Melissa Harris-Perry: The Media Suffers From 'Premature Speculation' (VIDEO)

MSNBC's Melissa Harris-Perry gave viewers a sharp critique of the media during the debut weekend of her self-titled show.

The network announced the addition of "Melissa Harris-Perry" last month and a restructuring of its weekend coverage. Harris-Perry was a frequent contributor on the network, with guest appearances on "The Rachel Maddow Show" and Al Sharpton's "PoliticsNation." She also served as a substitute host for both Maddow and Lawrence O'Donnell. The network awarded her with her own weekend show, which airs on both Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Harris-Perry is also a columnist for The Nation and a professor at Tulane University.

During her Sunday show, Harris-Perry discussed what she called "a dirty little secret" that those who cover "horse-race politics" like to keep under wraps. "We are suffering from premature speculation," Harris-Perry said. The 2012 Republican primary race has taken many sharp twists and turns. Harris-Perry showed headlines from leading news organizations that reflected the Republican primary's constant change of course. Headlines read "Herman Cain, Frontrunner," to "Another Poll Confirms Trump As Republican Frontrunner," to "Ingraham: Perry Should Drop Out."

"Headlines like these...expose the media for its secret desire to skip the foreplay and get right to the main event," Harris-Perry said. "And it's all left me very frustrated."

Harris-Perry discussed what she referred to as the pressure media outlets feel to keep viewers and readers engaged, but wondered if what she called the media's "premature speculation" was in fact hurting the election process. "Now I know we are all servants to the insatiable appetite of the news monster...We have to keep you watching and reading, our lives and livelihoods depend on it," she said. Harris-Perry wondered, however, "What's the rush? Why can't we just let democracy happen?"

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MSNBC's new lineup:

• 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

[Darnell Roberts]

06:05 PM on 02/26/2012

What a breath of fresh air to my cable news cycle: a sensible and smart anchor woman who is just as entertaining to listen to as she is pleasant to look at. Pumping my fist for MHP! Take that Faux News!

[ashken79]

08:23 AM on 02/24/2012

MHP believes white liberals are racist against obama..lol

[DrHonolulu]

12:28 AM on 02/22/2012

MHP debut was delicious! Melissa's framing of the issues combined with her superlative communication skills make this among the best viewing! (We can survive with a fewer old "Lockups").
But Hey Huffington - I very much wanted to post a comment on the Virginia vaginal ultrasound catastrophe - but the issue is nowhere on your site! Have you heard about it Arianna?
OK - Everyone is hereby deprived of my informed, progressive comments.
Keep it up Melissa!!

[Holly H]

04:12 PM on 02/21/2012

I saw a portion over the weekend at a friend's house. Makes me wanna invest in cable...but only for that hour.

[westcoastsc]

03:48 PM on 02/21/2012

We need media reform much greater than what is reflected in this small condemnation of the media.

1. Sherman Antitrust Act to recreate the thousands of independent media we used to have in this country. We only have ten major owners of news media in this country. This makes it very easy to control the message.
2. Affirmative Action for top positions
3. Subsidization of investigative reporting
4. Lowering proof of damages for libel and slander
5. A government agency that prosecutes systematic propaganda and lies
6. A list of ethics that every journalist must take an oath to

More may be needed than that. Every person in America should have access to the internet.

[KingGlorious]

02:32 PM on 02/21/2012

When I get married I want to marry a lady who is just like her. So beauitful. So beauitful and pure.

Knowing how to make a delicious King cake is about alll I ask....

[bjvom]

11:35 AM on 02/21/2012

I haven't seen her show yet, but she has always been an intelligent and fair contributor on the other shows. Unfortunately, as a calm, educated and well spoken woman she will probably not generate enough passion for the average cable viewer.

[Pappa]

09:24 AM on 02/21/2012

Outstanding show! loved every minute.

[123mjg]

09:15 AM on 02/21/2012

i hear the janitor at msnbc tells really good jokes...he's getting his own comedy show. they must be really desperate. she's a good commentator, but her own show. when david korn get's his own show it's time to pull the plug.

[lemmyk73]

08:52 AM on 02/21/2012

Awful show. Her lisp is grating and her biased POV does not bring forth intelligent dialogue. She is telling her viewers what to think (as do most talkers). And she is part of the media problem.

[PotatoPearl]

03:32 PM on 02/21/2012

She doesn't 'bring forth intelligent dialogue'? I'm curious if you've watched her show. She's a professor, and I believe that she has provided a very logical and thoughtful dialogue with her guests, many of whom are also intellectuals. I think the only time there wasn't an intelligent dialogue was with her first guest on Saturday, Ed Cox, who wouldn't let her get a word in and wouldn't diverge from the talking points when she asked him to expound.

She does have a biased point of view compared to many of her competitors: she uses history and political theory to base her commentary, not simple 'this-is-right-and-this-is-wrong' opinions.

[arecibo48]

08:43 AM on 02/21/2012

I agree with Melissa.

[gypsynomad]

08:36 AM on 02/21/2012

For every single Pat Buchanan ,we need one Melissa Harris-Perry.

[MSlade]

06:21 AM on 02/21/2012

Outstanding show. I really enjoy listening to her. Very informative and less bombastic. She should replace C. Matthews. At least, her guests will be able to complete their sentences without interruptions.

[njborne]

05:37 PM on 02/21/2012

I thought about that. But at times, C. Matthews is pure entertainment, still far better than any of the Faux News commentators.

[Robert Kilbourne]

08:23 PM on 02/21/2012

Awww.can't get the one channel out of your head. Maybe listening with an open mind would help. Just for the record I seldom listen to the commentators on any channel. I like my news not the commentary that goes with it these days. As for th bias on news CNN, MSNBC, Current , and all he rest don't give straight news but have to throw out their little twist to the left. Fox twist to the right. You need to filter out those twist to get the truth. The commentators on Fox are honest about themselves and what they say. You may not like it but th people do as their ratings beat any other station or show on.

[Black Female Commentator]

05:59 AM on 02/21/2012

Congrats and I hope to see the show.

[krf1942]

05:55 AM on 02/21/2012

Another win for MSNBC.

[Robert Kilbourne]

08:26 PM on 02/21/2012

What do you mean by another win? If this show lasts it will be the first in a long time. All the other shows on have been losers for years.