NBC News' problems stem from the loss of Russert

[Renew Deal]

NBC News has been a wild circus over the last 6 months. There were the 6 way fights between Mathews, Olberman, Shuster, Scarbarough, Maddow, and Buchanan for a few days. A couple weeks later they put David Gregory in charge of "political" coverage and took off their best political people (Mathews and Olberman). Scarbarough has been insulting to Mika, guests, viewers, and the campaigns for a few months. Campbell Brown was lost to CNN. And I'm pretty sure NBC lost someone else. Brokaw has been complaining about the News division publicly. Now Joey drops the F-Bomb on live TV.

NBC news has been a circus since Russert was lost. It has gotten more and more undisciplined. Their talent is constantly arguing with each other on air. They are losing people. And now they're out of control on the air. The loss of Tim Russert will be seen as a turn for the worse for NBC. The only bright spot is promoting Maddow.

[ellacott]

1. I agree

[bigtree]

2. I'm sure he was a 'nice guy'

. . . but he asked inane questions without any substantive follow-up on the important stuff. He didn't earn any creds as a serious journalist, imo. He was just one in a pack of hacks.

[Renew Deal]

3. If you're talking about Russert...

He also ran the news division.

[ellacott]

4. I think that's what is lacking, competent management

Regardless of what the public thought of him he had the respect of the employees at NBC news.

That doesn't seem evident since he died.

[RaleighNCDUer]

7. From the way it's shaking out he was a far better manager

than reporter.

It's not the loss of the reporter they're feeling, but loss of competent management.

[Renew Deal]

9. Right

I didn't say a word about his "journalism."

[librechik]

5. Huh? Russert was just one of the clowns in the circus.

he never seemed to take his obligation as an objective jounalist seriously. He was pleased as punch to slant stories against the left. He slashed and attacked folks like Howard Dean, but softballed Rummy and Cheney over and over and OVER. And they hired Michael Savage and Glenn Beck while he was one of the top execs at NBC news.

In many ways it was worse while Tim was in charge. He loved being one of the gang. He never provided the leadership we needed during the runup to Iraq, for example. he just echoed and supported the WH line.

TVNews orgs are fucked. They all have to tear up their plans and start over again,since the internetS.They just don't have the brains or the will to do it.

[HelenWheels]

11. Maybe nice guy, but

He always went where the power was. He wasn't strong enough to stand for what was right and not what was popular. I don't miss him.

[RamboLiberal]

14. I agree with all you say - but I don't remember them hiring Beck

Wasn't that CNN that hired Beck? Or am I not remembering something?

I do remember the Savage Weiner's short-lived show on the weekends where he ended up shooting himself in the foot in record time - just like Limbaugh's short stint on NFL football.

[librechik]

17. you are right--it's too easy to get the cable news outfits mixed up!

apologies

[ErinBerin84]

6. well, Brokaw

in all fairness, I complain about you all the time too.

[Lex]

8. NBC News' organization depended on one guy?

That's not a very good model for a news corporation.

[Renew Deal]

10. I would't look at it that way, and I don't think it's true anyway.

Have you ever worked for a really good boss and then lost that person? The organization changes. It's just natural. Think about Apple during the non-Steve Jobs years. They almost went under. Russert ran the news division at NBC. Losing him will have an effect.

[gratuitous]

12. Power vacuum

And there are lots of competitive, egotistical folks lunging into the void to grab their share of what Russert left behind. It is indeed a terrible business model, but not surprising or unexpected. Russert dropped dead suddenly, but a good business model allows for that happenstance. Whoever comes out on top at NBC should be grooming a successor before his chair has even gotten warm.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

13. For all the talk of David Gregory's anchoring election night.....

.....it didn't really matter, as Keith got to announce Obama had won anyway.

I enjoy the food fight over there.

[politicasista]

15. Why Fat Pat is still even their payroll is beyond us n/t

[TexasObserver]

16. That's bullshit. NBC is improved since Russert died.

Who wrote those two paragraphs? They read like a hit piece penned by Fox Noise.

Sounds like sour grapes from those at CNN and Fox News getting their asses kicked by Maddow and Olbermann.

Olbermann, Maddow and Schuster are the stalwarts of news at MSNBC.

Sorry, but this OP earns EPIC FAIL.

[Renew Deal]

21. Jerry Springer fans will clearly be pleased.

Fighting, division, foul language, insults. MSNBC has it all. The only thing missing is chair throwing. Olberman, Maddow, Schuster, and Mathews are all good at times on their own. But Scarbarough and Gregory stink. They have lost one of their greatest assets to CNN. And collectively they are a mess. Obviously, there are people that are interested in the Jerry Springer style of news. Most aren't.

[TexasObserver]

22. It's a bullshit allegation that means nothing.

MSNBC is better than Fox News, ABC News, or CNN any day of the week, even its bad days.

I don't know why you worship Russert or think your analysis of the situation matters, but you're clearly in the minority here.

[Renew Deal]

23. That's a strange comment.

"I don't know why you worship Russert?" That's funny. There is no Russert worshiping going on at all, at least not by me. I didn't say Russert did a good job. I said things have changed since he passed. Also, if you actually read through the comments you'll see that you're clearly in the minority here.

[KharmaTrain]

18. And It's Made For Entertaining Television

Teevee doesn't really inform anymore. If you want that, you go to the internet or a newspaper, teevee long ago gave up on the concept of information in place of entertaining and making a profit. We don't see hour long shows explaining the economic situation or the Iraq war or healthcare...it's not "sexy".

The election coverage rarely focused on issues as opposed to personalities...and this was happening long before Russert died. Television politics has become a bloodsport...a game of polls, pundits and constant controversy...and Russert played this game as much as anyone.

Seems to me the term "undiciplined" means more liberal or progressive. Yep, it's not the same network it was a year ago with Russert jumping all around with his clipboard and sucking up to his white house buddies...it's gotten better!!!

[AlCzervik]

19. NBC news is poorly run then, they had no succession plan, bad on them. MSNBC's

election night coverage sucked and i am a fan of KO and Maddow but it was poorly done, CNN did an excellent job, way more data and not so much yapping.

[jonnyblitz]

20. yeah, Tim kept it pretty bland.nt