The Daily Ronna McDaniel, TV News and the Trump Problem
90 snips
Apr 1, 2024 
Jim Rutenberg, a writer at large for The New York Times, dives into the controversial hiring and quick dismissal of Ronna McDaniel at NBC News, shedding light on the complexities of political insiders in media. He discusses the challenge of maintaining journalistic integrity amid audience polarization and the implications for balanced reporting ahead of the 2024 election. Rutenberg also reflects on how Trump's candidacy has transformed journalism, revealing the difficult balance between appealing to viewers and upholding the truth.
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Backfire at NBC
- NBC's attempt to appeal to Trump supporters backfired, alienating them further.
- Fox News capitalized on this, portraying NBC as intolerant of Republicans.
Media's Trump Conundrum
- News media struggled to balance covering Trump's norm-breaking behavior with appealing to his supporters.
- This tension led to a seesaw effect in their coverage approach.
CNN's Recalibration Attempt
- CNN, under Chris Licht, tried to re-center its coverage and appeal to a broader audience.
- This included a controversial town hall with Trump, which ultimately led to Licht's ousting.