MSNBC president Rashida Jones is stepping down effectively immediately, according to a report on Tuesday.
Jones, who has helmed the Comcast-owned cable network for four years, broke the news to staffers on Tuesday morning, according to the Status newsletter.
Rebecca Kutler, senior vice president of content strategy at MSNBC, will succeed Ms. Jones as interim president, effective immediately. Jones will stay on in an advisory role through March.
“Rebecca is the ideal leader to guide us through this moment, and I look forward to collaborating with her as we shape our collective future together,” Mark Lazarus, the chairman of NBCUniversal Media Group, said in a note to staffers.
Her exit has been widely anticipated since reports surfaced in December indicating that change was afoot at the left-leaning network.Jones’ departure comes during a pivotal period for parent company NBCUniversal, which is preparing to spin off MSNBC and other cable properties into a new publicly traded entity, SpinCo, to be led by veteran executive Mark Lazarus.
MSNBC has been the second most-watched cable network during that period, ahead of CNN but behind longtime ratings leader Fox News.Rashida Jones is a trailblazing television executive who made history as the first Black woman to lead a major cable news network as the president of MSNBC. Born in 1980 or 1981, Jones grew up in York, Pennsylvania, and Richmond, Virginia, where she developed a passion for journalism.
Jones graduated from Hampton University with a degree in Mass Media Arts in 2002 and began her career as a morning show producer at WTKR in Norfolk, Virginia. She later worked at The Weather Channel and WIS-TV in Columbia, South Carolina, before joining MSNBC as an executive producer.
During her tenure at MSNBC, Jones played a crucial role in shaping the network's programming, including its coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 presidential election. She also expanded the network's town hall format and led the development of new programming.
In a surprising move, Jones resigned as president of MSNBC on January 14, 2025, after nearly four years at the helm. Despite her departure, Jones' legacy as a pioneering journalist and executive continues to inspire and empower women and minorities in the media industry.
Jones graduated from Hampton University with a degree in Mass Media Arts in 2002 and began her career as a morning show producer at WTKR in Norfolk, Virginia. She later worked at The Weather Channel and WIS-TV in Columbia, South Carolina, before joining MSNBC as an executive producer.
During her tenure at MSNBC, Jones played a crucial role in shaping the network's programming, including its coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 presidential election. She also expanded the network's town hall format and led the development of new programming.
Jones has received numerous awards and honors for her contributions to journalism, including two Emmys, three Edward R. Murrow Awards, and the RTDNA 2022 First Amendment Award. She has also been recognized for her leadership and commitment to diversity and inclusion.
In a surprising move, Jones resigned as president of MSNBC on January 14, 2025, after nearly four years at the helm. Despite her departure, Jones' legacy as a pioneering journalist and executive continues to inspire and empower women and minorities in the media industry.
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