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

[tempest624]

Hmm, interesting! Original story is complaining about a perceived bias in the news! One may wonder what the story would be if it was targeted against Fox News?

[NeverRepublican]

What is it with the plunging neck line?

Men would look pretty tacky if their chests were hanging out. Why do women continue to show up half dressed in the chest area on tv?

I don't get it...I'm concerned with the mind...not how much skin can be exposed.

Other than that...I usually listen to her radio show....I think I will just skip the visual.

[mari2JJ]

No dear, the person with a plunging neckline is Cindy McCain and during the after show shots, my husband was aghast at the fact that she needed her hair brushed and he is a died-in-the-wool Republican. Frankly, you must imagine Rachel's cleavage because none shows in any of her outfits. But some of Cindy McCain's outfits may show a bit of the cleavage. But no big deal. Women are free to dress however they like. So just look away if it bugs you.

[KathyIndiana]

Rachel isn't as much opinionated as she is BRILLIANT - she goes right to the heart of the matter, cuts through the crap and tells it like it is. If her target is usually Republicans it's only because they give her so much material to work with!

[SouthPrairie]

You are spot on! It is her intelligence that sets her apart from so many of the binary left /right inane talking point puke heads. Could you imagine her as VP? I could.

[michie62]

Rachel and Keith, the NBC nightly news partners. They would be today's better version of Barbara Walters and Harry Reasoner. Although ABC tried to screw over Barbara. She was the better newsperson by that time over Reasoner. Rachel and Keith are equals and wouldn't NBC love to beat
Couric? There is the ticket Maddow and Olberman on the Nightly News. Bye Bye Brian Williams.

[GeorgeP922]

Why does Danny Shea ALWAYS do hit jobs on Keith and now his new target Rachel Maddow?

[BlueZoo]

All of our media is so tightly controlled as it is, why put any restrictions at all on Maddow? I'm an MSNBC addict because they allow for differing opinions. Let Maddow speak her mind! We have precious few moments to enjoy a "David Letterman experience" and Maddow might be able to give us one more!

[TRYKER]

Yes, I too find the tongue in cheek weak attempts at humor and snark to be beneath her and it cheapens her show. Her face doesn't like mouthing those "scripts" and neither does Keith's face...you can always tell that they pushed these inane remarks on them, nothing they wrote for themselves, it is so out of character.
They each sigh and raise half an eyebrow as if to say: These idiots in suits in the office are ruining our shows with this sophomoric humor.
And too, where do we ever see NEWS? From journalists? The 30 minutes that local stations get to do their own news is the only time we see anything other than talking points and propaganda coming down from our ruling elite.

[partyofone]

"Allow" her? more like "beg" her. Maddow rocks.

[kellygrrrl]

:)

[GeorgeP922]

danny shea has had some beef with msnbc for MONTHS now, just click Keith Olberman, or Rachel Maddow, or MSNBC at the top of the media page and see how many hit jobs he writes.

dont take this article or any of the nypost murdoch articles he likes to post so much seriously at all.

[DieHardObamaSupporter]

Why the h3ll are we discussing this? All of them are opinionated, please let's be real. I can't believe

anyone is questioning a network, when faux noise has been spouting bs for years.

S.T.F.U.

Rachel keep doing you.

[GeorgeP922]

Write Arianna and complain, do some research on the editor who put his name on this.

He works for Huffington

[Butterfly8]

I have listened to Rachel for at least 3 years on a row... I wouldn't describe her as opinionate­d... She can be really neutral when she wants, and criticizes both sides independently when she needs to. She is centered, cool and intelligent - an asset to any network. And the viewers will be better informed if they listen to her.

[phoenix2000]

I like Rachel, Countdown with KO and Rachel is where i get my political fix.

[phoenix2000]

I knew it would be just a matter of time before Rachel Maddow got her own show on msnbc. The fact that she's smart and articulate. The fact that she goes toe to toe withe the likes of Pat Buchanan and that cry-baby, Joe Scarborough, and never backs down. Countdown with KO and Rachel is where i get my political fix.

[missjabez]

I know Ms. Maddow is opinionated but I really enjoy her. She is so witty and intelligent.

[majorteddy]

Hell yes. She's top grade octane. Very smart, very,very smart. Has an opinion, but not overbearingly, and is very analytical.

[partyofone]

MSNBC should "allow" Rachel to do whatever she wants. Rough around the edges, SHE IS A MAJOR TALENT, brilliant, insightful, engaging, witty..... Rachel is a phenom....­.. MSNBC should seek a federal baiiout to heep her happy, focused, and moving forward in an envitably BRILLIANT career.