NBC News staffers reportedly miffed about MSNBC's planned Psaki hire


NBC News staffers are apparently "troubled by" by MSNBC's decision to hire Jen Psaki upon her departure as White House Press Secretary, people familiar with the matter told CNN.
In an attempt at addressing some of their concerns, NBC News president Noah Oppenheim reportedly held an impromptu phone call with "vexed" Washington bureau employees on Friday, some of which have complained that "the tentative hiring tarnishes the NBC News brand," CNN writes.
In the call, Oppenheim reportedly made the case that NBC News did not have a role in hiring Psaki, nor should journalists feel hires made for MSNBC's opinion arm are related to their work.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"Here's what he was saying: They have perspective programming. This was done on the perspective programming side. Not anything that reflects on NBC News," one of the individuals on the call with Oppenheim explained to CNN, who also held discussions with Psaki.
NBC News journalists should just do their jobs as usual, Oppenheim reportedly added.
Psaki is said to be leaving the White House around May for a hosting gig on NBCUniversal's streaming platform, though the deal is not yet final. She'd also be appearing on various MSNBC shows.
The frustartion around Psaki's hiring also threatens to widen an already-present rift between NBC News and MSNBC, CNN notes.
"This has been a slow boil for a while," one staffer said. NBC News journalists have also "watched closely" as MSNBC's prioritized commentary and perspective shows over hard news reporting since MSNBC President Rashida Jones took control a little over a year ago, CNN writes.
"Rashida is unapologetic with what she's doing with MSNBC," one network employee told CNN. "She has been clear about the network's direction."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.
-
The UK's best fishing spots
The Week Recommends Beautiful British rivers and lakes for anglers of all levels
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK
-
The sneaky rise of whooping cough
Under the Radar The measles outbreak isn't the only one to worry about
By Theara Coleman, The Week US
-
7 nightlife destinations that are positively electric
The Week Recommends Accra, Seoul, Berlin: These are a few of the cities that come alive after dark
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US
-
Trump says electronics tariff break won't last
Speed Read The tariff exemptions on smartphones, laptops and other electronic devices are temporary, the administration says
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Man charged in arson attack on Pennsylvania's Shapiro
Speed Read Governor Josh Shapiro and his family were sleeping when someone set fire to his Harrisburg mansion
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
White House pushes for oversight of Columbia University
Speed Read The Trump administration is considering placing the school under a consent decree
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Supreme Court backs wrongly deported migrant
Speed Read The Trump administration must 'facilitate' the return of wrongfully deported migrant Kilmar Ábrego García from El Salvador, Supreme Court says
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Two judges bar war-powers deportations
Speed Read The Trump administration was blocked from using the Alien Enemies Act to deport more alleged Venezuelan gang members
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Trump pauses some tariffs but ramps up China tax
Speed Read The president suspended most 'reciprocal' tariffs for 90 days and raised his tariffs for China to 125%
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Ukraine nabs first Chinese troops in Russia war
Speed Read Ukraine claims to have f two Chinese men fighting for Russia
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
IRS chief resigning after ICE deal on taxpayer data
Speed Read Several IRS officials are stepping down after the tax agency is forced to share protected taxpayer records to further Trump's deportation drive
By Peter Weber, The Week US