MSNBC

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MSNBC is a liberal propaganda 24-hour cable "news" channel aligned with the Democrat party. Jointly owned by Comcast and General Electric, MSNBC is considered by many to be one of the most liberal cable news channels of all the mainstream media. It is the lowest rated of the other two major cable news channels: Fox News and CNN. It typically garners ratings that are just one-third those of the Fox News Channel, and half of CNN.

The Daily Caller observed that MSNBC "might be trying a little too hard to push" its agenda: "MSNBC duped: Network runs satirical fake news," and that wasn't the first time.[1]

The MSNBC channel was started in 1996 as a joint venture between Microsoft and NBC. On December 23, 2005, ending a partnership that had soured long before, Microsoft and NBC announced that they would dissolve their joint ownership of the cable news channel, with NBC taking control. NBC completed a deal to assume majority control of the channel, with an 82% stake.[2] The joint venture with Microsoft has come to an end.[3]

In 2010, parent company General Electric reached a tentative agreement with the French media conglomerate Vivendi that cleared the way for the sale of NBCUniversal, including the flagship NBC network, to Comcast, America's largest cable operator.[4] [5] The takeover will go into effect January 28, 2011 following the Comcast company’s next pay cycle. [6] Comcast acquired a 51 percent stake in NBC Universal from General Electric Co, creating a $30 billion business that would include broadcast, cable networks, movie studios and theme parks. [7] Some liberals fear that Comcast might turn into a more conservative outlet. [8] [9] Some critics and supporters of Keith Olbermann blame Comcast for his firing from MSNBC.

State Run

Publicly, the channel claims to be a non-biased, journalist driven news network. In reality, they are Democrat-aligned to the point that they are perceived as a mouthpiece for the Obama Administration. On several occasions, Obama Administration officials have stated their public support for MSNBC.

Opinion-driven news is common and a successful formula at Fox News. MSNBC opinion news includes attacking Republicans relentlessly and promoting or whitewashing Democrat politicians. Their remarks are so outlandish, choke full of proven lies and mean spirited that their TV hosts often get suspended from the air.

Low Ratings

The MSNBC network has perennially had very low ratings. In 2002, the network was regularly beaten in the ratings by CNN Headline News. The CEO of Microsoft once even admitted that he wouldn't have started MSNBC knowing what he knew later.[10] In June of 2006, CNN co-founder Reese Schoenfeld told journalist Don Kaplan that "Everybody compares MSNBC to Fox and CNN - when its real competition is Headline News". Schoenfeld pointed out that the ratings for MSNBC and Headline News are roughly the same, about 300,000 viewers on average and that "by comparison, Fox and CNN regularly average three or four times as many viewers." Kaplan even joked that "the running joke in TV news is Fox and CNN are news channels with websites, but MSNBC is a website with a cable channel".[11]

Shock jock Don Imus's radio show Imus in the Morning was simulcast on MSNBC for over ten years. During this time, the program become well-known for displaying offensive commentary. However, MSNBC continued to support the show. In April of 2007, the network sparked outrage when during a broadcast of Imus in the Morning, Don Imus and another MSNBC staff member made remarks about the Rutgers University women's basketball team, considered to be both racist and sexist. Initially, MSNBC refused to cancel the show. After sponsors started withdrawing their advertisements from the show, MSNBC canceled the simulcast of Imus in the Morning.

Liberal Bias

MSNBC has been criticized regarding the channel's liberal slant. The media watchdog group the Media Research Center[12] has cited MSNBC shows by Keith Olbermann, Dan Abrams and Chris Matthews in its criticism of the network's bias reporting.

Olbermann has denounced President Bush and the Republican Party, calling the latter a "terrorist organization". He has called on President Bush and Vice President] Cheney to resign.[13] Olbermann has conducted post-debate interviews of Republican presidential candidates and led live coverage of presidential primaries. In the February 2008 issue of Men's Journal magazine, a senior executive at MSNBC stated that Olbermann "runs MSNBC" and that "because of his success, he's in charge" of the network.[14]

The left-wing advocacy group Media Matters for America[15] has criticized the MSNBC's commitment to promoting a left-wing agenda since the channel has had shows hosted by left-libertarian Tucker Carlson and former moderate Republican Congressman Joe Scarborough. Ironically, on August 16, 2007 Scarborough revealed an incident in which people in the MSNBC newsroom ceaselessly booed President Bush during a State of the Union address.[16]

Msnbc dem.jpg

In the past, MSNBC shows have featured Mitch Albom, Ann Coulter, Phil Donahue, Bill Moyers, Maury Povich, and Michael Savage, among others. That varied programming was gradually reduced as MSNBC veered more leftist in its point-of-view. Among MSNBC's 2008 lineup, Patrick Buchanan was perhaps the most conservative voice.

