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April 23, 2009

A Short in the System

GE poobah Jeff Immelt needs to work on keeping his stories straight. One of these things is NOT like the other. For all the attention on the MSNBC brouhaha during the shareholders' meeting, the CNBC "make nice" meeting actually got some airtime.

...Attendees who spoke to THR said shareholders asked about 10 politically charged questions concerning MSNBC as well as one about CNBC.

First up was a woman asking about a reported meeting in which Immelt and NBC Uni CEO Jeff Zucker supposedly told top CNBC executives and talent to be less critical of President Obama and his policies.

Immelt acknowledged a meeting took place but said no one at CNBC was told what to say or not to say about politics.


Why have a meeting at all then, one wonders, considering...
...Immelt told the assembled he takes a hands-off approach to what is reported on the company's news networks...

Hands off? That must only be applicable to the left hand. As for my rowdy CNBC bunch, I haven't noticed any appreciable softening of sentiment in their marquee players. (As if someone could force, say, Kudlow to "tone it down".) Calling it as they see it is one of the most refreshing aspects of watching CNBC.

But it's nice to know that someone has noticed the differential treatment 'twixt siblings.

..."My biggest surprise was the open hostility to MSNBC," said Tom Borelli of the Free Enterprise Action Fund and a four-year critic of Immelt. "It was noticeable and loud. I don't remember any of this going on last year."

"Any time MSNBC was mentioned, there was a rumbling in the crowd of 400 people," he added.
More please.

Posted by tree hugging sister at April 23, 2009 07:28 AM

Comments

I agree that old hands like Larry Kudlow haven't been cowed by the 'make nice' orders at CNBC. Maybe the old hands at CNBC have decided they care more about giving their honest view than they do about keeping their jobs, but the co-anchors (usually young babes with names to make) are quick to interrupt and try to cut them off. It's clear that somewhere some gatekeeper has issued a 'don't make waves' edict. Too bad, because there is no easy replacement to CNBC.

Posted by: Retread at April 23, 2009 09:29 AM

The co-anchors were doing that well before the meeting, honestly. And it has to suck being an Erin Burnett vice Mark or Joe or Maria or Sue ~ any of the established players, who will just as easily run over the top of the attempted intervention if they feel they haven't gotten their point across.

And you're absolutely right ~ there is NO replacement for them. It's a terrific ensemble.

Posted by: tree hugging sister at April 23, 2009 09:34 AM

Hey just a heads up, I wanted to let everyone know that Xio Dibin speaks English. I hope I posted in the right location?

Posted by: Shaun Davis at April 23, 2009 08:24 PM

CARMnY

Posted by: Ropanxwh at July 13, 2009 02:56 PM

CARMnY

Posted by: Ropanxwh at July 13, 2009 02:56 PM