Breaking news!
Rashida Jones, a senior vice president for news at MSNBC and NBC News, has been named president at MSNBC, replacing longtime network head Phil Griffin. Cesar Conde, the chairman of the NBCUniversal Newsgroup, announced the decision via a memo to staffers Monday afternoon. Starting Feb 1, when she transitions, Jones will be the first Black woman to run a cable news network and the highest-ranking Black woman in the TV news industry. Conde praised Jones for her management of the George Floyd protests, the COVID-19 pandemic, and presidential election coverage.
One day until #ElectionDay and what a ride it has been. For #MyElectionMoment, here with my debate-planning sidekick Marc Greenstein just moments before the primary debate in Atlanta in November 2019.
— Rashida Jones (@RJonesNews) November 2, 2020
We’ll be bringing you the latest on @NBCNews beginning at 7 p.m. tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/ldWLlWSOBa
“Rashida knows and understands MSNBC, in part because it’s where she started when she first joined NBCU seven years ago,” Conde said in the memo. “She knows that it is the people who work here that make it great, and she understands its culture. She also appreciates the impact and potential of the brand.”
Congratulations to a wonderful person and Broadcast titan! Rashida Jones is everything! We will we watching with pride as she becomes President of MSNBC! pic.twitter.com/8Bt0An6IJD
— AprilDRyan (@AprilDRyan) December 7, 2020
The 39-year-old Hampton University graduate worked as news director for NBC affiliate in Columbia, South Carolina, before joining MSNBC in 2013 as an executive producer. She was given oversight of MSNBC’s daytime news coverage this past April, adding weekend news programming to her skill set. This fall, she produced two presidential townhall events with the 2020 candidates and supervised Kristen Welker’s moderation of the second presidential debate.
Did anyone else just feel that seismic shift in the industry? Congratulations to @RJonesNews ... Game changed! 🍾 https://t.co/8A2WT3Wx8X
— East Atlanta Errin 🧼🧴😷🙏🏾 (@emarvelous) December 7, 2020
We agree. A seismic shift in the industry has occurred and it's what we call, the best news. Congratulations!
Photo Credit: Virginia Sherwood/NBC