Olbermann only MSNBC prime-time anchor absent from special election coverage
SUMMARY: A Media Matters for America review of MSNBC's daytime Battleground America coverage found that while prime-time anchors Chris Matthews, Joe Scarborough, and Tucker Carlson have all participated in MSNBC's special midterm election coverage, Keith Olbermann has been absent.
NOTE: As a Media Matters
commenter pointed out, Olbermann provided the following explanation
on the weblog Firedoglake for why he has not been a host or guest during
MSNBC's special election coverage:
I'm co-anchoring the election with [Chris] Matthews Tuesday night. And MSNBC has asked me to do whatever I could during these "politics days" -- but a) I have my daily radio commitment, and b) I don't want to diminish Countdown by not being around to write it.
As MSNBC's October 27 press release on the network's Decision 2006: Battleground America noted, starting October 30, MSNBC has been "devoting all of its daytime programming to politics," with coverage of the midterm elections slated to air "through Election Day ... with MSNBC Election Anchor and 'Hardball' Host Chris Matthews anchoring, along with MSNBC's Keith Olbermann, Joe Scarborough, Tucker Carlson, Norah O'Donnell and others." But a Media Matters for America review of MSNBC's daytime Battleground America coverage found that while prime-time anchors Matthews, Scarborough, and Carlson have all participated in MSNBC's special midterm election coverage, Olbermann has been absent.
The review found that Matthews, Scarborough, and Carlson have either hosted or contributed to 19 different segments in the special combined, whereas Olbermann has not appeared in any of MSNBC's election coverage, outside of his own program, Countdown. Only during the November 4 edition of Battleground America did MSNBC air a segment featuring Olbermann, but it was a clip from Countdown, not a personal appearance.
|
Anchors |
Dates/Shows |
Total appearances outside of own program |
|
Chris Matthews |
MSNBC News Live: 10/30; The Most with Alison Stewart: 10/30, 10/31, 11/1, 11/2; Battleground America 11/3, 11/5 |
7 |
|
Joe Scarborough |
MSNBC News Live: 10/30, 10/31, 11/1, 11/2; Battleground America 11/3, 11/4, 11/5 |
7 |
|
Tucker Carlson |
MSNBC News Live: 10/30, 11/1; The Most 10/31; Battleground America 11/3, 11/5 |
5 |
|
Keith Olbermann |
None |
0 |
Carlson, Matthews, and Scarborough anchor MSNBC's Tucker, at 4 and 6 p.m. ET on weekdays, Hardball with Chris Matthews, at 5 and 7 p.m. ET on weekdays, and Scarborough Country, at 9 p.m. ET on weekdays, respectively. Countdown with Keith Olbermann airs at 8 p.m. ET on weekdays.
Media Matters has documented numerous instances of conservative information in MSNBC's recent election coverage. For instance, the October 24 edition of Decision 2006: Battleground America -- The Homestretch, which appeared to be a preview of MSNBC's special election coverage, was rife with conservative misinformation, Republican talking points, and falsehoods. Since October 30, MSNBC's weeklong Battleground America coverage has been marked by various MSNBC hosts, correspondents, and analysts uncritically reporting smears against Democrats; declaring a Senate race in which the Democrat leads by 13 points "tight," while declaring a Senate race in which the Republican leads by 12 "all but over;" failing to note falsehoods in Republican campaign advertisements attacking Democrats; failing to challenge conservatives' baseless attacks on Democrats; and attacking Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) over a self-described "botched joke" he made during a California campaign appearance (here, here, and here).
That's is a problem, they are not interested in a Curious, or Intellegent commentator, just a compliant one.
At [link to www.firedoglake.com] Book Salon, Keith was asked "Is MSNBC going to bring you on to any morning or afternoon slots during these last days of the campaign? If not, why not?" Keith answered, "Thanks for giving me a chance to clear this up. In fact, I’m co-anchoring the election with Matthews Tuesday night. And MSNBC has asked me to do whatever I could during these “politics days” — but a) I have my daily radio commitment, and b) I don’t want to diminish Countdown by not being around to write it."
Trying again to get this link right: Keith's comments at FDL's Book Salon.
Yes but would Keith actually publically complain that he hasn't been a part of the election coverage? They are, after all, his bosses...
publicly that is*
Well, if we're not going to trust the one anchor we trust, we're in trouble. :-)
As a regular visitor to FDL and having read the entire thread, KO was pretty up front about everything.
