MSNBC is embracing a new “progressive political identity,” with the tagline “Lean Forward.”

[babylonsister]

This is great news, I'm thinking! :bounce:

With Tagline, MSNBC Embraces a Political Identity
By BRIAN STELTER
Published: October 4, 2010


MSNBC, once the also-ran but now the No. 2 cable news channel, has a new tagline that embraces its progressive political identity.

The tagline, “Lean Forward,” will be publicly announced Tuesday, opening a planned two-year advertising campaign intended to raise awareness of the channel among viewers, advertisers and distributors.

The tagline “defines us and defines our competition,” said Phil Griffin, the president of MSNBC, his implication being that the Fox News Channel, which is No. 1 in cable news and a home for conservatives, is leaning backward. Fox’s best-known tagline is “Fair and Balanced.”

Some of the new MSNBC ads include shots of President Obama on his election night; others, directed by the filmmaker Spike Lee, showcase hosts like Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow preparing for their nightly programs; and still others feature quotes like “the future belongs to the fearless.”

The multimillion-dollar campaign is a long time coming for the 14-year-old MSNBC, and particularly for Mr. Griffin, who has complained for years about not having more money to market the channel. With “Lean Forward,” MSNBC is following other cable channels that have found success by building easy-to-identify brands — like Bravo, TBS, HBO or, Mr. Griffin freely acknowledges, Fox News.

“When you’re clear about who you are, you actually make money,” said Sharon Otterman, the chief marketing officer for MSNBC, who started work there one year ago.

more...

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/05/business/media/05adco.html?_r=2&hp

[spanone]

1. k&r

[HereSince1628]

2. Isn't that a Donald Rumsfeld line?????

off to the Internets in search of an answer.

[HereSince1628]

4. Yep, it's a classic Rummy quote...so MSNBC will adopt it

The bastard neo-cons always make their moves in plain sight. I am not sure this is a good thing for the blue zone.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=post&forum=389&topic_id=9256999&mesg_id=9257009

"Leaning forward" is one of Donald Rumsfeld's favorite expressions. An old cold-war term, familiar to soldiers and spies, it means the willingness to be aggressive, to take risks. "I want every one of you to know how forward-leaning we are," the secretary of Defense told a room full of Marine generals and Navy admirals at the North Island Naval Air Station

[ClassWarrior]

5. Can we say stretch? And I'm not talking David Gregory, either.

:eyes:

NGU.

[HereSince1628]

10. You and the mouse in your pocket can write whatever you want.

That's why this board exists.

If you like them adopting rhetoric harkening to the whacky right's great cold warriors, fine.

[ClassWarrior]

13. So Russ Feingold is a wacky right cold warrior?

I mean, the slogan on his lawn signs -- FORWARD -- is MORE THAN FIFTY PERCENT of that damning Rumsfeldian quote!!

:eyes:

NGU.

[HereSince1628]

14. Since we're doing the education thing.

Feingold is making an association with the Wisconsin State Motto.

[ClassWarrior]

15. So that means YOU'RE more than fifty percent wacky right cold warrior too??!

Oh dear...

:scared:

NGU.

[HereSince1628]

18. You've caught an edge, dear chap.

[ClassWarrior]

19. At least I can still watch movies by David Lean. He's only...

...one-third wacky right cold warrior.

:rofl:

NGU.

[snooper2]

20. you think neoconservatives run MSNBC?

You will shit when you realize the evil crap 7-11 is up to :)

[godai]

9. Yes, but he doesn't have a monopoly on it's use.

I've used it as a good indicator of exerting pressure...being assertive.

[monmouth]

3. I don't think Joey the Scar got the memo. I only lasted 8-10 minutes

on that show this a.m... Awful.

[Tatiana]

7. Yeah... he's definitely leaning backward. n/t

[Tatiana]

6. I like this. Part of the problem is that Faux is carried on even the most basic cable tiers.

But I think with advertising on all the NBC networks and other outlets, MSNBC can raise its visibility. They are already #2 with only 51% recognition! Even if they were able to raise their recognition to 70% or so, it would spell a huge increase in viewership.

[babylonsister]

11. And my thinking is we finally have an entire cable station (with

the exception of joey scab and ratigan) who will be publicly supporting the liberal agenda, spending advertising bucks, etc. Win for us, finally!

[Odin2005]

8. GE is anything but Progressive.

[babylonsister]

12. Viewership talks; they'll be anything we want them to be if we

support them.

[madrchsod]

16. what! you mean liberals buy soap?....

now who in the world would have thought that could be true.....

[crazyjoe]

17. "Lean Forward?" I don't know, not very catchy. Most people won't even know what that means.

[starroute]

21. It sounds like a moonwalk-ish kind of illusion

Something about keeping your feet firmly planted in the same place while pretending to be moving.

Either that, or it the kind of wishy-washy people who tell pollsters they're "leaning" Democratic or Republican because they can't make up their minds.

Either way, it's hardly a ringing endorsement of progress.

[fifthoffive]

22. When I first saw this my brain embarrassingly jumped to

"bend over"

[WeekendWarrior]

23. It seems to me

that Fox's dominance in the ratings only demonstrates that conservatives have more time to watch TV than progressives do. We're too busy working and living our lives. Hell, I barely watch TV anymore. How about everyone else?

[meow mix]

24. yeah true, i make sure its on even though im working lol

try to help thier rating outs.

fox has the advantage of all the aged and retired viewers

[lifesbeautifulmagic]

25. not only that, but between podcasts, netflix,

streaming, and the internet, I rarely turn the tv on anymore. Maybe once a week, on Thursday nights for 30 rock and the office. I see no reason to pay for cable.

I do download Rachel, Keith and The Young Turks almost every night, though. I wish MSNBC would make other shows (Ed and Lawrence) available for download.

If the new slogan means MSNBC is embracing the left, I am happy for it.

[SoCalDem]

26. AMEN!.. If you want to beat Fox, let the viewers decide

Be the anti-Fox..not the wannabee-Fox