Skip to comments.
MSNBC adjusts image as war looms (like they do every six months)
Los Angeles Times ^
| February 24, 2003
| Elizabeth Jensen
Posted on 02/24/2003 8:43:11 AM PST by Timesink
NEW YORK -- On the eve of a possible U.S.-led war on Iraq, MSNBC is re-branding itself yet again, this time to reemphasize its hard-news lineage. So viewers tuning to MSNBC this week -- and lately there haven't been enough of those to satisfy the channel's bosses -- will notice immediate changes. MSNBC anchors have been told to stop using the "America's News Channel" slogan, which was introduced in April and was meant to convey that the network had a broad range of opinions, and instead refer to the channel as "NBC News on Cable 24 hours a day.
[...]
"The change, according to a spokesman, is meant to play up the network's "core strength," as the "only cable news channel with a parent which is a network news organization." It comes at a time when CNN too is looking a little less flashy and a little more serious, toning down some of its busier graphics.
MSNBC's programming is certain to include less opinion and more hard news, if there is a war, and its NBC News ties will be apparent, as NBC correspondents appear on the network. But whether the longer-term programming strategy will change to reflect the new slogan is unclear.
[...]
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
TOPICS: Business/Economy; Extended News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: cablenewsnetwork; cnn; fnc; foxnewschannel; msdnc; msduh; msgiveitup; msnbc
"Meanwhile, the long-term fate of Phil Donahue's show remains unclear."
1
posted on
02/24/2003 8:43:11 AM PST
by
Timesink
To: Timesink
They did not like the name "AMERICA".
The militants at NBC are just trying to keep up with the Canadian-"Palestinian" Jennings.
To: Timesink
About the only chance MSNBC has is if they adopt the "naked news" format..
BTW..did you see the article last week that CNN's Connie Chung show is also on the way out?..O'Reilly is really kicking butt...what's surprising to me is that the BEST show on at 8PM is CNBC's "Kudlow and Kramer"..yet it never gets talked about....does anyone know where/how to find ratings info on-line?
3
posted on
02/24/2003 8:56:23 AM PST
by
ken5050
To: Timesink
Whatever they think will sell product, that's what all media is about.
4
posted on
02/24/2003 9:06:19 AM PST
by
stuartcr
To: Timesink
"...instead refer to the channel as "NBC News on Cable 24 hours a day..."
I guess this is supposed to mean: "if things get serious, you might see an anchor you recognize."
To: ken5050
BTW..did you see the article last week that CNN's Connie Chung show is also on the way out?..O'Reilly is really kicking butt...what's surprising to me is that the BEST show on at 8PM is CNBC's "Kudlow and Kramer"..yet it never gets talked about....does anyone know where/how to find ratings info on-line?It's VERY hard to get news channel ratings info anywhere without paying for it, but you might like this article from Business Week dated February 3:
BOOB TUBE
A Bright Spot for Ailing CNBC
With the stock market floundering, it's fair to say business news is in the tank. Financial-news network CNBC saw daily viewership drop 25% in 2002 from 2001, according to Nielsen Media Research.
But one show in the CNBC roster is picking up steam: the often-invigorating, oddly hip Kudlow & Cramer, which airs at 8 p.m. EST. Its hosts are the pinstriped, neo-conservative economist Lawrence Kudlow and the slightly disheveled, hyperbolic journalist, Democrat, and former hedge-fund manager James Cramer. Admittedly, its ratings are small, but viewership jumped 25% in the second half of 2002 vs. the first half, according to Nielsen. "It's an impressive spike," says independent media critic Jack Myers.
Media watchers say Cramer, with his artfully gesticulated, red-faced rants, and Kudlow, who is more reserved, are perfect spokesmen for badly burned investors. "Their anger may fulfill some sort of deep-seated need for those who have been screwed by the market," says Myers.
The two aren't exactly blemish-free themselves. In the early '90s, Kudlow resigned as chief economist for Bear Stearns, later citing cocaine and alcohol use. And Cramer has acknowledged unsavory trading practices in his recent book. Not everyone is a fan, either: Some wags refer to them as "Krudlow and Screamer."
Perhaps, as The American Spectator recently observed, their show is "just the acid bath Washington and Wall Street currently need." By Marcia Vickers
6
posted on
02/24/2003 9:15:26 AM PST
by
Timesink
(War! Uh! Good God y'all! What is it good for? Live Video!)
To: Timesink
Do what they will, it won't do any good. Long as they hang on the left bank with Connies, Phils, and Chrises, they will have the same "success".
7
posted on
02/24/2003 9:48:16 AM PST
by
AMNZ
To: Timesink
That's a subtle but wickedly funny graphic, Timesink. I love it. Did you create it?
8
posted on
02/24/2003 9:55:19 AM PST
by
Wolfstar
(Time is not on our side. Let's roll.)
To: Wolfstar
Did you create it?I wish I had, but no. It's from Drudge. I don't know if he's acquired some Adobe Illustrator skills, found someone who does, or appropriated it himself from somewhere else.
9
posted on
02/24/2003 10:26:26 AM PST
by
Timesink
(War! Uh! Good God y'all! What is it good for? Live Video!)
To: Timesink
Speeking of adjusting image:
See Los Angeles Times Peice on Grey Davis, Sen Boxer and Fienstein and how my Demoncrtically controlled state did an ENRON on The Califronia budget crisis!
http://www.latimes.com/la-me-deficit23feb23,0,6164545.story
Budget Balanced on Faulty Figures
As election neared, state leaders ignored warning signs of a faltering economy and made erroneous assumptions about future revenue.
10
posted on
02/24/2003 10:26:57 AM PST
by
Kay Soze
(F France and Germany- They are our enemies.)
To: Timesink
Thanks for the article.....
11
posted on
02/24/2003 10:56:06 AM PST
by
ken5050
To: Timesink
Meanwhile, the long-term fate of Phil Donahue's show remains unclear.No, its pretty clear, they are trying to flush it down the toilet, but it's plugged up and someone took the plunger! My advice: Call Roto-Rooter.....
12
posted on
02/24/2003 11:13:45 AM PST
by
aeronca
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson