In a profile of MSNBC by Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Bob Fernandez, the president of MSNBC, Phil Griffin, describes a network that’s survived the transition to Comcast and the exit of star host Keith Olbermann–and, he tells the Philly paper, has its sights set on becoming number one in cable news. “I want to make up ground with Fox News. That’s the goal,” said Griffin.

Amid plenty of talk about the new owners coming onboard at NBC, there was a moment during today’s NBC Universal “town hall meeting” that jumps out. (And no, we’re not talking about the new corporate logo that sidelines the NBC peacock from its corporate perch, though it remains a fixture of the NBC brand)

As Mediabistro’s Alex Weprin reports, new CEO Steve Burke was asked–by none other than NBC News anchor Brian Williams–what exactly led to the departure from MSNBC of Keith Olbermann.

In the world of cable news opinion media, its a rather well accepted axiom that Fox News primetime line up advances opinion that are from the right of center, and that MSNBC’s line up presents news and analysis from a left of center point of view. But according to a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter about the media’s ostensible obsession with Sarah Palin, not everyone seems to see the “opiniotainment” landscape in such binary terms. Bill Wolff, for example, claims that MSNBC is not “driven by politics.”

Does the departure of Keith Olbermann mean the soon-to-be-under-new-management MSNBC will tone down the partisanship or even move away entirely from the perceived leftward lean of Olbermann’s Countdown? MSNBC boss Phil Griffin says simply, “nothing changes.”

In an interview with Tim Molloy of The Wrap, Griffin declined to get too specific about the details of Olbermann’s sudden evacuation from 30 Rock, but was firm that the network’s mission remains unchanged: catching Fox News, and using the deep bench–like Rachel Maddow, whom Olbermann brought onboard–to get it done:

Shockwaves were felt through the cable news world late Friday night when word broke that Keith Olbermann and MSNBC would suddenly be parting ways. In some ways this news wasn’t terribly surprising as the relationship between MSNBC and the Countdown host had soured in the last year or so. Its clear that Comcast had consulted with NBC about Olbermann and expressed concerns about the firebrand anchor.

MSNBC anchor Thomas Roberts got his Christmas gift early–a new, full-time contract with MSNBC. Roberts, who’d been freelancing since April, filling in on various shows–notably for Keith Olbermann during the Countdown anchor’s short suspension–earned good reviews and a desire among MSNBC execs to lock him in before someone snatched him away, even though they didn’t have a show–yet–for him to host. “All I wanted for Christmas was to get my contract done and signed,” Roberts told Mediaite.

The Daily Beast‘s Howard Kurtz has experience exposing MSNBC’s dirty laundry and he’s at again with a new column on the “surprise star of its liberal lineup” – Ed Schultz. Although Kurtz accurately reflects that the ratings of The Ed Show are dwarfed by Fox News‘ Special Report With Bret Baier, he still considers Schultz to be “Rush Limbaugh‘s TV Nemesis.” Although Rush would dispute Schultz is in the same league as him, with profile-raising pieces like this and with increasingly critical commentaries of President Obama, Schultz’s stock at MSNBC is certainly rising.

The announcement of Morning Joe host Joe Scarborough‘s two-day suspension for undisclosed political contributions brings with it an important test for fellow suspendee Keith Olbermann. Olbermann eloquently denounced his own “probably not legal” suspension upon his return from a long weekend, and now that he has resurrected the “Worst Person in the World” segment, an award to MSNBC President Phil Griffin presents an opportunity to demonstrate consistency.

Fans of Keith Olbermann who were upset that he was suspended by MSNBC President Phil Griffin over campaign donations often pointed to similar donations made by Joe Scarborough as an example of unfair treatment. Well it appears that the treatment is now fair according to a Politico report that asserts that Scarborough has been suspended for two days for similar contributions. Statements from both Griffin and Scarborough after the jump.

Earlier today Comcast released a memo that officially announced the senior management team for the company after it completes its acquisition of NBC Universal. The management of the NBC News division remains largely unchanged, with both NBC News and CNBC presidents, Steve Capus and Mark Hoffman respectively, staying in place and reporting to the new CEO Steve Burke. But eyebrows are certain to be raised over the omission of current MSNBC president Phil Griffin from the memo, as well as the line “Steve Capus will continue to serve as President of NBC News/MSNBC.” Update: Comcast clarifies.

FoxNews.com has a feature they call “Skype Gripe” in which two talking heads discuss news of the day from different political angles: Ellis Henican represents a left-of-center point of view and Jim Pinkerton comes from a right-of-center perspective. Today’s topic was the new Howard Kurtz Daily Beast report on the “war” between Keith Olbermann and MSNBC president Phil Griffin, a great piece filled with lots of interesting details.

