Should MSNBC Allow Rachel Maddow To Anchor Breaking News Events?

When MSNBC moved to replace Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews with David Gregory in the anchor's chair during election coverage, relegating the more opinionated hosts to commentary and analysis, the New York Times declared that the "experiment" of putting "politically incendiary hosts" in the anchor chair appeared to be "over."

Davidson Goldin, former editorial director of MSNBC and a co-founder of the reputation management firm DolceGoldin, told the Times, "The most disappointing shift is to see the partisan attitude move from prime time into what's supposed to be straight news programming."

So it may have been something of a surprise Wednesday evening — as it was for Inside Cable News — to see MSNBC's opinionated darling Rachel Maddow anchoring the coverage of George Bush's primetime address on the financial crisis. From ICN:

Yes, the address is occurring in the middle of Maddow's hour. But appearances are everything for MSNBC these days and the appearance of yet another ideological talking head anchoring MSNBC's news coverage says a lot about what NBC's priorities really are. To quote Roger Daltry Pete Townsend: Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

The Olbermann/Matthews experiment may be over, but the fundamental thinking behind it; namely taking the hot hand and riding it regardless of the appropriateness of such a move, is still in vogue at 30 Rock. If Maddow's ratings weren't hot right now and she wasn't getting all this press you can bet your paycheck that NBC would have put a journalist in to anchor the coverage. This is so blatant it's embarrassing.

An MSNBC representative explained:

The speech was during her hour, therefore she anchored the coverage as part of her program.

What do you think? Vote in the poll below to settle the question: Should MSNBC allow Rachel Maddow to anchor breaking news events? There are a few videos of Rachel from Wednesday night below the poll to help you make up your mind.

Quick Poll

Should MSNBC Allow Rachel Maddow To Anchor Breaking News?

Yes, she's the best in the business!

Yes, she can shut off her opinion when it's necessary.

No, she's too opinionated to remain objective.

No -- and she shouldn't even have her own show!

Who cares?

Comments

[cheikhspierre]

Are you asking me? HMMM... Thinking about it closely, I think she will also make a good choice for MTP if they will let her.... lol

[JoeBlough]

What's MTP ?

[SCVADem]

Meet the Press.

And I agree with cheikhspierre, I think she'd do quite well, and much better than Brokaw, if she hosted.

[gerimd]

I'd love to see her do a stint on MTP, too. Her enthusiasm for the political process is contagious, just as Russert's was.

[ElectricSlim]

She also happened to be there on set when the news broke. It hit right after her show anded.

[Everybody Should Vote]

The Debate: Live Analysis
http://voteforamerica.net/editorials/Comments.aspx?ArticleId=73&ArticleName=The+Debate%3a+Live+Analysis

Sept 26 Polling Update
http://voteforamerica.net/editorials/Comments.aspx?ArticleId=72&ArticleName=Poll+Update

Obama 292, McCain 246
http://voteforamerica.net/electoral.aspx

[mirework]

It must be tough when Fox fans stumble onto MSNBC and see reasonable people kicking butt. It's a new world, Mr. Shea. It would be great if cable news would change their focus from opinion to fact-based journalism. Until then, there's nothing wrong with a little liberal affirmative action.

Also, the poll above is garbage. My vote is "Yes...per­iod."

[yellowdogminnesotan]

My gosh who did Rachel have as a guest on her first night on the air, Pat Buchanan. She can handle herself and still maintain her integrity. I love these people who squawk all the time about a hour of programming on ONE channel. They should turn the channel to Fox Noise. That's 24-7 bull right out of the RNC. My gosh they actually have Karl Rove as a paid consultant. When are they going to have him head up coverage, and will they question that move, doubt it.

[SouthPrairie]

Yes, she's ticked me off enough times for me to know that she is not a hack partisan. I wouldn't mind if she was though!

