MSNBC President Rashida Jones Steps Down

MSNBC’s Rashida Jones resigned from her role as president on Tuesday to pursue new opportunities on Tuesday, according to Bloomberg. Jones served as president for four years and was the first Black executive to head a major television network.

Her resignation comes as the network’s parent company, Comcast Corp., prepares to spin offs several of its cable TV assets.

Why is Rashida Jones stepping down from her role?

“I came to this decision over the holidays while reflecting on our remarkable journey and the many successes we’ve achieved together as a team,” Jones said in a memo. The business executive told employees that she has chosen to pursue new opportunities.

Rebecca Kutler, senior vice president of content strategy brought in by Jones in 2022, will serve as interim president effective immediately.

Jones’s announcement follows Comcast’s plans to spin off most of its cable assets, including CNBC, USA Network, and E!, into a separare publicly traded company.

Additionally, the new company will look into obtaining more cable channels and launching its own streaming services. Mark Lazarus, the chairman of NBCUniversal Media Group, will oversee the new company and said that MSNBC will retain its name.

How has the political climate impacted MSNBC?

These changes come at an interesting time, as the cable TV industry is under pressure as audiences have shifted to streaming options, especially after President-elect Donald Trump won the presidential election in 2024. Data from Nielsen found that on the night of the election, viewership dropped by 25% compared to the previous four years, with Fox News being the most-watched channel, followed by Walt Disney Co.’s ABC and MSNBC.

NBC reported that when Jones became president in 2021 after the inauguration of President Joe Biden and the riots at the US Capitol, ratings for MSBNC skyrocketed on significant political nights.

Image: MSNBC