Black viewership of MSNBC has increased due to on-air representation

With Black History Month coming to an end, MSNBC continues its streak as the No. 1 most-watched cable network among Black Americans in February, a title the network has held for 25 consecutive months and is “The Saturday Show” and “The Saturday Show”. “Sunday Show” host Jonathan Capehart attributed the network’s diverse on-air voices and inclusive reporting.

“Black viewers can see themselves reflected back in the anchor’s chair not only when it comes to me, Joy Reid, Reverend Al [Sharpton]Simone [Sanders-Townsend] Or any other African American anchor, but also other anchors of color on the network,” Capehart told TheWrap. “The network covers stories that are important to the American people at large, but also stories that are important to the African American community. of particular interest to.”

While Capehart insisted that “there is no issue that is in the news, or that is of import to the American people that does not touch the African American community,” MSNBC covered major topics including voting rights, police reform, and more. Premium is charged for doing so. economy and health care, “not just in essence, but in ways where the audience feels connected to the story being told,” with a diverse slate of guests to speak about everything from the war in Ukraine, for example To invite loan limit.

Leading Black viewership among cable networks with an average of 173,000 Black viewers in February — ahead of CNN’s 105,000 Black viewers and Fox News Channel’s average of 24,000 viewers — MSNBC is also home to the 10 highest-rated cable news programs among Blacks. . American, with “The Rachel Maddow Show” ranking as number 6, “The ReadOut” coming in as number 7, “The Beat with Ari Melber” number 8 and “All In With Chris Hayes” at number nine. . “Morning Joe” also ranked as the No. 1 cable program in its time slot among black viewers.

Approaching her reporting with the goal of providing context to complex political moments, Capehart, who most recently aired her MSNBC show at 9 a.m. on both Saturdays and Sundays, opened up about 2022 Georgia by answering burning questions for voters. Considered covering the runoff election, including why the lines were so long, why the state legislature moved so quickly to change the voting law, and what the direct impact of the runoff may be.

“This story is one that has a special significance for African Americans, because he was the target of the bill, now the law, to limit their access to the ballot box, but it was also a larger story about the assault on democracy. [and] An attack on voting rights,” Capehart said.

As a gay, married black man, Capehart feels an “innate” sense of duty to shed light on these issues because he acknowledged that “you can’t help but personalize the stories that matter.” It is being talked about in the country.”

“I feel duty-bound that … I’m the one at the table who can say, to the largely white table, ‘What’s going on here. ‘” That’s why African Americans are reacting like this. That’s why it’s important, ‘or let me [show] How do you get this particular thing down on the African American community, how does it sound to their ears,” he said.

As many viewers look for someone to explain things in a way that they can understand, Capehart shared that he has often been a “sherpa” for issues related to the black or gay community, following his assassination. Remembering the poignant response of the Thought Column. Trayvon Martin, in which he discusses the burden of bearing the weight of other people’s suspicions as a Black man in America and elaborates on what parents should impart to their Black children.

“People gravitate toward reporters they can trust — reporters who don’t talk down to them but really try hard to get along, to help give them ammunition, at Thanksgiving.” They may be needed alongside their incurable relative at the dinner table.” Capehart said. “People need to open their minds to complexity, if only to make themselves better citizens.”