The cable news networks covered this morning’s graduation at Wake Forest University. It’s newsworthy because of the commencement speaker: dismissed New York Times executive editor Jill Abramson. MSNBC’s Melissa Harris-Perry — a Wake Forest alum and new professor at the University — is doing live shots from campus as is NBC News correspondent Rehema Ellis. CNN and Fox News too also dipped into Abramson’s address during which she told the graduates, she feels like one of them: “What is next for me? I don’t know. So I’m in exactly the same boat as many of you. And like you, I’m a little scared, but also excited,” Abramson said.
Both media criticism shows — which are both anchored by former print reporters — led off their shows Sunday with Abramson’s firing.
Brian Stelter, who worked for Abramson at the Times, acknowledged that at times, she could be “gruff” and “rude.” When Stelter told Abramson he was thinking about departing for CNN, her attitude “made it easier to leave,” Stelter said.
Over on Fox News “MediaBuzz,” Howard Kurtz, who previously covered media for The Washington Post, talked about the PR nightmare the firing touched off. “They bungled it,” Lauren Ashburn said.
Both clips after the jump…