The reason behind MSNBC's change for the BETTER!

[AmerDem]

I commented on this in another thread but I think it deserves a thread of it's own.

The reason behind the much loved change of MSNBC is because of a man named Rick Kaplan! Kaplan ran CNN from 1997-2000. He was a major fan of Bill Clinton and in the brief time at the helm has given MSNBC the first quarterly profits it has seen!



A little bio on Kaplan: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4285362/

More on his thinking: http://www.chronicle.duke.edu/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/03/24/40618ae8d1b08



Profits increase for MSNBC since he takes over: http://www.forbes.com/business/feeds/ap/2004/07/12/ap1451256.html




You know the man is doing something right when the repuke attack dogs come barking! : http://www.mrc.org/realitycheck/2003/fax[phone].asp

http://www.americandaily.com/article/436

[Old and In the Way]

1. Gotta e-mail addy for him?

I'd like to drop him a line and say thanks.

[AmerDem]

5. I don't have his e-mail for ya.

try searching it out.

[DemNoir]

2. Ok while it lasts

Dont count on Matthews much longer. He is mad because the Bush campaign used one of his interviews with Kerry in a misleading way, so it has become personal with him.

His anger will probably wear off and he will revert to form.

[AmerDem]

8. No one is counting on Matthews

The important thing is there is someone behind the scenes that still hold human values above ratings.

[eleny]

14. Yes, it's nothing short of a miracle

Hope he keeps his job.

[AmerDem]

15. for sure

That is why I showed the first time profits MSNBC has received since he took over!

[Zinfandel]

24. Owned by General Electric...making billions from U.S. Military contracts..

I wouldn't count on any major news organizations to give us a bit of truth.

It's NOT in their interest.

"General Electric and the other huge corporations that own the news media are hardly unbiased sourcs of information. Yet most of the news available to us--about war and peace and everything else--is filtered through their perspective."

[AmerDem]

35. Then it might be time for you to....

barricade yourself in a cave. Until we retake control of the white house and at least the senate the media will continue to say and create anything they want.

[napi21]

3. Is this the real proof that comentators are told what to say?

Maybe not told exactly what to say, but what buttons to push, and what side to lean on.

I'm glad to hear they have changed, and I don't know that I want them to lean either way, but to just investigate things that don't sound right, and report what they find.

[AmerDem]

9. I suggest you read this..

http://www.chronicle.duke.edu/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/03/24/40618ae8d1b08

[madrchsod]

4. money talks and bullshit-still stinks

if profits go up-ya just keep doing what you are doing cause you must be doing something right

[AmerDem]

10. it's more then profits bud....

read this, http://www.chronicle.duke.edu/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/03/24/40618ae8d1b08

[ChocolateSaltyBalls]

20. I don't see how your article refutes the profit angle..........

in the article, it says that Kaplan was in charge of war coverage for ABC, and I didn't detect any 'truth-seeking' or 'responsible journalism' coming from ABC at the time.

On the contrary, I saw cheerleading.....cheerleading with the intent of pulling in more viewers (more profit) then the other cheerleaders.

Broadcast journalism is about profit these days, and Kaplan, if he actually tries to pretend otherwise will find himself looking for a new job sooner than later.

Just because he speaks to a bunch of journalism students and extols the virtues of journalism doesn't mean he will be successful at bucking the trends working for a company that's owned by a defense contractor.

[AmerDem]

49. Making profits for any company

Is of the upmost importance. You will have to just except that fact. no one said you have to sell your soul to the devil in the process...FAUX News comes to mind.

I started this thread just to show people that there is still some good behind the scenes. Lately it was looking pretty bleak.

[eleny]

6. And they'd be dead not to notice the growing success of AAR

Democrats are consumers, too, who watch commercials and buy things. With Kerry leading in the polls, it's insane to ignore us as a customer base.

[AmerDem]

12. your right!

It took Limpballs a good 10 years or so to accrue his listeners. No one said this happens over night.


In the case of Kaplan,it's comforting to know there is still some good behind the scenes!

