MSNBC: Fail
Nov. 3rd, 2010 09:55 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
novapsycheI was so disappointed in MSNBC's coverage of the returns last night. Not that it wasn't insightful or accurate, but it wasn't inclusive.
When I saw that they had brought Eugene Robinson (from the Washington Post) on as a commentator, I was actually impressed, thinking that was a nice change from Pat Robertson. Eugene is a thoughtful, erudite opinionist with a good lock on the pulse of the American left. As an African-American, he brings a perspective that is not inherently present on the network (although anchors like Keith Olbermann & Rachael Maddow fight the good fight when it comes down to calling out bigotry & interpreting trends others may have missed).
However, all of the team, especially Lawrence O'Donnell, talked over Robinson, not really letting him get a word in edgewise. His speaking style may have something to do with it--he is sometimes soft-spoken & often takes a few moments to get up to steam for his point to shine through. When he is interviewed, he contributes quite a bit to the discourse of why politics are perceived through various lenses, because he's given his time to speak. Chris Matthews interrupts a lot--that's his schtick--but the combination of him & O'Donnell served to drown out anything that Robinson may have elucidated, & that is a shame.
That said, that pales in comparison to what happened after that crew retired for the night, around 2 a.m. That's when the adults went to bed & the college folk were still up. MSNBC brought out a team that was anchored chiefly by a (White) woman who moderated two other (White) women, a White man & a Black man. I'm scouring the MSNBC site for the name of the woman who anchored the late-night coverage; believe me, if/when I uncover it, I will post it. Her moderation was so one-sided & rude one would need to be asleep to not notice.
One of her female colleagues was able to pontificate as to how the House results meant that the American people rejected the progressive platform & would herald a complete change in governance, e&. When the black gentleman would attempt to rebut that woman's comments, the host would cut him off or interrupt. She did not use this behavior with anyone else. My jaw dropped when he told the one woman "I think you're dead wrong" & began to list what factors he thought was important to why the House races didn't portend all doom & gloom; the host literally would not let him finish his second sentence but called for commercial while he was speaking.
I've never seen such disrespectful behavior amongst colleagues at MSNBC. She could have just let him wrap up his point quickly instead of shutting him down. It was something O'Reilly would have done when he heard a talking point with which he didn't agree. I was shocked.
As soon as I get confirmation of the identities of the parties involved, I will pen an email to MSNBC expressing my astonishment & dismay at the dismissiveness I witnessed.
When I saw that they had brought Eugene Robinson (from the Washington Post) on as a commentator, I was actually impressed, thinking that was a nice change from Pat Robertson. Eugene is a thoughtful, erudite opinionist with a good lock on the pulse of the American left. As an African-American, he brings a perspective that is not inherently present on the network (although anchors like Keith Olbermann & Rachael Maddow fight the good fight when it comes down to calling out bigotry & interpreting trends others may have missed).
However, all of the team, especially Lawrence O'Donnell, talked over Robinson, not really letting him get a word in edgewise. His speaking style may have something to do with it--he is sometimes soft-spoken & often takes a few moments to get up to steam for his point to shine through. When he is interviewed, he contributes quite a bit to the discourse of why politics are perceived through various lenses, because he's given his time to speak. Chris Matthews interrupts a lot--that's his schtick--but the combination of him & O'Donnell served to drown out anything that Robinson may have elucidated, & that is a shame.
That said, that pales in comparison to what happened after that crew retired for the night, around 2 a.m. That's when the adults went to bed & the college folk were still up. MSNBC brought out a team that was anchored chiefly by a (White) woman who moderated two other (White) women, a White man & a Black man. I'm scouring the MSNBC site for the name of the woman who anchored the late-night coverage; believe me, if/when I uncover it, I will post it. Her moderation was so one-sided & rude one would need to be asleep to not notice.
One of her female colleagues was able to pontificate as to how the House results meant that the American people rejected the progressive platform & would herald a complete change in governance, e&. When the black gentleman would attempt to rebut that woman's comments, the host would cut him off or interrupt. She did not use this behavior with anyone else. My jaw dropped when he told the one woman "I think you're dead wrong" & began to list what factors he thought was important to why the House races didn't portend all doom & gloom; the host literally would not let him finish his second sentence but called for commercial while he was speaking.
I've never seen such disrespectful behavior amongst colleagues at MSNBC. She could have just let him wrap up his point quickly instead of shutting him down. It was something O'Reilly would have done when he heard a talking point with which he didn't agree. I was shocked.
As soon as I get confirmation of the identities of the parties involved, I will pen an email to MSNBC expressing my astonishment & dismay at the dismissiveness I witnessed.