MSNBC Chief Phil Griffin: 'I Don't Care About Journalists'

In an interview with the Tampa Bay Times, MSNBC president Phil Griffin had some rather blunt words to describe his method for creating new shows and developing new talent.

The backdrop of the piece was the addition of MSNBC's newest host, Melissa Harris-Perry. Harris-Perry frequently appeared on the network as a contributor and began substitute-hosting for Rachel Maddow and Lawrence O'Donnell when needed. MSNBC awarded her with a new self-titled show, "Melissa Harris-Perry," which will debut next weekend. Harris-Perry is a professor at Tulane University. The interview was published on Sunday.

The Tampa Bay Times described Griffin's straightforward process for developing new talent. "He puts on someone as a panelist/expert, and if they do well, they get a shot at guest anchoring. If that works, they might get a shot at a show," Tampa Bay Times' Eric Deggans writes.

The aforementioned process is indeed how a slew of the network's hosts, including Rachel Maddow, Lawrence O'Donnell, Chris Hayes, Alex Wagner and Al Sharpton got their jobs. Wagner, who formerly worked for The Huffington Post, was a frequent contributor to the network before landing her own show during the 12:00 p.m. hour. Al Sharpton also appeared regularly on panels till he began guest-hosting the 6:00 p.m. hour after former MSNBC host Cenk Uygur abruptly left the network.

In response to criticism that MSNBC features contributors and hosts who are not journalists (as is the case with Harris-Perry and Sharpton), Griffin responded quite candidly.

"I'm sorry, I don't care about journalists…I want fair-minded, smart people who understand the world and can interpret it...If they're journalists, great. This notion that you somehow you have to have done something to earn so-called journalists' credentials? Stop," he said to the Tampa Bay Times.

Harris-Perry's ascension is notable as many cable news networks are often criticized for its lack of diversity. She is now one of three black hosts anchoring programs on MSNBC.

For the full story, click over to the Tampa Bay Times.

Also on HuffPost:

View MSNBC's line up below:

• 6-9 AM: Morning Joe

• 9-10 AM: The Daily Rundown

• 10 AM-11 AM: Jansing And Co.

• 11 AM-12 AM: Thomas Roberts

• 12 PM-1 PM: Alex Wagner

• 1-2 PM: Andrea Mitchell

• 2-3 PM: NewsNation

• 3-4 PM: Martin Bashir

• 4-5 PM: Dylan Ratigan

• 5-6 PM: Hardball with Chris Matthews

• 6-7 PM: PoliticsNation with Al Sharpton

• 7-8 PM: Hardball

• 8-9 PM: The Ed Show

• 9-10 PM: Rachel Maddow

• 10-11 PM: The Last Word

• Weekends with Alex Witt

  7-8 AM (Sat.)/12-2 PM (Sun.): Weekends With Alex Witt

• Up with Chris Hayes

  8-10 AM (Sat./Sun.): Up with Chris Hayes

• Melissa Harris-Perry

  10 AM -12 PM (Sat./Sun.): Melissa Harris-Perry

Comments

[RockyMissouri]

08:15 PM on 02/14/2012

Melissa Harris-Perry is as capable as any, and THEN, some ....... It's nice to view things through different eyes...... She will do a fine job, judging by her past fill- in appearances....

[PTerrys]

03:08 AM on 02/15/2012

Well i think Princeton and a whole bunch of people would disagree on the capable as any part.

[BlacknProud310]

04:22 AM on 02/15/2012

Actually Melissa resigned to move to New Orleans (my hometown) to be with her new husband as they settle into their lives at Tulane. So not quite sure what you meant by your posts but it is not one of facts or grasps of the situation to say the least.

[RockyMissouri]

10:18 AM on 02/15/2012

Sounds like sour grapes on your part, trying to disparage her success...

[coyotefever105]

05:51 PM on 02/14/2012

HAHAHA Phil Griffin's comment made my day!

[Linda Patscot]

05:23 PM on 02/14/2012

I watch way too much news coverage 'exclusively' on MSNBC -
I am following the evolution of the brand-and Lean Back to observe.
Up is a great addition on the weekends. Alex Wagner is fresh.
But having wtached Morning Joe for over 2 years - I find it brash
and contrived. The exchange between Mika and Joe is either
disingenuous OR they are more than co-hosts!

[jones]

05:21 PM on 02/14/2012

Bill Moyers had Melissa on his show many times in his earlier TV show. She's a very smart astute woman.

[RockyMissouri]

08:19 PM on 02/14/2012

I respect and admire Bill Moyers...

