HuffPo Readers Choose Ifill or Maddow to Anchor Meet the Press

Citing his close personal and professional relationship with Tim Russert, veteran anchor Tom Brokaw has stepped up to lead Meet the Press through the 2008 election season. It's a good interim move to maintain the respect and high level of quality which the show has become famous for.

What the Brokaw decision also allows is an unprecedented opportunity for NBC to give ample thought to who will hold the permanent reigns on Meet the Press. It provides the network with the chance to audition some of the women selected by over one hundred Huffington Post readers last Friday, who strongly feel these women deserve at least a shot at filling Russert's chair.

Gwen Ifill, moderator and managing editor of Washington Week and senior correspondent for The News Hour with Jim Lehrer, easily led the pack among readers, with Rachel Maddow, host of Air America Radio's Rachel Maddow Show and political analyst for MSBNC, coming in a close second.

Ifill and Maddow bested the next two winners, Lara Logan, chief foreign correspondent for CBS News, and Andrea Mitchell, chief foreign affairs correspondent for NBC News, by a considerable margin.

Voting by readers of this site makes it clear that each of these women should be given the opportunity to trial anchor Meet the Press, allowing viewers and NBC executives to sample those in the running before any decision is made about a permanent replacement.

I once hitched a ride back to my hotel with Mitchell and Ifill from a democratic convention, and listened as they mused about who beat out who for whatever story or subject with laughter and frustration. They are women who are accustomed to competition, alongside women and men, and whose work is of the highest quality because of it.

It wouldn't be amateur hour with these women at the helm. By giving them each the opportunity to guest anchor the highly influential Meet the Press, their presence would help to normalize women's place at the head of the table. Hosting such a show would undoubtedly up women's odds for these important positions regardless of who ends up in this top slot.

Follow Marie Wilson on Twitter: www.twitter.com/twhp

Comments

[brendanm]

I think Gwen Ifill with several guest journalists, kind of like her Washington Week show but with a focus on a newsmaker or politician rather than each other, would be an interesting format for Meet the Press. Also, with multiple questioners, issues of ego or bias would be minimized.

Rachel Maddow is great and I'm a big fan, but she has neither paid her journalistic dues nor demonstrated the ability to ignore her ideology (though she has the correct one). I don't think Andrea Mitchell would be great for the role and Lara Logan has never hosted or anchored anything and isn't even an American (foreigners taking our jobs? no thank you!).

[gregwlsn]

I don't know if/how many bridges he burned @ NBC, but Bryant Gumbel would be an excellent host.

[reggieb]

When I watch shows like Meet the Press I wind up screaming at the TV. The interviewers are often so intent on their own questions that they don't follow or challenge the responses of those they interview. They don't call people out on their B.S. They don't follow a more interesting thread of conversation than the one they have mapped out in their little heads. Sometimes I think shows of that ilk are scripted. God forbid we wander from the script. But usually I conclude that the interviewers aren't very light on their feet. One of the worst is David Gregory - but of course I can't look at the man without seeing him dancing with Karl Rove at the Correspondent's Dinner. Gag
Ifill or Maddow would be a refreshing change.

[GBartrem]

Gwen Ifill, she is very good at her job.

[rwe]

This is patheitc,,, there are hundreds if not thousands more qualified actual female jourrnalists out there. Rachel Maddows has the same resume as Laura Inghrams, and you know prograssivenation would go rabid.... Carol Marin, a not as well known but tremendously talented and biparisan formerly of Chicagos NBC affiliate would be outstanding ( she also had the integrity to quit when the local outlet hired Jerry Springer to do political commentary)

[ShanniC]

I am for Gwen Ifill. Rachel Maddow is unbelievably partisan. This would be disastrous for her career. On the other hand, Andrea Mitchell is good at reporting, but moderating.. I don't think so.

[Joeseo]

Oh for gosh sakes people!! General Electric will make the choice. It will award a contract so lucrative and binding that will insure continuation of Russert and Brokow's roles as paid stooges. GE will get its money's worth, you can bet. Corporate America and Corporate American Media will undoubtedly pick Brian Williams. He fits the mold.

