By Michael DeLier
Melissa Harris-Perry and MSNBC have parted ways.
The break came two days after Harris-Perry spoke out, saying she had been “silenced” by MSNBC and placed in a form of cable news purgatory, having been pre-empted for two weekends in a row. That was before she walked off the show. We asked DeLier Group President Mike DeLier ([email protected]) to give RBR+TVBR readers his thoughts on the issue in this commentary.
If you have ever managed a television station, a network, a radio newscast — anything in the broadcast business that involves news, you will find this interesting, more than likely. Amusing. Most news talent consider themselves extremely important and some are.
Some even consider themselves right up there with a U.S. Senator in importance, and some much higher than that. They are used to money, accolades and compliments galore. Those of us that have worked in and around news rooms know the facts.
In the case of Melissa Perry Harris this is all too true. Melissa, you see walked off her job anchoring a news show on MSNBC. According to her, the network moved the show once too often and she thought that disrespectful to her, the staff and the brand she worked so hard to build. Melissa, I urge you to develop your broadcast skills and learn how to read a ratings book.
You don’t have any ratings, girl. You are lucky to have a job. You work for the network and they own the time, not you.
I ran into a great news director over this weekend. He was the news director for a station I once managed. He’s a real hard charger, very professional and experienced. Frankly, the company he works for is very fortunate to have him.
Anyway, he didn’t even know who Melissa Perry Harris is. So I called 5, that’s five other news directors. Only one had ever heard of her, and he didn’t know much including her background. So anyway, to those of you that aspire to greater things… go for it!!! Be professional though and make sure you have some ratings before your arrogance trips you up forever.
Michael DeLier is president of The DeLier Group, a management consulting firm. Reach him at: [email protected].
