MSNBC Chair Andy Lack Is Very Willing to Push Out Liberal Viewers and Talent to Attract Conservatives
NBC News chairman Andy Lack wants to remake MSNBC into Fox News, moving the cable news network to the right. As NCRM reported Monday, Donald Trump has pressured Lack to fire its second-most popular host, Lawrence O’Donnell, several times, because the outspoken veteran challenges Trump more than most.Â
O’Donnell’s contract expires June 4. Networks generally initiate negotiations months in advance, but up until this week reports state MSNBC has not bothered to reach out to O’Donnell or his representatives. A report at Variety says O’Donnell and MSNBC are now in talks, but the host of “The Last Word” Wednesday morning apologized his situation has become public, and tweeted he doesn’t know where he’ll be June 5.
CNN Senior Media Correspondent Brian Stelter weighed in:Â
As did Yashar Ali, who has written more about O’Donnell and MSNBC’s lurch to the right than anyone:
Whether you’re a fan of Lawrence O’Donnell’s show or not, Andy Lack’s desire to turn MSNBC into Fox News should concern you and every liberal. MSNBC has always been “liberal for pay,” shifting its brand message as network executives saw fit.
Remember, for years it was home to the racist, misogynistic, homophobic Pat Buchanan. Early on, MSNBC also gave racist homophobe Michael Savage his own show, and canceled top-rated Phil Donohue because he opposed the Iraq war.
More recently, far right wing pundit Hugh Hewitt was reportedly in talks for a primetime MSNBC show, which may still happen. MSNBC gave conservative Greta Van Susteren a valuable 6 PM slot and has done little to force her to do her homework before voicing falsehoods as if they were facts.Â
I like MSNBC, but I’m especially hard on them because Democrats, liberals, and progressives need and deserve a top news network that works hard to inform us, educate us, and helps advance our ideals. One that, you might say, helps us “Lean Forward.” MSNBC under Andy Lack isn’t dedicated to that. And regardless, while there are exceptional journalists and other professionals at the network, and at NBC News, overall MSNBC is not as good as it can be or should be.
MSNBC, under NBC News Chair Andy Lack, is concerned with only expanding its viewer base to increase profits, and he is willing to push out liberal viewers and talent to achieve that goal.
And that’s a problem.
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