Weird news not reported by Chuck Shepherd
NBC News legal correspondent Dan Abrams has been named the new executive in charge of MSNBC.
Notice I did not say "former NBC News legal correspondent." They're letting him keep his network job.
Which tells you something about what a high priority fixing MSNBC is over there at GE.
SECAUCUS, N.J.--June 12, 2006-- Dan Abrams, a nine-year veteran of MSNBC and NBC News, has been named General Manager of the NBC News 24-hour cable news channel, effective immediately. NBC News Senior Vice President Phil Griffin, who spent nearly ten years at MSNBC, most recently as vice president of primetime programming, will oversee MSNBC. Griffin will also continue to oversee NBC News' "Today." Abrams will report to Griffin. Both announcements were made today by NBC News President Steve Capus.
"MSNBC is a key asset in the NBC News portfolio and this management restructuring will enable it to build on the momentum it already has," said Capus. "With his nine years of experience at MSNBC, Dan will bring an insider's perspective to the job. Dan is passionate about MSNBC and has the experience and strategic vision to lead it into its second decade. We are also extremely fortunate that Phil Griffin will re-assume a leadership position overseeing MSNBC," Capus continued. "Phil is an immensely talented executive and producer whose insight and drive are welcome as we focus on the future of MSNBC."
"Nothing is more important to me than the future success of MSNBC," said Abrams. "I'm looking forward to leading MSNBC into this next phase, building on our recent success. I can't wait to get started."
Abrams will step aside from anchoring his nightly program, "The Abrams Report." He will, however, remain NBC News Chief Legal Correspondent, providing legal analysis and commentary for "Today" and other NBC News and MSNBC programs.
Abrams joined MSNBC in 1997 as a general assignment correspondent and quickly became a regular contributor to "NBC Nightly News," "Today," and "Dateline NBC." He launched "The Abrams Report" in December, 2001. Abrams has reported on all of the highest-profile cases of the past decade including the Bush v. Gore post-election battles, President Clinton impeachment trial, the Scott Peterson and Michael Jackson trials and the Oklahoma City bombing trials. Recently, he has covered legal issues associated with the War on Terror and provided in-depth analysis. An accomplished writer, Abrams has had articles published in, among others: The New York Times, The American Lawyer and the Yale Law and Policy Review. A 1988 alumnus of Duke University, Abrams graduated cum laude with a B.A. in political science. He received his law degree from Columbia University in 1992. He currently resides in New York City.
