MSNBC's President Wants Network Known as 'America's NewsChannel'

the wall street journal ^ | 4/12/2 | sally beatty

[crazyj]

NEW YORK -- Responding to pressure from its overseers at General Electric Co.'s NBC, MSNBC, the struggling 24-hour cable-television news channel, is looking to boost its ratings by cloaking itself in the American flag.

In a wide-ranging memo sent to news staff Thursday morning, MSNBC President Erik Sorenson tried to define the channel's mission in the post-Sept. 11 world as to "serve the American people." As a result, MSNBC will now be known as "America's NewsChannel." The cable property is owned jointly by NBC and Microsoft Corp.

[general_re]

Grasping at straws...

[dennisw]

Go fair and balanced and your bottom line will improve......

[corkoman]

and the first thing they do is hire Phil Donohue to be anchor....duh...

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Yep, they're flailing. Phil Donahue, and now this. They're dying because more people, literally, are watching Scooby-Doo than CNN and MSNBC.

[retiredtexan]

which america?

[crazyj]

"Recently, MSNBC moved from a mix of documentaries and news toward a Fox News-style mix of opinion shows and news" they may try to copy a fox style but they need a nice fox mix. they need to be fair and balanced. I hope that this is not a ploy to raise ratings I hope that msnbc will show a face that is representative of The United States and all of its citizens

[Druidstl]

Spend less time worshipping Clinton and the Left and then most of the country will be less repulsed by your channel.

[SGCOS]

Short sighted tag line. Should have used "Worlds News Channel"

[Frohickey]

Spend less time worshipping Clinton and the Left and then most of the country will be less repulsed by your channel.

Spend more time bashing Clinton and the Left and them most of the country will be attracted to your channel.

[who knows what evil?]

That will NEVER happen until they change the "pro-Palestinian" content of their programming. The so-called "human rights activist" I saw yapping with Williams last night put me right through the ceiling...what a flaming clymer!

[Shermy]

Short sighted tag line. Should have used "Worlds News Channel"

I don't think so. I think they're going for the American market. This is part of his memo:

"Some news channels seem partisan, favoring one side over another (regardless of slogans or protestations to the contrary.)," Mr. Sorenson wrote. "Some cut deals with foreign governments or foreign broadcasters so as to provide coverage on an international basis to foreign viewers. Others stack the deck with partisans from one side and offset them with patsies from the other. But our channel is not partisan and has no agenda other than to serve the American people, serve our viewers -- give them in-depth coverage and thorough analysis. Yours truly (and our management team) has no agenda, other than to inform. We don't take orders from anyone. We're independent in our journalism and our op-ed programming."

What he's saying is that CNN is a globalist enterprise, cutting deals with foreign governments and companies. No doubt they demand a spin for their price. Plus CNN has a lot of Saudi ownership. Explains their hysterical Israel coverage in part - and their claim to be "non-partisan." They are partisan - and on a global scale. There is also an allusion to Fox News.

I think this is a good strategy. The play against Fox is useless. However, MSNBC should carefully document and release every international involvement of CNN. Bringing this to the viewers' attention can only help MSNBC and they should not be coy in releasing such information.

[chillinvillain]

ahh that stinks. Hahaha I hope O'reilly tags them with something like Central America's news channel. Hahaha i would be rolling on the floor laughing. Anyways the only thing i would watch from msnbc is phil donahue vs o'reilly. I hope they pump extra oxygen in the room and they would need to sedate donahue he can go bonkers

[geege]

I cannot stand that Ashleigh Banfield...she thinks everyone is interested in life in Afghanistan.......and she blends right in when she wears those veils over her head......I love my Fox News........

[timydnuc]

They can call it what every they damned well please, I still ain't watchin'!

Truth in advertizing would be LVN (Leftist Vomit Network).

[AnnaZ]

MSNBC's President Wants Network Known as 'America's NewsChannel'

 

NEW YORK -- Responding to pressure from its overseers at General Electric Co.'s NBC, MSNBC, the struggling 24-hour cable-television news channel, is looking to boost its ratings by cloaking itself in the American flag.

 

 

 

Oh, b-rother.

 

AnnaZ wants to be known as the hottest, richest, smartest woman in America. What can I cloak myself in to achieve that?

 

 ?

[verity]

"Fair and balanced" can become obnoxious e.g. The moon: rock or green cheese - you decide! :~(

[3catsanadog]

What is a "clymer"?????

[another cricket]

which america?

Blue zone America, of course.

You had to ask?

a. cricket

[lafroste]

MSNBC's President Wants Network Known as 'America's NewsChannel'

And I want to be addressed as "The Exaulted One". What's their point?