MSNBC’s new breaking news strategy on display for all to see…
In yesterday’s New York Times article on MSNBC Dan Abrams said he was looking to have more breaking news coverage. Today we saw some of that in action, though maybe not in the way MSNBC would like it. This took the form of two producers sitting behind MSNBC anchor Chris Jansing at the Noon hour. At one point coming out of the break the camera panned back from them towards Jansing, who mentioned who they were and what they were doing. She said they were a big help to her when news is breaking.
Ok. I get it. More breaking news. But does that mean I have to see the people responsible for it? This producer positioning forced some awkward camera angles early on in the newscast and I found the whole scene rather distracting as I kept seeing part of a head with headphones on behind her. Before Jansing explained the situation, I had thought they were maybe shooting a segment elsewhere in the studio or something.
UPDATE: The crowded news desk was noticed on the MSN MSNBC board….
For some odd reason, there are people sitting in the big desk “pod” behind the anchors this afternoon. A gentleman (with headphones) and a girl with a pony tail.
It’s sort of distratcing…
Why does it seem that everything MSNBC tries ends up looking really stupid to me? I used to love watching the MSNBC, It wasn’t dull like CNN, nor was it slanted like fox. But it seems that nearly every change made in the past few years has ended up either damaging the quality of the content or being distracting and obnoxious. Watching the channel for me has now become a pain, and it’s a shame because there was so much potential to it.
Comment by No Time for a name — June 28, 2006 @ 3:28 am
From what I hear MS missed the breaking news of Isreal invading Gaza last night. From what I understand, CNN was LIVe and MS and FNC were in tape during the 7pm hour.
Comment by Cable News Watcher — June 28, 2006 @ 10:11 am
All three networks should be covering the Israeli situation non-stop. Instead, they’re reporting maybe once and hour, going back to other frivilous stories in between. This is their chance to show us some real news, but they’re failing.
Comment by Missy — June 28, 2006 @ 11:30 am
FNC ran Shep on tape during the 7 PM hour? Are you sure about that? I didn’t see it but the only time I’ve ever seen Shep on tape is during the overnight replays. Otherwise he’s live.
Comment by OverHere — June 28, 2006 @ 12:13 pm
Hey MSNBC — there’s this great new invention: it’s called an IFB!
For crying out loud — it’s not like the producers are going to actually speak to her while she’s on the air. Gimmick… and poor one at that.
Comment by WestCoastBlogger — June 28, 2006 @ 1:38 pm
This looks like a cheap imitation of the “working newsrooms” that are behind some sets…They could at least give Chris a laptop to use.
Comment by Terance — June 28, 2006 @ 1:47 pm
You must not have noticed. Buried in the desk is a pair of computers. The desk glass is transparent and you can see the monitor when they do one of those swooping crane shots.
Comment by Spud — June 28, 2006 @ 2:11 pm
No, I didn’t know that. But, wouldn’t she be reliant on someone else scrolling the screen? I don’t see a mouse or keyboard anywhere?
Comment by Terance — June 28, 2006 @ 2:25 pm