Amid cutbacks to the network, MSNBC has let the entire staff of Joy Reid's show go, leaving them high and dry, without a job.
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According to MSNBC president Rebecca Kutler, the complete cancellation of ReidOut is part of much larger adjustments. However, this doesn't really soften the blow for the many staffers of Joy Reid's show. They were let go without so much as a warning.
Staffers found out they would be out of a job via a thirty-minute virtual meeting. Status was able to get hold of the audio recording and captured the moment they found out it was all over. Joy Reid's staff were put out that they had to find out the show was canceled via news outlets. It's understandable that this would leave a lot of them upset.
During the meeting with Joy Reid's various staff, one of them highlighted that it was a "terrible, terrible way to learn about our fate." Many of the staff will have worked hard to get to where they are with MSNBC. This change will come as a huge challenge professionally.
New Options Available For Joy Reid's Staffers
Despite the cancellation of ReidOut, there will be the option for them to apply to other roles in the company. During the audio recording of the meeting, one staff member clarified "So to make this explicitly clear, we are being terminated currently with the option to apply within the company, right?"
Kutler confirmed this. She went on to say that there would be around 100 new positions opening up at MSNBC for Joy Reid's out-of-work team to try their luck with. The staff will remain employed until April and have been encouraged to apply during that time.
So far Joy Reid and Alex Wagner have been confirmed to be part of the restructuring. Both will lose their shows in an attempt to pull back the network's falling ratings. Both will be axed in favor of presenters that align more with the US zeitgeist.
Other audio clips from Joy Reid's staff layoff meeting reveal the reasons for the change. Kutler confirmed that Joy Reid's show wasn't being removed because of Trump's pressure. Instead, it was simply due to data and response.