[kkdkdkdkdk]

05:00 PM on 02/14/2012

Here's how he really picks them.
1. They have to have a visceral hatred of fox and righties (Joe S. was brought in as a token conservative).
2. Recently they have to be black.
3. They have to have an ability to rant and rave sanctimoniously about the right.
4. They have to hate Bill O'Reilly.
5. they have to vow that they will not have any noteworthy conservative on their program, anyone who can talk back and out debate them (which means most conservatives).
6. They have to believe that the left is the only game in town.
7. They have to believe in entitlements, welfare, citizenship for illegals, raise taxes AND spending, believe that government can solve all problems, believe that its okay to kill the unborn, believe that gay marriage is the greatest thing since in door bathrooms, etc.

[BlacknProud310]

04:24 AM on 02/15/2012

Even as a Republican, I can agree with that which is why I enjoy watching MSNBC. After Fox fumbled the news of Obama being..well you know. that was the day that Fox was vanquished from the kingdom in my eyes and I'm sure many other conservatives.

[Jim281]

03:06 PM on 02/14/2012

MSNBC Rocks!!!!

Mr. Griffin sure knows what he's doing! In the past, I had been a CNN addict. But they kept firng my favorites, and then the way they treated Michael Ware is the straw that broke the camel's back. I have totally and permanently switched to MSNBC.

Having said that, "please Mr. Griffin. Now that you have (and continue to) assembled an evening of SUPERSTARS, please, please, PLEASE do something about "Morning Joe"! I can't even tune in until "The Daily Rundown", or later. I beg of you, as a loyal fan!"

[Rosie Starr]

02:45 PM on 02/14/2012

Wow! This article sure did bring out the trolls. Already the name calling begins. Yes, they know that she is going to successfully call them out because of her knowledge, logical thinking, and excellent communication skills.

Hang on Melissa. You are going to be a target just like Rachel is. They don't like "uppity" women who don't know their place. Or, should I say "fair-minded, smart people who understand the world and can interpret it."

Can't wait for the new show. Just hope people will tune in on the weekend to watch it.

[oz243]

02:39 PM on 02/14/2012

He wants "fair minded people"? I wonder when he'll hire one.

[PTerrys]

03:09 AM on 02/15/2012

who would you rather?

[logicalllylogical]

02:14 PM on 02/14/2012

MHP is a r a cist and should not have been given her own show.

[RockyMissouri]

08:22 PM on 02/14/2012

I've never gotten that vibe from Melissa....

[logicalllylogical]

02:11 PM on 02/14/2012

You don't need journalist when Media Matters writes your shows for you. All you need is a mouth piece.

[PTerrys]

03:10 AM on 02/15/2012

you never needed a journalist. they have a staff and a teleprompter. you could really let an app do the news.

[Eagleman]

01:44 PM on 02/14/2012

>>> "I'm sorry, I don't care about journalists

Now you wonder why MSNBC is pathetically rated compared to its peers....

[frosty6731]

09:15 PM on 02/14/2012

The industry leader doesn't employ journalists, so what is your point?

[MakersMark]

11:24 AM on 02/14/2012

Thanks, Phil for not going with so called "journalists." Chuck Todd and David Gregory are two of the worst.

[RockyMissouri]

08:25 PM on 02/14/2012

They are! I can't believe he let Keith Olbermann get away....he did not suffer fools...!

[NewLiberals]

10:47 AM on 02/14/2012

To re-interpret his words:

"I'm sorry, I don't care about BUSINESS PEOPLE…I want fair-minded, smart people who understand the business world and can make a buck off of it...If they're business people, great. This notion that you somehow you have to have done something to earn so-called business credentials? Stop," he said to the Tampa Bay Times.

[Countess]

09:53 AM on 02/14/2012

Melissa Harris-Perry.is a thoughtful intelligent person and a big fan of President Obama so we cannot expect her to be critical of Obama in any way which I guess is the mandate of all the post-purge hosts on MSNBC. It is all about helping the President win the election as a counterweight to FOX. I would love to see such an intelligent person as her not just ltrying to sell this President but actually confronting the real issues of too much greed, religion and corruption. I like her very much and I'm glad to see this channel is not just hiring more white males. I wish her luck.

[logicalllylogical]

02:12 PM on 02/14/2012

lol. she is a mor[]n.

[RockyMissouri]

08:23 PM on 02/14/2012

You sound envious....

[buc]

09:19 AM on 02/14/2012

If he had a heart attack i wonder if he would go to an auto mechanic...What a stupid thing to saY...