitzer or David Gregory. Maddow has broken the broadcasting mold. She has succeeded as an avowed liberal on television precisely because she is not a liberal version of conservatives like Sean Hannity and Glenn Beck. Unlike so many progressive media figures who sought to replicate the on-air habits of the aggressive shock jocks of the right, she stumbled upon a workable style for the left. She is liberal without apology or embarrassment, bases her authority on a deep comprehension of policy rather than the culture warrior's claim to authenticity, and does it all with a light, even slightly mocking, touch. She proves that liberals can attract viewers on television when they actually act like, well, liberals.

Read the whole story: The American Prospect

Comments

[WebEngineer]

She is just another gear in the liberal propaganda machine. Hey Rachael, don't be scared. You should try having some conservatives on your show.

[Mr772]

Have you ever watched Maddow's show?? Why are you so quick to slam her and promote Faux News??

Conservitives are always scared when someone can shoot holes in their retoric with sound policy knowledge. On the other end we have pill poppers and illusionists championing corporate interests.

[njhamdan]

She is not scared....­.conservat­ives are. Have you not seen her lists of GOP's who would not go on her show? Could it be that her cool, calm and rational logic scares them??

[screamngmad]

What a phenomenon. She and ole Keith are my saving grace and our 1st ammendment champions. Really, they are changing things back. Not really Camelot because of all the bad feelings but certainly Brave New World. Maybe now the Christians will believe others are not out to get them.

[longs4]

Love Rachel's show. She's refreshing, politically brilliant and making this election season much more palatable. Thank you Rachel!!!!!!

[exmate]

I was impressed with the intelligence of Rachel Maddow so I googled her. From Wikipedia

I learned that Rachel earned al degree in public policy from Stanford University in 1994.[She then received a Rhodes Scholarship in 1995 and used it to obtain a D.Phil. in political science from Lincoln College, Oxford University.

She is one smart gal.

[WebEngineer]

Proof our education system sucks.

[Halminbar]

I enjoy Rachel Maddow's new program and wish her the best of luck with it. I would like to see programs like hers and Keith Oberman have at least one regular guest who disagrees with the opinion of the host. Tucker did it when he had his program. It would make for a more entertaining and informative program

[BAMNO]

I have tried to widen my democratic/liberal views but it is hard to watch MSNBC (MAddow, Olberman) when they never have people on there shows with contrasting views. There is more to itI think then reading talking points with no healthy debate. Hannity and Colms atleast give you contrasts so it gives the viewer both sides of a story and left for your interpertation.

[westportmike]

Plllllleee­eaaaaaseee­, Hannity and Colmes?

[BAMNO]

Hey Mike check the ratings...­...Fox, Cnn, Msnbc dead last......­..........­..........

[AmeriGus]

The reason you don't see contrasting views on Maddow's show is because Conservatives don't want to tangle with her - or in some cases, don't want to give her publicity. I've listened to her radio show for years and can tell you she is more then willing to have them on and does so with great civility when they are willing to have real debate. The problem is that she is so sharp and well-equipped with reality-based facts that few are willing to come on her show (although Pat Buchanan is a regular) and debate issues openly. Hannity and Limbaugh, on the other hand, who have enormous ratings, do not allow opposing views on their air. This is evident in the proportion of calls not matching the balance in the real population.

[WebEngineer]

"The problem is that she is so sharp and well-equipped with reality-based facts that few are willing to come on her show"

Bwaaahahha. That was funny. With that reason, Hitler's opposition had such reverence for his opinion they didn't want to debate him.

It is called propaganda. I just can't believe that educated American's buy into it.

[xactomundo]

You can't honestly say that Alan Colmes has an equal standing on that show. Do you think it is a coincidence they have a smirking, lantern-jawed meathead as the shill for the right while the left is represented by the little guy who has both eyes on one side of his head like a flounder? It is easier to sell their BS rhetoric when there is a weak patsy representing the opposing viewpoint.

[WebEngineer]

lol, no, but at least Colmes voices his opinion.

[WebEngineer]

Interesting research on the current news show standings:

http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/original/January%20'08%20(LIVE+SD)%20Program%20Ranker.pdf

wait... where is rachel?

[WebEngineer]

I completely agree Bamno. I am used to watching news that shows both sides of the story. She is just a liberal hate monger. That is not reporting. It is force-feeding america her point of view. What a joke.

[frankm]

Yes, because Fox is just all about giving both sides. There's not hate mongering or attacking guests at Fox. O'Reilly is such a treat to interview with.

[GerryDantone]

Rachel Maddow and Sam Seder (and of course, Al Franken) were the best things about Air America and it's precisely because of their good humor and interest in digging out the facts that made them compelling.

In fact, what makes a journalist/pundit good is not their ideology but their objectivity. It is because they report news that the mainstream media overlooks or deliberately misinterprets that we appreciate people like Maddow.

The weakness of this sort of pundit is when they ARE partisan and blindly follow the ideological line. If there is a criticism of Keith Olbermann that one could make, it is when he makes himself part of the story; his constant criticism of Fox News; his worst person in the world segment; and his characterization of persons in the news. Objectivity would have him simply report facts that others ignore and in a sense, "show" us the truth as opposed to "telling" us the truth.

[JaniceL]

Kudos to MSNBC for giving Rachel her own show. She's incredibly smart and knowledgeable without condescension. She's the type of person who can argue a point effectively without getting personal, a rare art in political commentary these days. We need more thoughtful, reasonable progressives like Rachel on television to counterbalance all the negativity.