In 2003, in an apparent effort to appear more balanced, MSNBC fired talk-show host Phil Donahue. An internal memo read, in part, "Donahue represents a difficult public face for NBC in a time of war. At the same time, our competitors are waving the flag at every opportunity." [17] [18] [19]

On November 5, 2007, the New York Times reported that the cable news channel was in serious discussions with Rosie O'Donnell to have a prime-time show on the network. Under one scenario, O'Donnell would be given the 9 p.m. slot where she would compete with Larry King Live on CNN and Hannity & Colmes on the Fox News Channel. Her show would replace Live with Dan Abrams, a low-rated program that only recently replaced Scarborough Country.[20] The deal later fell through as O'Donnell leaked information about the agreement without MSNBC's permission.

Later in November of 2007, the president of MSNBC, Phil Griffin, flat out admitted that the network has a left-wing liberal bias. In a New York Times article, he said that "it happened naturally" and that "there is a Go for it" mentality when it comes to pushing the liberal agenda among the MSNBC staff.[21]

Continuing its offensive against the Bush administration and its reposition as a left-wing "news" outlet, in December of 2007, the network ran a series titled Bush League Justice with the explicit purpose of attacking the U.S. Justice Department under the presidency of George W. Bush.

In October 2010, MSNBC has publicly acknowleged its liberalism in October 2010 while launching a marketing campaign with the tagline "Lean Forward," [22] [23] [24] [25] following several years in which many observers noted a leftward shift in the channel's programming [26] [27] [28]. As a result, NBC Universal and Microsoft is considering changing the name of the less partisan msnbc.com, a separate news company, to prevent confusion with the liberal TV network, MSNBC [29]. Some of the NBC News correspondents and producers, who attempt to be straightforward reporters, say they are embarrassed to be associated with the liberal cable outlet and fear being “tainted” by association with it [30]. The situation became more apparent when NBC News decided to keep Brian Williams and Tom Brokaw away from MSNBC during the November 2, 2010 midterm election coverage [31].

The MSNBC – Media Matters Connection

Media Matters for America is a very popular source of information within MSNBC’s prime time lineup. Some might argue MSNBC is a defacto mouth piece for the organization..[32] In prime time alone, since 2005 Media Matters has either been booked as a guest and/or mentioned on the network nearly 200 times. Media Matters has been particularly popular with MSNBC’s producers during the last 2 years. Below are some interesting tid bits about Media Matters and its growing relationship with MSNBC’s prime time programming:

  • 197 guest appearances and/or on-air mentions on MSNBC’s prime time since January 2005
  • Of the roughly 390 broadcast evenings on MSNBC since July 2010, Media Matters has either been booked as a guest and/or mentioned on air 26% of the possible broadcast evenings (1 out of every 4 days).
  • In 2011, on average, a Media Matters representative appeared on MSNBC at least once per week
  • Eric Boehlert has been the most popular Media Matters representative on MSNBC, accounting for 43% of all Media Matters appearances on the cable network
  • The Ed Show is the most popular show for Media Matters representatives, accounting for 72 Media Matters guest appearances since 2009[33]

See also

External Links

References

  1. http://dailycaller.com/2012/04/05/msnbc-duped-network-runs-satirical-fake-news-from-daily-kos-as-a-real-story/
  2. [1]
  3. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/microsoft-nbc-dissolve-msnbccom-joint-venture/article4418455/
  4. New York Times; With Deal, G.E. Clears Path to Sale of NBC
  5. Sarasota Herald-Tribune; Corporate Report
  6. http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/done-deal-fcc-department-of-justice-approve-comcast-nbc-universal-acquisition_b48942
  7. http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110118/bs_nm/us_nbc_comcast_13
  8. http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2010/11/09/socialist-senator-wants-comcast-nbc-deal-blocked-due-olbermanns-suspe
  9. http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/11/6/145630/235
  10. http://news.com.com/2100-1023-268073.html
  11. http://newsbusters.org/node/5891
  12. About Media Research Center www.mediaresearch.org
  13. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19588942/
  14. http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/msnbc/olbermann_talks_office_politics_other_politics_74648.asp
  15. Media Matters for America homepage www.mediamatters.org
  16. http://newsbusters.org/node/14899/print
  17. http://mediamatters.org/items/200410290004
  18. http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=05/03/24/1446244
  19. http://www.allyourtv.com/0203season/news/02252003donahue.html
  20. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/05/business/media/05cnd-msnbc.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
  21. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/06/business/media/06msnb.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&pagewanted=print&oref=slogin
  22. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39507182/ns/business-media_biz/
  23. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/05/business/media/05adco.html?_r=1
  24. http://theweek.com/article/index/207856/msnbcs-new-slogan-what-does-it-even-mean
  25. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkinYM4EPy0
  26. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/30/study-nbc-news-doesnt-fol_n_139162.html
  27. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/08/AR2008090800008_pf.html
  28. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/08/business/media/08msnbc.html?pagewanted=print
  29. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/07/business/media/07msnbc.html
  30. http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=39332
  31. http://mediaconfidential.blogspot.com/2010/10/nbc-news-separates-itself-from-partisan.html
  32. Media Matters Propaganda Watch: The Tax-Exempt Research Department of MSNBC, Martin Bashir Edition
  33. Search and analysis on MSNBC's primetime transcripts via Nexis.com