Chuck Todd, the former moderator of NBC News’ “Meet the Press”, has publicly criticized his own network for hiring Ronna McDaniel, the former head of the Republican National Committee (RNC), as a paid contributor. This unexpected hiring has stirred up discomfort among many NBC journalists, marking a significant event in the media industry.
Todd expressed his concerns on “Meet the Press”, stating that many NBC journalists are uncomfortable with the decision. He questioned McDaniel’s credibility and whether her responses were influenced by her contract with NBC.
Todd also mentioned that some of their professional dealings with the RNC during McDaniel’s tenure “have been met with gaslighting, have been met with character assassination”.
NBC announced McDaniel’s hiring two weeks after she stepped down as the RNC leader, stating that she would add to NBC News’ coverage with an insider’s perspective on national politics and the future of the Republican Party. However, Todd questioned what McDaniel brings to NBC News.
In a more detailed context, Todd criticized his network during the show after his successor as moderator, Kristen Welker, interviewed McDaniel about her role in the 2020 election aftermath.
He said, “Our bosses owe you an apology for putting you in this situation because I don’t know what to believe,” indicating his uncertainty about whether McDaniel’s answers were influenced by her contract with NBC. He further stated that McDaniel “has credibility issues that she has to deal with: Is she speaking for herself or is she speaking on behalf of who is paying for her?”.
WATCH: Chuck Todd just attacked his own network, NBC News, over hiring Ronna McDaniel. “Our bosses owe you an apology for putting you in this situation,” he told Kristen Welker on Meet the Press. “There’s a reason why there’s a lot of journalists at NBC News uncomfortable with… pic.twitter.com/gjjhy7s4TN
— TV News Now (@TVNewsNow) March 24, 2024
Furthermore, Todd pointed out that many NBC journalists are uncomfortable with the hiring because some of their professional dealings with the RNC during McDaniel’s tenure “have been met with gaslighting, have been met with character assassination”. He also questioned the value McDaniel brings to NBC News.
The Wall Street Journal reported that MSNBC’s president, Rashida Jones, had told employees that the network has no plans to have McDaniel on the channel. An MSNBC executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said it would be up to individual network shows to decide whether to bring McDaniel on — not that there is a network-wide ban.
It’s important to note that news outlets have previously hired administration officials and political party leaders, though critics in recent days took particular aim at McDaniel’s comments about the 2020 election. NBC News declined to comment on Sunday.
This event has sparked a debate about journalistic ethics and the role of political figures in news media. It remains to be seen how this situation will evolve and what impact it will have on the reputation and credibility of NBC News. As of now, NBC has not commented on Todd’s statement. It’s worth noting that it’s not unusual for television news outlets to hire politicians as analysts and commentators.
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