First Impression of Meeting David Gregory

I like David Gregory. He has been covering politics almost as long as I have. If memory serves me, he popped up in the 2000 cycle on MSNBC daytime with Ashley Banfield. He seems like a capable anchorman and reporter, and genuinely seems to love news.

My question, as a person who broke her political teeth watching Russert, then become a Senate press secretary, a producer, reporter, political analyst, and commentator, is why NBC is putting a generalist in the industry's top political slot.

At a time when Washington is changing, and Obama says the most qualified person for each position is his priority, why not a more seasoned interrogator? Andrea Mithcell and Gwen Ifill seem to also be top contenders. They are very seasoned. I met them both covering the Clarence Thomas hearings, which, if my own experience is a guide, are criticical to any journalist's understanding of current politics. They have also covered wars, decades of elections, and civil rights.

The other issue here is harder to talk about, because I don't want it to seem like I'm criticizing David or NBC. But, in an industry being undone by 18-34 year old consumers who prefer video and text content on their computers, why not put on a woman or a person of color? The election centered on that very question. If voters are looking for change, aren't viewers?

David is very talented. But how do you scale a changing industry with the same kinds of faces you've always had, when numbers and circulation are dropping, and your target demographic is younger, multi-colored, and female.

The gap Tim Russert left is unfillable. He was an industry pioneer and set the week's poilitical debate. It seems like the need would be to put someone in his chair who has his depth and experience, but can also bring in more diverse news consumers. Surely change and experience are not mutually exclusive.

Comments

[somarvelus]

Yeah, I would have preferred a woman too. if they really wanted switch it up they should have gone with Contessa Brewer. she is hard hitting, check http://contessabrewerformeetthepress.blogspot.com/ got vids and where I try and make the case. doesnt matter now:(

[cmilburn]

Gregory is not the best choice, in my opinion. He's white, male and 6'5". That's why he's getting the job. Maybe? His work outside the White House doesn't show the tenacity needed for MTP and he's been known to be partial.

Gwen Ifill didn't show much in the debate, her biggest stage to date. Being black and female aren't qualifications. Is that what you want to base this job on? Besides, she doesn't work for NBC and to give this job to an outsider would be bad form.

Chuck Todd, while I like him a lot, is a wonk, has no real experience in the interviewing field and shouldn't even be consisidered. Maybe in a few years when he gets some experience.

Brian Williams has enough to do as anchor of the Nightly News.

If the job was to be given to just ONE person in the NBC stable, I think it should be Andrea Mitchell. She is a tough questioner, she's smart, experienced and a loyal employee. Her marriage to Greenspan has never gotten in the way of her reporting and there is no reason to think it would now.

[jrockbg]

Gregory is the smartest and most astute of the field, but he is a bit of an idealogue and he has little credibility for being impartial. I think Todd, while a little more boring, is just as smart yet not as susceptible to his own bias as Gregory or most certainly Andrea Mitchell would be. Todd would've been the best choice to honor Russert's memory. But I fear because Gregory is slightly more entertaining, NBC made the best business decision.

[cedricryan]

I agree. We can have whitre males doing key roles. Really. And he is refreshing.

[InofTouch]

I wonder why all the hate now for David...I mean didn't we like him when he held then Press Secretary Scott McClellan to an honest level.

[intelliwoman]

Unfortunately I dislike grelory's interview style and probably won't watch the program if he gets the slot.

Why not use an anchor rotation for a while - Todd, Ifill, Mitchell, Gregory - or something like it until everything shakes out?

[pir anha]

rotation or a panel, yes.

i'll admit to mostly being bored by gregory.

[Banji81]

I wish Tim were still here... sigh! Oh well, better place, ...and all that...

[Banji81]

I wish Tim were still here... sigh!...

[knosiswar]

Tim Russert was unique, and the only comparable person of his caliber is Bill Moyers. So, if NBC expects to maintain the integrity of the show, then David Gregory will serve as a moderater for a panel of the PRESS and return the show to it's roots and it's profitability.

[avvocato]

This is an insult to Bill Moyers.
Puh-leeze!

[jrockbg]

Bill Moyers is an idealogue and too weak for the MTP format. The magic of Russert was that even a conservative like me had respect for his integrity and toughness on his his guests. Russert wasn't an idealogue when it came to news and journalism. He was a professional. Damn, I miss him.

[pamelagoodenough]

Oh, right; as though there is any integrity in conservative news. Fox News tells me all I need to know about the "integrity" of the conservative pundits.

Bill Moyers is one of the few real journalists still working.

Russert never really forced the issue though he came close. He was the only conservative journalist though, but never did Russert have the depth that Moyers has.

I would not watch CNN news anyway. They are not much better than Fox, which as everyone understands who gives a damn at all, is the propaganda machine for the White House under Bush 2.

[thecanadian]

Todd seems to have a good grasp of issues.

[davidsandiego]

worst pick ever, they pull him within 6-12 months as ratings will tank.