As MSNBC staffers have their walking papers prepared, the hunt is on for who’s leaking info from the inside about all those job cuts coming. Peter Lauria’s item in today’s Post inadvertently points the finger at now-former Washington D.C. chief and Hardball EP Tammy Haddad, since Lauria wrote that she “left MSNBC of their own volition” when, as even mid-level staffers know, is a complete farce. (She left after a spat with Chris Matthews, where he blamed her for his low ratings.) Lauria also describes axed daytime programming VP Susan Sullivan in the same light, but Sullivan was forcibly removed and relocated to to NBC’s San Francisco affiliate, where she is news director. If either were providing info, of course, they get to write her own happy ending.
MSNBC chief Phil Griffin and NBC News SVP Mark Whitaker (the former Newsweek who came aboard in the spring) are trying to keep tempers cool as the message travels up the ladder to NBC News chief Steve Capus. So it’s Griffin’s new hire – Shannon High-Bassalik, the Miami news director he plucked from the outside, and who took over Dan Abrams’ job as general manager in October when MSNBC moved to 30 Rock – who’s responsible for mediating. She’ll also be your point person for addressing those building rumors that everyone from operations to the news desk is at risk.
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As you’ll know from reading the Post with any frequency, they’ve pretty much got it out for NBC. Sure, when biz reporter Peter Lauria delivers a Peacock item in harsh light, sometimes (most of the time?) it’s the network’s own fault. Other times, he just likes to rub it in. So where does today’s item about new-ish Jeff Zucker deputy Mark Whitaker fall?
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If brown is the new black, then Adam Moss is the new David Remnick.
–Former Newsweek editor-in-chief (and soon-to-be “No. 2 guy” at NBC) Mark Whittaker, to a shocked crowd at Tuesday night’s Ellie Awards, where NY Mag racked up 5 NMA’s while the New Yorker was shut out, despite 9 nominations. [via WWD}