[BAMNO]

Who does she argue her points with?

[condew]

Rachael Maddow's show is great because she always shows up personally well-informed. I think she is the hardest-working pundit on TV. If there is a good story out there that the conservative mainstream media is ignorring, Rachael will give it the exposure it deserves.

[Soothsayer08]

I love Rachel's show! She is bringing out facts that you could not possibly hear on any other supposed news show. The other night she was talking about Sarah Palin's husband being a member of a secessionist group. Why hasn't anyone else brought this up?

[mysterygirl18]

Palin would be like- Rachel? who's that?

http://www.myspace.com/wakeupnowpeople

[WebEngineer]

I can not believe that this is considered news. They should call it for what it is, the "Bash The Conservatives Show". It is a sad day when O'reilly is more fair and balanced than she is. I thought the point of journalism was to present both sides of the story so the viewers can come to their own conclusions instead of force feeding the viewers the opinions of the anchor. It is not that she says "this is what Obama did today", and not reporting on conservative side. Instead, she says "The conservatives are idiots", and not reporting anything on the liberal side. This show and Hardball should be pulled from the air.

On top of the one sided reporting, she is also incredibly out of touch. FYI, there are people outside of NYC that have the intellectual capacity to form an opinion. Not everyone in the country is a liberal, atheist, lesbian. She should go back to journalism 101 and start reporting the news and leave free thought control to the radical fringe instead of the news anchors.

I have tried watching MSNBC for the past couple of weeks, but the lopsided reporting has me changing the channel. I am so incredibly disappointed.

[lenoirlady]

Ahhh engineer, Put your loco in motion and back out of here. You NEVER watched MSNBC in your life is my take on your swine swill! Tank up on the unquestioned hate mongers on FAUX NEWS and poor Rush. That hate you will understand. Right????

[WebEngineer]

I have watched MSNBC several times. Probably 5-6 hours worth this week. I was just amazed at how lopsided it was. My point, which seams to be lost on this crowd, is that she does not take on the issues. She just spews hate. Imagine you are conservative (I know, god forbid), and honestly watch her show. Then turn the channel to fox. Fox brings on hard line liberals to get both sides equal time (well maybe not equal time, but they do get the time to argue their points). Even Rev Sharpton is on every couple of weeks. They will argue their view points, but at least you know there is another point of view. Rachael just runs from the challenge. She only brings on people that agree with her. It is not that they agree with her about Obama, the just agree with her on how bad the conservatives are. It is really quite comical. For the people that don't live on the lunatic fringe, it is really obvious.

[AnaisKarim]

So much for the liberal elitist, big city drivel. I live in a tiny town in South Carolina and I love Rachel Maddow.

[WebEngineer]

Touche,You make a good point. Maybe I was out of line. After watching her lopsided reporting, I probably was just ticked. Good comment Anais.

[wedgie]

It took years and years, but the media is FINALLY offering a progressive political prospective. It's come in the form of people like Rachel, and Keith and John and Steven.

THANK GOD it's finally out there. On the air. Available.

Rachel won't be the last either. WHAT MSNBC is discovering is that the audience for Rachel skews to a MUCH BETTER demographic than the Walmart crowd that watches Fox.

It's about the money people. And liberals have it.

**

[WebEngineer]

You're joking right? Since when does Walmart have the conservative crowd? That is the epitome of the liberal handout crowd.

[JDHART]

Jeez dude, you gotta be kidding. Lopsided reporting? Let me count the ways: Limbaugh, O'Reilly, Hannity, Coulter, Malkin. I could go on and on on. Why is it that everytime the someone dares to point out the truth, you brainwashed morons complain that the 'liberal media' is being unfair? This has been going on for years now (8). Don't watch MSNBC then. Who cares?

[JaniceL]

You're really phoning it in on your faux outrage. Try a little harder next time.

[DaObamaMama]

How could you not love Rachel. She's a DOCTOR!!!! She's such an amazing intellectual woman who is witty and fun.

__________­__________­__________­__________­__________­____

A heartwarming video Democrats and Republicans alike should see.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iIYRZWBd9Y

[WebEngineer]

Hey ObamaMama, I like this one:
http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/anthem.asp
Real presidential material!

[wedgie]

Dear WebEngineer,

The country is wrecked and broke. Your job is done. You can quit now. There's nothing left for the RNC to steal.

**

[rolitt]

I love Rachel's show . She is a class act.. She is fair, refreshing, provide researched facts to backup her points and nice to see a woman amongst all those guys. I watch her show a every day and will catch the rerun if i had to go do something just in case i missed something. I would love to see Rachel ask Palin a question or 2 and wonder if even Rachel will be able to dicepher Palin's answers. Na, no one should be tortured that way.

Congrats on a job well done and keep up the good work.

[jrockbg]

I'm conservative but I watch Rachel's show. Olbernutt is impossible to watch. He flat out lies way too much and he gets away with it bcause he never has conservatives on his show. Shameful. Rachel is infinitely better than Olbermann. I love her "Talk me Down" segment and she occasionally has conservatives on her show. MSNBC may be in love with Obama but at least they've made a positive change to their programming.

[wedgie]

She had Pat Buchanan last night. They were great together.

Rachel is going to move a lot of people to re-think the right, left, red, blue paradigm.

**

[sedum]

Buchanan's got wood for Rach. Another impossible dream for a 'pug.