Obama/Biden '08

[YouDisgustMe]

hell yeah...she­'s by far the best thing on cable tv

[Krikkit]

back in 1999 when Bush was running for his first term a lot of us took a look at his experience, owning a sports team and running it into the ground, owning an oil company and running it into the ground, governing the state of Texas and running that into the ground, and we predicted that he would run the country into the ground too. Well, guess what? He ran the country right into the dirt.

When will people learn that folks just don't change their ways?

Hopefully enough eyes have been opened to realize that McWhatever will continue doing the same things he's always done, too, and vote for Obama instead. McCain is irratic, he shoots from the hip without thinking things through, he can't control his temper. If we elect him, he'll finish the job Bush started and we can just kiss American greatness goodbye for generations to come.

[samlu1]

Should David Gregory be allowed to report on news stories involving financial or real estate fraud...es­pecially in connection to Fannie or Freddie Mac? Why? His wife was the TOP legal advisor to Fannia Mae during the worst financial bailouts in world history! His wife was a prosecutor in OKCity bombing! This woman has had her hand in some of the most high profile crimes in US history. This is the last man who should be reporting on anything.

(ps...why do you think David Gregory was getting top access to Bush within the last few years? Why do you think that at one point in 05-07' Gregory was the only one allowed to ask questions of Bush? Because Bush rewards the criminals that work within his regime. Gregory could be trusted because his wife was part of the conspiracy to committ fraud. Remember it was the housing "fraud" that has recently caused the multi-trillion dollar bailouts. Those crimes never happen overnight.­)

[Barbara2423]

MSNBC is the only cable channel I watch for news. They research, something the other cable channels won't do.

[kroses98]

Since they took off Keith and Chris as anchors, I have turned to CNN during the debates. MSNBC Brass are hypocrits, and I refuse to watch the Right-Winged Gregory. I would rather watch the large panel on CNN, which I had avoided when I watched MSNBC, because I wanted to watch Olbermann. Now, I just watch his program and avoid all the others on that network. They dug their own grave!!!

[TigerShoes]

A curious, savvy, progressive pragmatist with a warm heart and a lightning-fast mind being given preferential treatment? Shocking! Rewarding journalists with public trust based on their merits and excellence, wow, how old-fashioned.

[robbor]

""Should MSNBC Allow Rachel Maddow To Anchor Breaking News Events?""

Should???!! She's a very bright star in the desert of journalism. She has a great future ahead of her.

[zull2]

Why not? Every other major cable network has right wing radio hosts covering breaking events. Maddow did it quite well, in as non-biased a fashion as any on CNN, on radio for years now. The only people who'd complain would be those who never heard her reports on Air America and just assume that they'd be biased for that reason alone. Mainly because the news reports on their favorite conservative radio station ARE biased.

[mespace]

I have been taken aback by her snide partisan comments. If you're an anchor, your job is to stay out of politics and discuss the news of the day. It's a different story if you're being interviewed by the anchor, then you can get as partisan as you want. That's why MSNBC has poor ratings, they don't know how to run a news room. She also desperately needs a new "stylist." http://mespace.wordpress.com

[zull2]

Just like Glen Beck was for CNN, she was hired from partisan radio FOR those comments. They wouldn't hire someone from AIR AMERICA if they weren't looking for someone who had a partisan bias. If you're taken aback, then go back to watching Fox News or PBS, because the major stations, as a result of deregulation and privatization, are going with whatever the viewers and advertisers want because that is how they make their income.

[jayburd]

I get the gist of what you're saying but please don't mention Glenn Beck and Rachel Maddow in the same sentence. It creeps me out. Rachel is a Rhodes Scholar, Glenn is an aryan cretin.

In fact, just don't mention Glenn Beck at all.

[SouthPrairie]

Corruplican's think the TRUTH is snide.

[seachild]

ever heard of FOX News?...lm­ao!...fair and balanced indeed!...­haaaaa

[BlueMist602]

Smart, quick witted, sharp on the issues, with biting sarcasm when needed.

I love Rachel...t­oo bad she's not single! ;-)