The Daily Beast’s Howard Kurtz, who appeared on Countdown during return-from-suspension show #2, has a juicy tick-tock on the inner battle at MSNBC between Keith Olbermann and Phil Griffin (and…basically everyone else at 30 Rock).

Actually, not so much a battle. Apparently it’s “war.”

The new movie Morning Glory takes place behind the scenes at a network morning show, and Jeff Goldblum plays the role of the boss.

To prepare for the role, he followed and consulted with MSNBC President Phil Griffin – an experience he talked about this morning on Morning Joe.

Amid the white hot coverage of MSNBC’s indefinite suspension of Countdown host Keith Olbermann, furious speculation has emerged. Is this Olbermann’s Waterloo? Does Keith still have the juice to weather the maelstrom? Does the whole thing scream “Comcastic?”

One wrinkle that hasn’t been explored: Could the whole thing be a publicity stunt? Was 11/5 an inside job?

Politico reported earlier today that MSNBC host Keith Olbermann donated to three Democratic candidates, leading to his indefinite suspension and raising serious questions about his judgment. How could a guy as smart as Olbermann do something so stupid? As we outline in the post below, this is not the first time, it may just be the first time Olbermann is being held to account for it. It is clear that this is Olbermann’s Waterloo.

MSNBC threw a party Thursday night at 7 World Trade Center to celebrate the launch of their new Lean Forward campaign.

It was very Lean Forward-centric – from T-shirts being printed off to one side with various slogans like “The Future Belongs to the Fearless” to nearby buildings illuminated with images from the campaign.

This, ladies and gentlemen, is how the media works now.

After we and other outlets picked up on the almost literal fund-raising going on during a Sean Hannity interview, MSNBC President Phil Griffin made a challenge in the New York Times, to “show me an example of us fund-raising.” Examples = found.

Jon Stewart is a smart and funny guy. As any regular visitor to Mediaite knows, we are big fans of his incisive and entertaining commentary on the often absurd intersection of media and politics. But that doesn’t mean we always agree with his point-of-view; take for example his take down of MSNBC’s new campaign to re-brand themselves with the phrase “Lean Forward.” In the following segment, Mr. Stewart makes a lot funny jokes, but we feel its a little early to dismiss an entire ad campaign.

MSNBC unveiled some new promos that will begin airing next week, featuring the slogan, “Lean Forward.”

But the TV promos are just the beginning. As MSNBC President Phil Griffin explained, this two-and-a-half year plan will help to broaden the reach of MSNBC as a whole.

Longtime producer Steve Friedman will be Dylan Ratigan‘s new 4pmET Executive Producer, MSNBC announced today.

It marks a return for Friedman to the NBC family – the network that epically bashed him three years ago.

Following a harsh exchange between MSNBC host Joe Scarborough and Daily Kos founder Markos Moulitsas on Twitter in May, Moulitsas writes today that he has been banned (for now) from appearing on the network.

He publishes an email from MSNBC President Phil Griffin explaining the reasoning (a “cheap shot”), but Moulitsas concludes he has “been booted from the network because of a Scarborough temper tantrum.”

In a show of cable news’ tight relationship with news consumers, CNN and Fox News dominated a recent 60 Minutes/Vanity Fair poll when it came to the “most trustworthy source of daily news.”

Beating out broadcast outlets and newspapers, the results come the same weekend MSNBC’s President praised FNC CEO Roger Ailes‘ ‘brilliance’.

Donny Deutsch‘s “America the Angry” week-long 3pmET MSNBC show is ending after just two episodes, after he mentioned Keith Olbermann in criticism of “angry” people on both sides.

Apparently Olbermann had a problem with his mention in the segment, which included Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck and MSNBC’s Ed Schultz.

TV Week has released its annual “10 Most Powerful in TV News” list today, placing Roger Ailes, the NBC team, and the CNN team in the medaled positions, respectively. Jon Stewart is the top-ranked TV personality at #5, with Bill O’Reilly and Glenn Beck taking the #7 spot together. Univisión and the Huffington Post did not keep their positions from last year. The takeaway? The TV industry has gotten much more competitive this year, and the collective panic attack over CNN’s ratings may have been premature.

We published an email exchange Thursday night between MSNBC President Phil Griffin and a David Shuster fan about his anchor’s indefinite suspension.

Mediaite spoke exclusively with Griffin today about the reasons behind the suspension, emailing with viewers and more.