In the realm of media, where subliminal messages are often believed to be hidden in advertising or even in the reverse play of a heavy metal song, the new logo for the rebranding of MSNBC is likely to stir up a storm.
According to the Western Journal, if you haven't been tracking the tumultuous events surrounding NBC's progressive cable subsidiary, you're not alone. The network is on the brink of severing ties with its parent company, which is in the process of spinning off its cable channels.
The majority of the channels that NBCUniversal is transferring to a spin-off company, now known as Versant, are unlikely to experience significant operational changes. However, MSNBC is a different story. The network, founded in the 1990s, derived a sense of "gravitas" from the NBC initials, and the NBC News umbrella provided it with a wealth of resources. Now, MSNBC will have to assemble these resources independently, a task that also carries value.
This transition has already sparked controversy. The dismissal of the contentious commentator Joy Reid was labeled as racist by several network members, including star anchor Rachel Maddow. Maddow suggested that the firing was indicative of underlying bigotry, stating that such a situation "has never happened at this scale in this way before when it comes to programming changes."
The appointment of a "golf bro" to oversee the new operation also raised eyebrows. An MSNBC staffer even speculated that the new leader "could have a MAGA hat at home, and we wouldnt know."
The network, known for its anti-Trump stance, has now rebranded itself as MS NOW, an acronym intended to represent "My Source News Opinion World." However, the lackluster effort put into the branding has left many unimpressed.
The new logo has also stirred controversy. The U.K.'s Daily Mail pointed out that the American flag to the left of the logotype resembles a 'K', which, in online parlance, transforms "MS NOW" into "KMS NOW," or "kill myself now." This unfortunate oversight by the rebranding team has not gone unnoticed.
MSNBC, once backed by the credibility of NBC and able to draw on established liberal NBC News reporters and contributors, now stands alone. NBC, which at least attempts to maintain journalistic objectivity, has distanced itself from MSNBC, a network where the words "journalistic objectivity" and "Rachel Maddow" are as compatible as a "Megan Thee Stallion song" and a "kid-friendly Spotify playlist."
MSNBC now faces the challenge of justifying its existence by investing more in news-gathering resources and generating more revenue through viewership. The network's first step in this direction, a rebranding effort, has been widely criticized for its lack of effort, originality, and oversight, especially given the unfortunate interpretation of its new logo.
Despite these initial missteps, there is still a chance that things might turn around for MS NOW. However, if the logo unveiling is any indication of the network's future, competitors like CNN may be feeling more secure in their positions. In a media landscape where success often hinges on doing things right, MSNBC's recent blunders have left many questioning its future.
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