Keith Olbermann
Keith Olbermann is a U.S. Prime-time news and opinion host on MSNBC, a cable network generally considered liberal. He entered television as a sports journalist for ESPN, moved to pure news at MSNBC, and then became more of a opinion broadcaster, positioned against Fox News.
November 2010 suspension
Olbermann was suspended in November 2010 for making campaign contributions. MSNBC President Phil Griffin explained: “I became aware of Keith's political contributions late last night. Mindful of NBC News policy and standards, I have suspended him indefinitely without pay." [1]
His contributions went to three Democrats, Kentucky Senate candidate Jack Conway and to Arizona Reps. Raul Grijalva and Gabrielle Giffords. He announced
I did not privately or publicly encourage anyone else to donate to these campaigns, nor to any others in this election or any previous ones, nor have I previously donated to any political campaign at any level.
The suspension has been compared to that of the firing of Juan Williams, a full-time National Public Radio journalist who also appeared on Fox News. MSNBC fired him for making an allegedly racist comment. Politico also observed that MSNBC's parent, NBC News, was increasingly uncomfortable with the ideological stance being taken by the cable network.
Industry sources told the New York Times that the decision might be a way for NBC to differentiate it from Fox,"underscoring that MSNBC, while featuring prime-time shows that overtly support Democratic policy, remains a channel that adheres to fundamental journalistic values."[2]
References
- ↑ Simmi Aulja (5 November 2010), "Keith Olbermann suspended after donating to Democrats", Politico
- ↑ Brian Stelter and Bill Carter (5 November 2010), "Olbermann Suspended From MSNBC for Campaign Donation", New York Times