The Olbermann Factor

Whatever the circumstances and fallout of Keith's departure, NBC News still faces this weird contradiction of how to run a middle-of-the road news network and a partisan cable channel. At this juncture it is hard to tell if losing Olbermann was personally or editorially driven. It would seem to be the former, as MSNBC prime time remains without ideological balance (at least among the hosts). This is why I resigned as a contributor last year. There is obviously a market niche for the type of partisan viewers MSNBC reaches, but considering that it is run by the same editorial bosses who command NBC how can the network have it both ways? At least set up MSNBC under separate management and give NBC personnel a chance to maintain their standards as objective journalists.