[krkaufman]

41. Nice thing is...

... the Bush Effect will help accelerate profits for any entrepreneur getting behing the progressive, liberal message. Bush has energized millions like no left-of-center leader in 40+ years.

MSNBC would be wise to partner with Air America and several of the evolving progressive and centrist organizations to corner the market on the anti-Fox viewer. Provide a truly balanced, fact-based argument and the viewers will come.

[nostamj]

28. and don't forget the success of F911 too

there's nothing left of the far right audiences, esp. with CNN joining the bottom feeders of Fox.

my (brief) analysis from last night:

MSNBC Breaking Left?

[proud patriot]

7. vote in today's question of the day

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3096434/

[AmerDem]

11. I have already.

Thanks for the link!

[sampsonblk]

13. Still gotta flog the guy who fired Donahue for Savage

Then I'll be a believer. Keel-haul him!

[AmerDem]

16. Donahue was let go 2/2003 Kaplan was hired 2/2004

Donahue let go: http://www.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/TV/02/25/donahue.ap/


Kaplan brought onboard: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4285362

[sampsonblk]

23. I am not blaming Kaplan

I'm blaming whoever did it.

[AmerDem]

39. well, that was done in the past

let's see how things go from here.

[onecitizen]

25. I will never forgive them for that.........

esp. because I think Mathews was the major player in that debacle. Mathews was infantile and bratty when he walked off stage from Phil, I believe cause he was jealous of Phil and feared his popularity.

I miss Phil so much. Wish he would get a gig again. I would follow him anywhere.

[sampsonblk]

27. One of the best talk hosts ever - Maybe #1

Donahue was one of the few hosts willing to openly challenge Bush propaganda prior to the war. He asked questions. He got canned.

[fujiyama]

45. Was it that really big guy

that was in charge earlier? Jerry Nachman? I think he was editor in chief or something like that at MSNBC. He was pretty conservative.

He died a few months ago.

[skypilot]

17. Shit, I don't have cable.

I've noticed a couple MSNBC threads. Are you folks telling me that something like real journalism is making a comeback at MSNBC??

[Arugula Latte]

18. Their ratings went way up during the Democrats' Convention

Maybe a little lightbulb went off in their heads.

[AmerDem]

32. I flipped channels between...

C-span and MSNBC. More time spent at C-span.

[ThomWV]

19. They Just Think Bush Is Going To Loose - That's All

I honestly beleive that. MSNBC has simply come to the conclusion that Bush will loose and they are moving their support over to the other side. I think everyone but FOX will be doing it after the Republican Convention. In fact I have no doubt about it.

Let's face it, what network wants to find itself on the bad side of an incomming Administration? They will go with the one they think will win, and MSNBC has picked Kerry, the others will follow.

[Damn Hippie]

26. I think you are absolutely right n/t

[AmerDem]

37. Read the info in the opening post

People wont change their behavior after a lifetime of trying to do good!

Read all the links that were included in the opening post.

[Hidebo]

44. you are wrong

Did they just think Al Gore was going to lose?
I don't think so.

[DeepModem Mom]

21. MSNBC FEEDBACK: [e-mail]; to leave viewer comments...

Phone: [phone]

Also:
Fax: [phone]
Address: 1 MSNBC Plz., Secaucus, NJ 07094

[Cocoa]

22. the death of Jerry Nachman might have helped

then again, Scarborough Country is still on, and there's no excuse for that.

[thebigidea]

29. gawd, he was the worst.

When he first came on, I couldn't believe such a horror was given a program. I couldn't understand it - then I found out he was the program director.

Ohhhh! He gave HIMSELF a show. No wonder.

Rest in intermittent peace, you New York Post weasel.

[goclark]

30. What channel is Anderson Cooper on?

I read the other day that Gloria Vanderbilt is his mother? !

[Shopaholic]

36. CNN--he's on opposite Hardball--

and yes, Gloria Vanderbilt is his mother.

[AmerDem]

33. You can't walk in a wave a majic wand...

It takes time! Kaplan has been there since around Febuary!

