Rashida Jones to be named president of MSNBC
She will become the first Black person to head a major cable news network.
Next year, Rashida Jones will become the newest president of MSNBC, making her the first Black person to head a major cable news network.
According to CNN, Phil Griffin, who has been the president of MSNBC for the past 12 years, is set to step down shortly after President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration. On Feb. 1, Jones will step into her role as the new head of the network.
The transition was announced by NBCUniversal News Group Chair Cesar Conde on Monday afternoon (Dec. 7). “She has an outstanding track-record and she leads with a laser-like focus and grace under pressure. I know she will be an excellent leader for MSNBC,” Conde wrote in a memo.
Griffin came to Conde shortly after the presidential election and talked about “his desire to depart at a time of his choosing and when he felt confident about the strength of the network he loves.” He also said Griffin “has many interests and passions outside news — and he is energized right now by the prospect of being able to participate in them professionally.”
Jones has been with MSNBC and NBC for seven years. She previously worked at The Weather Channel and other local stations. In 2017, she leveled up through the company and became the senior vice president for specials.
Earlier this year, Jones was placed in charge of MSNBC’s weekend and daytime news schedules. Most recently, she helped to oversee coverage of the presidential election and the Coronavirus pandemic. November became MSNBC’s most-watched month in its 24-year history, but the network is still ranked third behind CNN and Fox News.
“In the last year alone that has meant, of course, that she has masterfully guided our coverage of the global pandemic, the social justice protests and unrest, Decision 2020, and the two most-viewed Democratic presidential debates in television history,” Conde wrote.
The REVOLT team would like to send our congratulations out to Rashida Jones! Good luck in your new role.