MSNBC is looking to hire a couple of writers/editors to “enhance” their 2012 campaign coverage. But as Inside Cable News (ICN) points out, the exclusion of someone with a conservative point of view calls into question whether or not there is a firewall between the cable network and its broadcast parent NBC.
The full description of the job openings from MSNBC.com:
Sr. Writer/Editor, MSNBC Cable
Editorial | New York City, NY, United States
MSNBC TV on msnbc.com, online home of The Rachel Maddow Show, The Ed Show, Morning Joe, The Last Word, Up W/Chris Hayes, and other shows, is looking for a full-time blogger/writer/producer to enhance our Decision 2012 online coverage. Applicants must have a passion for and background in politics, beavid viewers of MSNBC cable shows, and have the ability to quickly curate, write, produce and promote compelling and accurate editorial content.
Topics and coverage will begin with the broadcasts (newsmaker or analyst interviews, and reported stories), but will not be limited to what is on air. Applicants should be voracious social media and news/opinion consumers, be good headline writers, have the ability to multi-task, and work independently under a tight deadline.
Candidates must have a minimum of 5 years’ experience at a print or online publication, have a basic understanding of HTML and extensive experience with content management systems or blog publishing platforms. Must have thorough knowledge of political and progressive news. Previous TV/video background a plus.
Writer/producer must be willing to work during msnbc’s primetime hours, and be excited about covering debates, primaries and the 2012 elections.
Please send links to previous work and any relevant social media streams.
Writer/Editor, MSNBC Cable
Editorial | New York City, NY, United States
MSNBC TV on msnbc.com, online home of of The Rachel Maddow Show, The Ed Show, Morning Joe, The Last Word, Up W/Chris Hayes, Hardball with Chris Matthews, etc. is looking for a weekend Web producer to enhance Decision 2012 coverage online, and support the website for Up W/ Chris Hayes.
Candidates must have a passion for politics, be avid viewers of MSNBC cable shows, have the ability to quickly curate, write, produce and promote compelling and accurate editorial content. Topics and coverage will begin with the broadcasts (newsmaker and analyst interviews – and reported stories), but will not limited to what is on msnbc air. The producer will also be tasked with publishing some video and distributing content on social media.
Applicants should have a basic understanding of HTML and/or experience with content management systems or blog publishing platforms. Previous TV or video background a plus. Candidates must be voracious social media and news/opinion consumers, have at least of 3 years’ experience at a print or online publication. Applicants should be highly organized, with the ability to work independently and under a tight deadline.
This position requires vast knowledge of political and progressive news. Work week will be from Wednesday-Sunday OR Friday-Tuesday.
Please send links to previous work and any relevant social media streams.
I’m under no illusion that MSNBC would actually want to hire any conservatives, particularly for their uber-liberal evening lineup, from Matthews to O’Donnell. But as ICN noted, it does appear that the senior writer opening is more general in nature and is geared more towards their overall 2012 election coverage than to a specific show.
It does appear that the network is far more interested in getting someone with a compatible (“progressive”) viewpoint for their campaign coverage rather than enhancing it with someone who at least understands the conservative line of thinking.
Of course the requirement that the individual needs to be an avid viewer of MSNBC probably eliminates virtually every conservative on the planet.
As for the firewall between NBC and MSNBC that ICN thinks is in danger, it doesn’t exist.
NBC and MSNBC share news resources and the cable network is the primary online presence for news for NBC owned properties. It’s pretty hard to have a firewall if you are sharing studios and personnel.
At least in this case MSNBC isn’t trying to hide its liberal bias. It serves as a reminder as to where the network stands as the 2012 election cycle kicks into high gear.
Don Irvine is the chairman of Accuracy in Media and its sister organization Accuracy in Academia. As the son of Reed Irvine, who launched AIM in 1969, he developed an understanding of media bias at an early age, and has been actively involved with AIM for over 30 years.