If you email MSNBC, they just toss them out. Something about a lot of email concerning Terry Schiavo.
Doesn't he have writers?
Oh well...
It doesn't really matter. I think the majority of MSNBC's viewership work for MMFA. ;-)
MMFA must be a huge coorporation then and so as a Conservative you must worship them!
So far (knock on wood), Keith seems to be immune from the affliction that prevents other MSNBC hosts from separating fact from fiction and also causes them to repeatedly pull facts from their fart factory.
He probably doesn't want to push his luck by being trapped in close proximity to several of them, forcing him to breathe the putrid air spewing from their lie-holes.
Before posting something that is not a story. I listen to Olbermann as much as I can on ESPN radio with Dan Patrick, I like him more in that role anyway than on MSNBC .
that the BUSH ADMINISTRATION posted DETAILED PLANS for a NUCLEAR WEAPON on the "INTERNETS".
He will make them look too stupid and Chris doesn't play well with others who don't share his never-to-be-humble opinion. Keith tells it like he sees it and the other guys don't like it. Tucker? What the hell are his credentials anyway? And Joe? What really did happen the night his secretary was found dead in his office while he was in serving in congress?
Only CNN has made an effort to have a Dem or liberal voice on its panels, usually the ragin' Cajin. At least they've tried.
But MSNBC has resumed their normal practice of having a right-wing ideologue joined at the hip with an attendant 'journalist' who's there, of course, to explain the Democratic position.
Or in the case of Matthews over the weekend, a panel fully stocked with giggling conservatives.
This certainly tells us the bent of the media, and it is certainly not Liberal. As long as there are lap gogs like Matthews, Norah, Tucker, Andrea Mitchell, The Fox Gang of imbeciles, and the CNNscatterbrains, the need for parity, honesty and integrity is non existant. Look these outlets (interesting choice) cannot even call upon a Hispanic, Asian or a Native American to participate in the process. For all intent and purpose, the US is only made of 2 racial entities, and the others are insignificant. So, why should we get all up, because Keith is not on the roster!
MMFA clarified this story
NOTE: As a Media Matters commenter pointed out, Olbermann provided the following explanation on the weblog Firedoglake for why he has not been a host or guest during MSNBC's special election coverage:
I'm co-anchoring the election with [Chris] Matthews Tuesday night. And MSNBC has asked me to do whatever I could during these "politics days" -- but a) I have my daily radio commitment, and b) I don't want to diminish Countdown by not being around to write it.
As a strong Democrat and anti-Carlson, Mathews and often Scarborough, I have suscribed to Media Matters for awhile now and read every summary.
I'm not sure why you included Olbermann's absence from special election coverage and made it sound as if you were congratulating the other three for doing so, especially when you criticize them so much--and rightfully so.
Olbermann's "Special Comments" at the conclusion of his show recently puts him head over heels for having the gumption and the biggest "balls" in criticizing Mr. Bush for the mess this country is in. I salute him for this, especially since he is the only prime time anchor exhibiting such courage. He says it much better and with more conviction and sincerity than any others.
Thank You!
Charles F. Smith, Jr.
I believe they were asking why Olbermann was not included in its special day time 06 coverage when other partisans like Scarborugh, Matthews and Carlson were.
The fact was Olbermann has other obligations in the afternoon on ESPN Radio . In the end Media Matters was wrong and I was glad to see them put up the special note.
They were not attacking KO.
I don't ever watch Fox but MSNBC has left me no choice by putting on Tucker and Joe all darn day.
Tucker uses these sneaky digs at democratic candidates and Joe talks about how he's friends with Mark Foley.
there is no journalism with Joe and Tucker they are partisan and there is no choice for a viewer like me.
CNN is doing voting "news" but they are not challenging the guest like a journalist should.
I can really see where Keith is coming from. In my humble opinion by doing the radio show it allows him to get away from the political stuff and he keeps a fresh perspective on things which carlson,matthews,scarborough dont have by being politics24/7. You may noy agree I found Blitzer and Cafferty a slight respet from the sound like his tie is choking him Carlson and the talk over you when you try to answer a question Matthews.
I watched Olbermann on the MSNBC evening coverage for several hours. I don't know what the big deal was that he didn't appear during the day. He actually got the choice job.