In what appears to be an attempt to appear less partisan than usual, The New York Times is now reportedly requesting that its “journalists” and “reporters” abstain from appearing on conspicuously partisan programs such as MSNBC’s “The Rachel Maddow Show.”
This fascinating revelation was unveiled Thursday by Vanity Fair’s Joe Pompeo, who was tipped off by MSNBC itself about a Times reporter who was recently forced to cancel a scheduled appearance with network host Rachel Maddow because of this new request.
“On Sunday, May 19, New York Times finance editor David Enrich got a request from a producer at MSNBC to appear on Rachel Maddow’s show the following night,” Pompeo reported. “Enrich said yes, but after mentioning the planned appearance to the Times’s communications department, he was told he would have to retroactively decline.”
“The reason? The Times was wary of how viewers might perceive a down-the-middle journalist like Enrich talking politics with a mega-ideological host like Maddow.”
Besides being “mega-ideological,” Maddow is only a known conspiracy theorist.
According to Pompeo’s sources, this ban of sorts applies to “any cable-news shows that the masthead perceives as too partisan,” including MSNBC’s “The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell” and CNN’s “CNN Tonight,” the latter of which is hosted by Don Lemon.
Since its publication Thursday, Pompeo’s story has gone mega viral, attracting the attention of conservatives who feel as if this new policy is a stinging indictment of left-wing TV media:
@CNN @donlemon @MSNBC @maddow ? even The NY Times thinks you’re #FakeNews! https://t.co/hs8Q3oqo1R
— TheLastJournalist (@One4TrueFacts) May 31, 2019
MSNBC & CNN are such an abomination that the New York Times will no longer allow their fake news reporters to go on their shows. Yet here you are. Everyone now knows how bad these stations are. @cnnbrk
— Michael Del Sesto (@MichaelDelSesto) May 31, 2019
Interesting… media outlets refuse to let their reporters appear on @donlemon and @maddow ‘s respective shows because they are biased, worthless swill.. #cnn #donlemon #Maddow #FakeNews #FakeNewshttps://t.co/OSMz4GNCoz
— OntheSideofLaw (@MasonWythe) May 31, 2019
Buhahahahahahahahahahahahaha You know its bad when fake news NYT thinks @maddow, Lemon are just blatant liars! https://t.co/LI2vgVxob5
— Lorenzo Luncheonmeat (@onthecurbprodu1) May 31, 2019
Finally the @nytopinion has taken an objective stand by putting some controls on appearances of their staff on @maddow and @Lawrence . The bias and FAKE NEWS of these shows does little for the NY Times or any other paper that calls themselves journalists.
— The T A (@TheTA326) May 31, 2019
People are realizing that the toxicity isn’t helpful when we need to be actively pursuing a rapport and constructive dialogue with one another. @CNN and @MSNBC are on a ledge and nobody expects them to course correct. The wise thing is to step back and let them crash and burn.
— Joel Hernandez (@BadOldDays) May 31, 2019
The ban would also theoretically apply to Fox News’ “Hannity” and “Tucker Carlson Tonight,” though to be clear, it doesn’t appear that the Times’ “journalists” and “reporters” ever appear on them anyway. Why not? Because hosts Sean Hannity and Tucker Carlson are conservatives, whereas nearly everybody who works for The New York Times is decidedly to the left or far-left.
“I’m told that over the past couple of months, executive editor Dean Baquet has felt that opinionated cable-news show are getting, well, even more opinionated,” Pompeo’s report continued. “Baquet and other managers have become increasingly concerned that if a Times reporter were to go on one of these shows, his or her appearance could be perceived as being aligned with that show’s political leanings.”
Is that necessarily an unfair belief, though? Keep in mind that, as mentioned earlier, the Times’ “journalists” and “reporters” never sit down with conservatives. They only sit with, interview with and debate with members of the left. Some would argue this only makes them more biased.
“He thinks it’s a real issue,” one of Pompeo’s sources dismissively said.
“Their view is that, intentionally or not, it affiliates the Times reporter with a bias,” another added.
Pompeo noted though that this has technically always been the Times’ policy. It’s just that the paper is only now making an effort to actually enforce its own rules.
“In deciding whether to make a radio, television or Internet appearance, a staff member should consider its probable tone and content to make sure they are consistent with Times standards,” the paper’s ethics handbook reportedly reads. “Staff members should avoid strident, theatrical forums that emphasize punditry and reckless opinion-mongering.”
Hatred and Bewilderment on the Faces of MSDNC. Why? Because they don’t want justice, they wanted impeachment. #BarrReport https://t.co/RGOlIf8208
— Rick E Schaler MD (@RickSchaler) April 18, 2019
MSNBC is reportedly quite peeved by the enforcement of this long-standing rule.
“They definitely weren’t happy about it,” one source said.
Another source — this one reportedly from within MSNBC — derided the Times’ guidelines are “inconsistent, incoherent, and poorly conceived,” and suggested the paper owes the network something.
“At the moment that Donald Trump became president, and print media was coincidentally in crisis mode from a business perspective, a significant contributor to the success of publications like the New York Times and the Washington Post was the exposure that their great work got on networks like MSNBC and CNN,” this source said. “They are the beneficiaries of some very positive exposure for their journalists.'”
In other words, the folks at MSNBC believe papers like the Times owe them for increased ratings. Of course, the argument could be made that the folks at MSNBC and the Times both owe President Donald Trump something for inadvertently helping increase their ratings.
It’s just too bad that their ratings are now on the decline …
DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW
Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!
Vivek@bizpacreview.com
V. Saxena is a staff writer for BizPac Review with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University.
- ‘It must be an insurrection’: Pro-Palestine protestors fill California State Capitol, force lawmakers to adjourn early - January 5, 2024
- ‘I enjoy making men uncomfortable’: Critics predict ‘Disney’s biggest flop yet’ as feminist director’s past comments resurface - January 5, 2024
- Musk SCORCHES Mark Cuban with one line in DEI debate: ‘Cool, so when should we expect …’ - January 5, 2024
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.