[calimary]

31. Note this, too: DeepModem Mom's thread here, which INCLUDES

a link to the latest Nielsen ratings for MSNBC - their redemption is being proven out in the ratings. You have to read down the thread a little to find it - but it's worth checking out (as is the activism recommended in that thread, that will only UNDERSCORE this). THIS NEEDS TO BE ENCOURAGED, GUYS.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2240908

It's God's Work. Join me?

[AmerDem]

34. post the link ...

you are talking about. Thanks

[DU GrovelBot]

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[Nordic]

40. so why hasn't he fired Scarborough?

Why was Scarborough all over the DNC?

Until Scarborough goes into the toilet, where he belongs, I will have absolutely no faith in MSNBC or this guy

[Tight_rope]

43. Maybe he's an "Equal Opportunity Employer"!

:shrug: Not many companies truly say it, mean it and practice it.

[rsmith6621]

50. Ah Nordic.....

If Scar-ee can draw a few of those on the fence conservitive over to MSNBC and they just happen to catch a teaser lets say of a Chris Matthews show and say.....Hey Id like to watch that to see what is said and they learn somthing about Shrub that FOX or CNN didnt/wouldnt tell them he has done his job.

[Tight_rope]

42. I like this comment in the chronicle article.

snip~
Kaplan, who has won 34 Emmys and previously served as president of CNN News, spoke of a time when journalists such as famed Washington Post reporters Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward were idolized and journalism was a highly respected profession.

"Everyone wanted to be a journalist," he said. "I wanted to be a journalist before I knew I wanted to be a journalist."

With public skepticism about bias in the media increasing, an influx of information resources at one's fingertips, broadcast news viewership decreasing and its audience aging, Kaplan said journalists must "get beyond the surface" with their coverage of stories to keep up, reel viewers in and stay true to their mission.

"It comes down to digging deeper--digging much deeper," he said. "If you just 'do the news,' you lose. Isn't the public right in wondering what we are doing?"

[Nordic]

48. when he gets rid of Scarface and apologizes for ever having him on

then I'll think he's putting his money where his mouth is.

Until then, he's on the road to hell paved with good intentions

[fujiyama]

46. I do see an improvement

It's not perfect, but it's a little bit better.

The hiring of Olberman and Debrah Norville was interesting. I like Olberman. Haven't seen much of Norville, but she seems OK.

I think Matthews recent flip is temporary but he seems genuinely angry over the way the smear boats are going after Kerry. I also don't think he likes the way the B/C campaign took a clip from his show. I think he actually admires and respects Kerry's military service. The recent attacks were probably too low even for him.

Hell even Blow'Reilly condemned these ads.

[cybildisobedience]

47. a few possibilities for Matthews' "flip"

I've been thinking about this, and I think there are a few reasons. One may be Kaplan and some sort of network mission to actually conduct journalism.
Others:
- mad he was made a part of the Bush campaign vis a vis slimey ad with footage taken from his show
- realization that, with popularity of F9-11 and Air America, there is a HUGE un-served audience in center and the left
- conventional wisdom inside the Beltway is that Bush can lose, and he wants to make sure he has a place in a Kerry-controlled Washington.
- he still has a tiny place in his heart for liberal ideology, a sense of fairness, and a greater vision for this country. (By the way, I count this among the least likely).

[SoCalDem]

51. Matthews has two precious sons...

and perhaps he has seen the glimmer of what might happen to them if George, the Mad King, continues attacking everything not nailed down..

He probably was happy to smear Clinton.. Clinton is the guy that giys like Matthews envied...and all during the smear-job on Clinton, he still triumphed and was popular..It was "safe" to attack him.. Things are different now.. Anyone with half a brain can see that the 9 years of nonsense MAY HAVE distracted the attention away from some really important things..

We all know that even if Clinton had the flight numbers and tape recorded messages from the hijackers, the congress and the press would have SLAMMED him and PREVENTED him from acting..

Only a fool would think that Clinton could have done ANYTHING to prevent the 9-11 events.. Cingress had labeled him a lame duck, and everything he tried to do was "Wag the Dog" as far as they were concerned.. Matthews had a hand in hobbling the presidency, and he KNOWS it..