MSNBC, Lifted by War, Works to Keep Its Gains (Sorensen Admits CNN is leftist)

The Wall Street Journal ^ | April 21, 2003 | Joe Flint

[tdadams]

I think MSNBC really came into their own during this war coverage. They really have found a pretty impartial balance to their news as well as a good balance between in studio punditry and in the field reporting. I think they had the best overall coverage during the war.

What was the story with Ashleigh Banfield? I never regarded her as a serious reporter or a particularly engaging personality. In fact, it always seemed to me that MSNBC's effort to promote her as some rising star seemed a bit contrived. I've noticed she's had a much lower profile lately, along with assignments with less gravitas. Was there a public falling out or something that I missed?

[Paleo Conservative]

I find MSNBC to be an acceptable alternative to FOX.

True, but prior to the ascendency of Fox, MSNBC had lots of lefy commentators like Jonathon Alter, and Eric Alterman filling up air time. Fortunately the desire by GE to actually earn a profit on MSNBC has forced management to try to compete for the conservative viewers who have deserted the alphabet networks and CNN. I find it encouraging that MSNBC has given Joe Scarborough a slot opposite Greta Van Susteren.

[Nick Danger]

The "Fading Story" graph tells a striking tale overlooked by Nielsen: Fox News retained 85% of its primetime viewers "after the war," compared to CNN's 49.3 and MSNBC's 47.1

That was my favorite thing as well. It confirms something I thought — and hoped — would happen... that wartime "channel flippers" who had never even seen Fox News before would think, "Wow! Where have these guys been?" and never go back to CNN.

Next thing we know, those folks will be showing up on Free Republic.

Every million helps :)

[George W. Bush]

The FNC/MSNBC competition may mark the future of cable news, both steadily sucking viewers away from ABCNNBCBS. ABC & CBS were especially hard hit recently and CNN will fail to sustain its Gulf War II numbers. Not surprisingly, MSNBC has benefitted by its partnership with NBC and could, if managed correctly, become the primary news outlet by combining the network and cable operation and sharing resources and personnel.

Since they finally recognized that conservative shows win the ratings (and therefore ad revenue) game, they bear watching. FNC had better not sit on its laurels. Their lineup isn't all that strong and to date, their competition has been willing to be a cluelessly and repulsively liberal mouthpiece of the New York Times. I think that's coming to an end with the NBC/MSNBC setup.

[capydick]

Keith Olberman:"I've really reformed, I'm not a complete jackass anymore."

Capy: Yes you are.

[winner3000]

MSNBC may suck viewership away from Fox. The winner will be conservatism as non-lib channels proliferate. This is good news!!

[Benrand]

CNN has someone in Syria, and it really seems when you listen to her, she is spouting propaganda as much as the CNN Iraq bureau was.

Eason Jordan has not changed a thing.

[Grampa Dave]

Make me wonder how much impact the New GE top management is having on NBC?

[1Old Pro]

MSNBC hopes to play off the perceptions that CNN bends leftward and Fox News rightward. "I want MSNBC to be known as the 'straight shooter' news channel," Mr. Sorensen says

Those in the "middle" generally get run over. Besides, the middle to liberal news stations means liberal. They will fail.

[Fred Mertz]

I've been tuning to PMSNBC more often and think that had very decent war coverage. I don't much care for Olbermann's smarmy delivery, but Scarborough is a fairly fresh breath of air so far.

[Timeout]

I like MSNBC, too. But I'm not happy that they moved Hardball to the same time slot as Fox News Hour.

Matthews can be frustrating, but I consider him at least a "serious" democrat and he gets great guests. But, I'll miss his show if I have to choose between him and Brit.

[WOSG]

Yes, and if you watch the CNN fn reports from that brit journalist 'catherwood' it seems the US can do no right, everything is a terrible crime and shame and the poor iraqis are suffering...

CNN back to old tricks.

[shhrubbery!]

Bill O'Reilly wannabe Joe Scarborough has launched the 10-11 p.m. slot

Scarborough is better than O'Reillly.

[Wolfstar]

Although they've covered it over the last couple of years with stories that he's fallen off horses, had pneumonia, and the like, Imus appears to me to have a chronic breathing problem that may be emphysema or something comparable. He seems genuinely ill and fragile health-wise, often needs oxygen close by, and his voice sounds weak and breathy. All signs of someone with a chronic breathing problem. Whatever it is, it seems to have either started or worsened a couple of years ago, just before the incident where he supposedly fell off a horse and had to be hospitalized for awhile.

[CyberAnt]

Well ... Joe Scarborough is great - but I'd rather see the upbeat style of FOX any day.

[jimt]

Lester Holt was excellent much of the time whereas Shep Smith was off-puttingly hammy (and those cataracty eyes of his are weird).

I agree on Lester. Smith is so in love with his pretty-boy image he trips over the story and his own tongue. Disgust with him moved me over to MSNBC fairly often, even though their news and commentators were not as much to my liking. Fox should fire the wimp and hire Lester. Lester doesn't have to run over women in parking lots to prove his manhood.

[Bernard]

I've given up on Mathews. The last few times I've seen him, he doesn't even let the guest start answering the last question before he starts the next question, which is really Mathew's opinion with a question mark at the end.

[Question_Assumptions]

I like quite a bit of what I see on MSNBC and also some of what I see on CNBC (e.g., Kudlow and Kramer (sp?)). My cable company has all 4 lined up. I tend to scan MSNBC, CNBC, (skip CNN), Fox to see who is talking about something that interests me at night. CNN is just awful.

[orbitboy]

Keith Olbermann sucks

[dodger]

I agree MSNBC mostly pulled from CCN for a brief bump, but Fox missed the mark more than Roger Ailes usually does. In any event, Shep lacks substance while Greta strikes me as little more than a goofy Scientologist who can read a teleprompter. One could make a passable jack-o-lantern from opalescent eyes & her serpentine mouth!