Rashida Jones has stepped down as president of MSNBC, marking a significant shift for the cable network as it prepares for the upcoming presidency of Donald J. Trump. Rebecca Kutler, who previously held the position of senior vice president for content strategy, is now serving as interim president. Jones, who led the network for nearly four years, will remain in an advisory role until March.
Her departure comes during a challenging period for MSNBC, which has seen a notable decline in viewership, particularly since Trump’s victory in November. Despite this, network executives believe that the dip in ratings following the election is typical and are hopeful for a recovery as Trump begins his second term.
Moreover, MSNBC is undergoing additional changes as its parent company, Comcast, plans to spin the network off into a separate entity later this year. This transition will detach MSNBC from NBC News, its long-time affiliate. In light of this, the network announced plans to recruit a new head of news gathering and a new head of talent, indicating a potential shift in programming and approach.
This shift in leadership and corporate structure offers an opportunity for MSNBC to reinvent itself and possibly regain its audience by adapting to the evolving political landscape. As the network tackles these challenges, it could find innovative ways to engage its viewers and provide the content they seek in a post-election context.