HuffPo Readers Choose Ifill or Maddow to Anchor Meet the Press
Citing his close personal and professional relationship with Tim Russert, veteran anchor Tom Brokaw has stepped up to lead Meet the Press through the 2008 election season. It’s a good interim move to maintain the respect and high level of quality which the show has become famous for.
What the Brokaw decision also allows is an unprecedented opportunity for NBC to give ample thought to who will hold the permanent reigns on Meet the Press. It provides the network with the chance to audition some of the women selected by over one hundred Huffington Post readers last Friday, who strongly feel these women deserve at least a shot at filling Russert’s chair.
Gwen Ifill, moderator and managing editor of “Washington Week” and senior correspondent for “The News Hour with Jim Lehrer”, easily led the pack among readers, with Rachel Maddow, host of Air America Radio’s “Rachel Maddow Show” and political analyst for MSBNC, coming in a close second.
Ifill and Maddow bested the next two winners, Lara Logan, chief foreign correspondent for CBS News, and Andrea Mitchell, chief foreign affairs correspondent for NBC News, by a considerable margin.
Voting by readers of this site makes it clear that each of these women should be given the opportunity to trial anchor Meet the Press, allowing viewers and NBC executives to sample those in the running before any decision is made about a permanent replacement.
I once hitched a ride back to my hotel with Mitchell and Ifill from a democratic convention, and listened as they mused about who beat out who for whatever story or subject with laughter and frustration. They are women who are accustomed to competition, alongside women and men, and whose work is of the highest quality because of it.
It wouldn’t be amateur hour with these women at the helm. By giving them each the opportunity to guest anchor the highly influential Meet the Press, their presence would help to normalize women’s place at the head of the table. Hosting such a show would undoubtedly up women’s odds for these important positions regardless of who ends up in this top slot.
http://Columbia,SC July 1st, 2008 at 3:16 pm |
PLEASE, not Andrea Mitchell! AGH!
http://LosAltos,CA July 1st, 2008 at 7:06 pm |
Is it too far outside your mission to hope that the White House Project might use its influence in formally promoting women for this position directly to NBC?
http://Richmond,VA July 1st, 2008 at 9:11 pm |
I want to add my vote for Rachel Maddow to replace Tim Russert. Maddow is a breath of fresh air in the midst of a host of traditional, older, white guys in the media. She is bright, interesting, knowledgeable and incredibly articulate - able to talk circles around most of the guys we see all the time. She always provides an interesting take on a situation and manages to give a rational view while maintaining her ethical compass in a sea of ratings-based coverage. I would gladly arise early on a Sunday morning to listen to her discussions of current events.
http://Eatonton,Georgia July 4th, 2008 at 11:31 am |
I totally admire Gwen Ifill and feel she is a more than worthy and qualified candidate. I am just seeing this so, I did automatically think of Gwen, but I would be remiss if I did not also toss in the name Donna Brazil. I also am certain that I would not have been the only one to submit her name.
Ultimately, either of these women are worthy candidates for the opportunity.