Magister says:

@SteveMG said;

It seems to me that none of us would like one of our co-workers openly criticizing our work or job. For better or worse, Olbermann is a colleague of Scarborough’s and merits respect. If he can’t give it, he needs to leave MSNBC.

The problem with that solution is that many of us on the left fully expect (or hope) that when Beck gets too far over the edge, the more respectable Bill O’Reilly will call him back.

Opinion or satirical media should be an open flow of ideas with no topics offlimits. If MSNBC policy is that one thinker can’t comment on another or that certain topics should not be broached on air, then how are we to trust that their censorship is limited to just a narrow list. I mean, GE makes nuclear reactors — how do we know that it’s not against policy to speak about nuclear waste? Comcast is a huge cable operator — how are we to know that the news division will report fairly cable rates?

(Not to mention that NBCU is a big umbrella which encompasses many channels, so exactly when do people stop being colleagues? Heck, everyone credits an analyst with CNBC as being the spark of the Tea Party movement, so does that mean that MSNBC shouldn’t say anything critical of those who subscribe to its philosophy because one of their colleagues gave it birth?)

Jon Stewart made cracks about Mind of Mencia; Johnny Carson trashed Supertrain and whenever Shepard Smith says something which could be interpreted as being critical of FNC, the clip is all over the internet.

Why should any hired to express their opinions be punished if they don’t hold their tongues or talk about certain subjects? Aren’t we supposed to believe, they’re telling the truth?

Magister says:

@SteveMG: If it was just a random bad report, then he probably shouldn’t comment, but if Ms. Mitchell had filed something which misleadingly protected her husband’s repuptation, then that would be another ballgame.

But that’s not what we’re talking about…

I only know what I’ve seen here and on the mediabistro site. As I understand it, one opinion host said something derogatory about an editorial rant given by another opinion host. Both men were hired for their opinions and though Olbermann’s diatribe has been roundly ridiculed by pretty much everyone, which sort of proves Scarborough right, it really doesn’t matter because both mens job is to express an opinion and no subject should be offlimits.

Again… what does Joe think about wind turbines? Dylan Ratigan is always going off on bankers; Is he allowed to say anything about GE Capital? Olbermann was against the Iraq war; Was he pressured to avoid topics which affected products sold by his defense contracting employer?

I can’t find many free sources which fully encapsulates the (now paid access) essay by John Hockenberry called “You Don’t Understand Our Audience” and this marks the second time that I’ve referenced Arthur Kent’s experiences in as many weeks, but it’s not like (MS)NBC’s hands are clean. And though the fallout from Griffin’s (stupid) phrasing to TVNewser might make him rethink taking their calls, if he says that he censors his opinion hosts or implies that one high-profile, heavily promoted host is somehow better than another, then it’s him who probably should be out of a job.