Remember a few years back when you could count on MSNBC to provide racially diverse, no-apologies progressive commentary, such as the network’s profile of Dr. Ben Carson titled “Blinded by the White” and accompanied by a graphic of an albino elephant?
Things have changed. The network purged itself of shows like “The Cycle” to make room for white men like Chuck Todd and Brian Williams. Al Sharpton’s weekday program was moved to early Sunday morning. Melissa Harris-Perry stopped showing up for her own weekend program, alleging that editorial control had been taken away.
Just where is MSNBC headed? The network this week announced it had signed George F. Will, and there were reports Hugh Hewitt had been approached as well for a weekend show. Then, on Thursday, word got out that MSNBC had brought on eight new contributors — all white men.
MSNBC just internally announced the addition of 8 new contributors — all white men
— Ryan Grim (@ryangrim) May 11, 2017
WTF?? https://t.co/ZlBJHiCSHj
— Sleeping Giants (@slpng_giants) May 11, 2017
@slpng_giants @MSNBC I hope this is not true. That would put you way out of touch with your current listeners. What is up with you?
— ScullySR (@gir_sus) May 12, 2017
@slpng_giants You are making this up, right?
— Patricia Crawford (@crawford_p) May 11, 2017
@ryangrim Absolutely Disgraceful!! No wonder they're going down the tubes…. BOYCOTT @MSNBC NOW!!
— RoseFromPhila 🍸 (@RoseFromPhila) May 11, 2017
Hold up … that report isn’t entirely accurate. Eddie S. Glaude Jr., chair of the Center for African-American Studies at Princeton, announced later in the day that he had joined NBC/MSNBC as a contributor.
Funny how life works. I am now officially a NBC/MSNBC contributor.
— Eddie S. Glaude Jr. (@esglaude) May 11, 2017
That's fantastic. Welcome aboard! https://t.co/UEtj5iWrwU
— Christopher Hayes (@chrislhayes) May 11, 2017
Verified! Sanctified! Mobilized!
Great to have you on board!!! https://t.co/ckdcly8ftc— Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) May 11, 2017
@ryangrim What? @esglaude just announced that he's a new contributor. . .
— Sheeva Leyla Nesva (@sheevanesva) May 11, 2017
@sheevanesva @ryangrim It was finalized just today.
— Eddie S. Glaude Jr. (@esglaude) May 11, 2017
In any case, MSNBC’s reputation with its progressive audience took another hit with Grim’s tweet. Boycott away.
@ryangrim Why I've stopped watching.
— JB (@Jillsey11) May 11, 2017
can't believe msnbc already updated its contributor page pic.twitter.com/gQHgRM3Fhe
— Melanie Ehrenkranz (@MelanieHannah) May 11, 2017
@ryangrim @Atrios What is this, the @nytimes ?
— PotomacRipper (@potomacripper) May 11, 2017
@ryangrim Super disappointing. The week day evening line up is only white people. @MSNBC diversity please!
— Tara (@leskurv) May 11, 2017
@ryangrim @rtraister I guess they have to provide balance to Rachel Maddow.
— EveryonesAWinner (@Every1sAWinner) May 11, 2017
@ryangrim @aterkel Lack is whitewashing & rightwinging @MSNBC into the dirt.
— Dr. K (@docdvr) May 11, 2017
@ryangrim So @Maddow @chrislhayes @Lawrence & @JoyAnnReid are raking in the money for @MSNBC so the obvious thing to do is hire Greta, Hewitt and Will
— Annie (@CurlynDoris) May 11, 2017
@ryangrim @maddow @chrislhayes @Lawrence @JoyAnnReid @MSNBC And then a bunch of white men who I'm sure are all or mostly conservatives. Never seen a channel CHASE it's loyal viewers away like @MSNBC
— Annie (@CurlynDoris) May 11, 2017
@ryangrim It will be super helpful to have a white guy's perspective on things. #SMH
— Ringuette ☪️ (@Ringuette) May 11, 2017
@ryangrim Good. I mean we need more white men. Health care, Islam, etc. all are lacking the old white rich male perspective.
— C.J. Ande… (@EnoughofYou) May 11, 2017
@ryangrim maybe first round of new guests will be the 13 GOP white, male Senators writing healthcare bill.
— Sarah Zukowski (@SarahZuks) May 11, 2017
@ryangrim @ShaunKing But diverse white men, right? Tall, short, sandy blonde hair, strawberry blonde hair, Swedish blonde hair, etc.
— Hannah Wanebo (@hannahwanebo) May 11, 2017
@ryangrim I see that Shaun King 'Liked' this Tweet. Was he one of the eight?
— Sean Watson (@lilblackduck71) May 12, 2017
@PortiaMcGonagal @ryangrim @MSNBC @rachel @Lawrence So sad to see MSNBC become Fox lite. They are on the wrong side of history. Clearly diversity means nothing. Going back to watching CNN.
— Kim Jones (@sycosucks) May 11, 2017
@ryangrim I've noticed it too, so disappointing. Therefore watching more CNN.
— Richard D. Navarro (@RichEastlake) May 11, 2017
Looks like Anderson Cooper and Wolf Blitzer are about to enjoy a ratings bump courtesy of MSNBC.
— Brilliantatbreakfast (@BrillBkfast) May 11, 2017
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Related:
Developing: HuffPo reporter's keen eye uncovers bunch of white guys at a Trump thing https://t.co/2YIzFQrko2
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) March 28, 2017