[Marlyn]

I agree, but I'd start watching again if Rachel Maddow was the moderator.

[vejzagic]

I'd rather see her replace Olberman. Countdown is more like her style. Besides would she really want to have a seat of someone who was a number one media whore (as Malloy called him)? I don't think so.

[LilyMaskew]

Ifill or Maddow - either one would be an excellent host for MTP. However, I predict they will choose Andrea Mitchell, if they pick any woman at all.

[SevereTireDamage]

I'd like to see them go back to the pre-Russert format of one guest, several interviewers.

[Nicky6571]

Although I am definitely a Ifill and Maddow fan, I tend to agree. The old format was much better.

[midnightwriter]

That would be a disserve to Tim Russert. I really like Maddow, but she had a show on Air America and that's a bias. Ifill, maybe.

[Bozwellian]

Maddow is better as a CONTRIBUTOR rather than the moderator (see her perform as fill for Geregory or Oberman for confirmation she is NOT quite up to the moderator stuff...perhaps with more experience, for she is brigght and incisive but lacks the on air presence at this time...several times got almost shrill when hosting, and lost a bit of control filling in for Gregory...needs more experience insuch formats..) Iifil is experience and could likely handle it and should indeed be rotated into the MTP line-upping. Brokaw is doing "them" (the powers that be and as a favor to NOT let the show lag after all the hard effort of Russert to make it a mainstay of SUnday AM's in the political areans) a favor, but does NOT want a FULL TIME/perm job....Some have suggested going WAAAAY back , and putting a PANEL on , that may be something to seriously consider while "seasoning" and breaking in a replacement for that particular one chair.

[Marlyn]

"Air America and that's a bias." ???

Oh really? And which bias is it? Don't say Liberal, because I am and it isn't.

[utd]

Dear Maddow bashers: There is a difference between a public and private personality in television. It is my belief Rachel has shown a lot her personal side in doing the job she was supposed to be doing. Does that mean she couldn't handle MTP? Hell no. She is quite possibly the most intelligent and definitely one of the best educated people working in NBC, she can handle anything.

[tasukibeth1]

I worship Rachel, but this is not the job for her. It would stifle her humor and personality too much.

[JJaye]

I was kinda hoping that Rachel would become the new Obama White House Press Secretary. She always expresses her points so well. Clearly uber intelligent.

[krocklin]

America is not ready for real questions looking for candid responses.
Hence Maddow is out.
Mitchell and Ifill are completely bland and homegenized and exactly what the MSM likes, even more so than Russert - who was capable of softballs and lack of follow up too - but they wouldnt pull in the ratings.
One thing that is assured is that it will be someone who continues in the great tradition of American Journalism - give equal footing to those who have been wrong on every issue with those who have been right. In other words, allow the panderers and unabashedly partisan interests to have a podium alongside the saner voices, which ultimately will be drowned out and suppressed in the name of "balance".
Though probably not his fault entirely, Russert served this purpose to a tee.

[Marlyn]

"America is not ready for real questions looking for candid responses." ???

How do you know? I disagree. I think America is thirsty for the TRUTH. We haven't had that for quite a while.

[weedhighnightmare]

I hope you people who think Maddow might get the MTP chair are kidding. You don't seriously believe she warrants consideration, do you?

[labstellamom4]

I think Dr. Maddow is not only over qualified but has shown she can be tough and insightful as well as open minded !! Ive enjoyed her on air america for quite sometime and she can really bring it when faced with huge personalities and huge political egos ( Pat Buchanan)! She can be very nonpartisan and really find the underpinnings of a story ! I vote for Dr. Rachael Maddow!! Although Gwen Ifill has definately paid her dues and is a good journalist in her own right I just think they need a personality that will light a fire and encourage participation!!

[Marlyn]

"She can be very nonpartisan"

YES, she criticizes everyone equally.