In the aftermath of the recent election, MSNBC's Joy Reid, a prominent commentator, has been grappling with a significant decline in viewership and a potential pay cut.
Despite her fervent efforts to bolster Vice President Kamala Harris and castigate President-elect Donald Trump prior to the election, Reid's influence appears to have waned in its aftermath.
According to The Blaze, Nielsen Media Research disclosed earlier this month that Reid's program, "The ReidOut," suffered a 47% drop in its total audience. Fox News Digital further reported that Reid's show, which averaged 1.4 million viewers before Trump's resounding victory, has since plummeted to an average of under 760,000 viewers.
The show also lost 52% of its viewership within the crucial 25-54 age demographic. An on-air pundit, speaking to the Daily Beast, attributed the network's overall decline in viewership to its unyielding promotion of Harris. The pundit stated, "We were so Harris propaganda that when she lost, viewers were shocked.
It turned into one giant circle jerk and echo chamber. If MSNBC wants to be of service to its viewers, they can't keep them in fantasy land."
In the wake of Comcast's decision to divest its struggling NBCUniversal cable television properties, MSNBC reportedly reduced Rachel Maddow's annual salary by $5 million. Despite facing potential legal repercussions for her comments about Georgia doctor Mahendra Amin, Maddow will continue to earn $25 million from her renegotiated contract.
Lachlan Cartwright of the Ankler newsletter reported that Reid and Stephanie Ruhle, the host of MSNBC's "The 11th Hour," are also facing potential pay cuts. The Washington Free Beacon suggested that Reid and Ruhle earn approximately $3 million and $2 million per year, respectively.
The alleged pay cuts have sparked less surprise among critics than the fact that Reid continues to earn millions despite her inflammatory rhetoric and racially charged commentary. Jonathan Choe, a senior fellow and journalist at the Discovery Institute, remarked, "The state of left-wing corporate media is unrecognizable. Say wild things on air, and you still get to keep your job."
An MSNBC spokesperson, when questioned about the rumored pay cuts, informed the New York Post that the network would not comment on personnel matters.
This leaves unanswered questions about the future of Reid's role at MSNBC and the broader implications for the network's credibility and viewership.
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