Black In Business: Rashida Jones Becomes MSNBC’s First Black President

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Rashida Jones has made history and it is only the beginning. 

On February 1st, 2021, Jones became the first Black President at MSNBC, making her the first to run a major cable news network.  She stepped up after, Phil Griffin, who has been the company’s president for twelve years, stepped down after President-elect Biden’s inauguration in January. 

Once the news about Jones’ promotion broke, Cesar Conde commented on her transition. “She has an outstanding track-record and she leads with a laser-like focus and grace under pressure. I know she will be an excellent leader for MSNBC.” 

Conde continued, “In the last year alone that has meant, of course, that she has masterfully guided our coverage of the global pandemic, the social justice protests and unrest, Decision 2020, and the two most-viewed Democratic presidential debates in television history.”

Jones began working at MSNBC and NBC News in 2013 and previously worked for The Weather Channel as well as local stations. In 2017, she became the senior vice president for specials.