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

[Taajq]

yes, she knows how to do research and facts. Tired of all the opinionated folks, except Keith Olbermann.

[rchazr]

Rachael Maddow is a natural, who happens to also work hard at being good. Without regard to any presumed lack of bias in the main stream media, I have no doubt that she can hold her own with the best of them. I echo the suggestion that she would be a good person to follow Tim Russert as the heir apparent on Meet the Press—so long as it doesn’t repress her sardonic wit.

Suffice it to say, we need someone bright enough to have a handle of the subject, know what questions to ask and understands the answers [responses] well enough to know when a follow-up is warranted. These are qualities that are all too rare in our media today.

With her, we have even more—she is bright enough to see the humor in much of the pabulum that is fed the media and regurgitated as news. Please, continue to ferret out the facts and allow us to smile as you uncover the ironies that are only ours to behold.

[yliza]

Rachel is a PhD and a Rhodes scholar, and despite her admitted left-leaning bias is more balanced and fair than anyone I've seen on cable news.

I think she proved herself last night, when she was the only one left in the building when the bailout talks collapsed. She reported it like a pro.

[jonolennon]

Rachel rocks! I wouldn't watch Fox Noize if you paid me. MSNBC is my political coverage Rock n Roll station.

[AnotherToerag]

Rachel Maddow is the best in the business... but everyone knows her views. Having Maddow as an anchor would be irresponsible - as good as she is, I don't think she would be (or want to be) objective.

Having Maddow as an anchor would make MSNBC no better than Fox. Only MSNBC would actually make some sort of rational sense.

[cmp]

I saw this program start to finish and thought Rachel was dead- on effective. She did not lean one way or the other and covered all bases. How is it that Hannity, Billo, and Dobbs (Mr. Independence my ass ) can rip off the faces of people they don't like, telling you their "telling you like it is", while real intelligent journalism is mocked and put under such scrutiny ? Scapes me.

[Ramirez]

Hannity, O'reilly, and Dobbs are not news anchors and do not report or present hard news. They are commentators.

[Eoin45]

They aren't commentators either. They're windbags. What qualifications do any of them have? Inside Edition? Give me a break.

[shaefromTn]

Get rid of Gregory the rapper, and biased Brokaw!

[webgoddess]

Why do they think we're watching our news coverage at MSNBC and not Fox? Personally, I really missed some good commentary during the Republican convention, due to MSNBC's trying to remain "neutral." Boring is what I call it. Two sides screaming at each other is not entertaining, informative or something I want to watch.

[bigbenny]

Watch it on CSPAN. No commercials, no talking heads. Just the debate using the same pool cameras the msm is using.

[stevebest]

I had to vote no, but she shouldn't have to be impartial. The President should be happy she covered it on her show. People who watch her show value her opinion. I would have been mad if they took her off because of the president, they did show it. She isnt trying to be an the impartial anchor, maybe thats why we like her so much.

[V4Vigilance]

I'd like to conduct my own, informal poll...

Does Inside Cable News know its a** from a hole in the ground?

A. No
B. All of the Above

Vote

[Xenopus]

Please......please. Rachel instead of David Gregory.

[bygollymissmolly]

MSNBC caved to the conservatives. They said they took off Olberman and Matthews and put in Gregory to not be partisan. Well, Gregory leans pretty heavily to the right (has ever since he danced the Macerena with Rove), so I'm not sure how they can say they are being non-partisan.

[RENREVARD]

How come no one questions who is hosting these events over at Fox oh I meant the RNC News channel?

[Iheartniki]

Rachel could read the NYC white pages and I would still watch.

ICN's view was also straight opinion commentary, hardly news reporting. Besides, what is the current state of news reporting, just someone reading off a teleprompter and looking serious doing it. ICN doesn't get it. This may be a new refreshing trend. A well prepared newsperson that knows how ask questions and is sharp enough to ask a followup. Heluva concept...

[rextrek]

I lost ALL respect for David Gregory once he "Gleefully" Danced with Karl Rove at the at the White House Press Conference Dinner.

[heal57]

That's was fair and balanced really is. David Gregory is a fine reporter.

[jbd]

Rachel may be Gay but Gregory is gay after seeing that dance with Rove. What a joke -the man has no stones.