MSNBC President Rashida Jones Receives Media Leadership Award from SCM

Rashida Jones, President of MSNBC, received the inaugural “Media Leadership Award” from the School of Communication and Media last evening. Before formally receiving the award, Jones had a wide-ranging discussion with SCM Director Keith Strudler and a Q&A session with students about the state of American news, her philosophy about news programming and reaching various audiences at the network, and advice for students looking to break into the field. 

Her advice to students: If I were talking to (a young) Rashida sitting in that chair right there I would say two things: think way bigger than you do (about yourself) and be very disciplined about how you network.

Jones also spoke about her strategy for news programming and her commitment to providing reliable information to her viewers. One of the leaders on our team expressed (an analogy) so clearly that there are the cheap sugar calories and then there’s longer, more sustaining food. What I’m looking to do is build over time a brand that’s not dependent on gimmicks or the easy way out, and is focused on integrity on the public service part of what we do. 

Jones discussed MSNBC’s expansion from linear to streaming platforms in reaching a broad audience.

I want us to be dominant on both linear television where we still have millions of people watching us on a daily basis, and I want to be dominant on streaming. We need to make sure we are finding ways to reach our audiences where they are. If (a younger audience) is getting information from the phone in their pocket, then I want us to be there.

After the event’s conclusion, Jones spoke individually with students about their career goals and aspirations. Jones also did an interview with Montclair’s NewsLab, the School’s student broadcast and digital news organization.

Before becoming president of MSNBC, Jones served as senior vice president, NBC News and MSNBC. Earlier in her career, she was the news director for the No. 1 NBC affiliate in Columbia, South Carolina. She was also director of live programming at the Weather Channel, where she led coverage of some of the nation’s most historic weather events, including Hurricane Katrina. Jones has been recognized with countless awards, including this year being named one of the “Most Powerful People in New York Media” by The Hollywood Reporter and receiving Hampton University’s 2022 Outstanding Twenty-Year Alumnus Award

The award builds upon the legacy of the previous “Allen B. DuMont Broadcaster of the Year Award” which for 30 years honored luminary figures such as Lester Holt, Hallie Jackson, Ian Eagle, Deborah Norville, and many others. The new Media Leadership Award recognizes individuals who have had a significant national impact in the media industry across platforms and genres.

Jones became the first Black executive to lead a major television news network when she was named president of MSNBC. She is responsible for oversight of all programming, editorial units, business development and technical operations as well as MSNBC Films, a division of MSNBC that produces and acquires documentary features and short films for distribution across the NBCUniversal News Group platforms. Jones also oversaw the launch of the MSNBC hub on Peacock marking the expansion of MSNBC’s streaming footprint.

The event, interview and Q&A session will soon be available on SCM’s streaming service, Hawk+. 

About the School of Communication and Media: Founded in 2012, the School of Communication and Media offers a range of dynamic programs in communication and media to a talented and diverse student population of over 1,500. Offering degrees in film and television, social media and public relations, advertising, journalism and digital media, sports communication, animation and visual effects, and an MA in public and organizational relations, the School prepares the next generation of communication and media practitioners and leaders. The School houses award-winning student programs that include WMSC Radio, The Montclarion newspaper, Hawk Communications PR Agency, the Red Hawk Sports Network, Hawk+ OTT streaming platform, and News Lab, as well as the Center for Cooperative Media, which serves the public by working to grow and strengthen local journalism. Recent national School recognitions include an Edward R. Murrow Award, several Marconi Award nominations, and a College Television Award from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.