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Rashida Jones (television executive)

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This article is about the television executive. For the actress, writer, comedian, and producer, see Rashida Jones.
Rashida Jones
Born
Rashida Adkins

1980 or 1981 (age 42–43)
Alma materHampton University (BA)
OccupationTelevision executive
TitlePresident of MSNBC

Rashida Jones (née Adkins; born 1980 or 1981)[1] is the president of the cable news network MSNBC. She is the first Black woman to lead a major cable news network.[2]

Early life and education

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Jones was born to Richard and Alice Adkins, the oldest of three children. She grew up in York, Pennsylvania. The family later moved to Richmond, Virginia, where she attended Henrico High School and became editor of the student newspaper.[3]

Jones attended Hampton University, majoring in broadcast journalism. She graduated from Hampton with a BA degree in Mass Media Arts in 2002.[4][5] In 2022, Jones established a scholarship fund in her name at Hampton University for journalism students.[5][6]

Career

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In 2002, while a senior in college, she worked as a morning show producer at WTKR in Norfolk, Virginia. After several years there, she moved to The Weather Channel as a weekend producer, and became director of live programming in 2009.[7]

Jones later worked at WIS-TV in Columbia, South Carolina, as news director, then moved to New York City as an executive producer for daytime shows at MSNBC. Later roles included managing editor at MSNBC and senior vice president of specials for NBC News and MSNBC,[7] in which she managed dayside and weekend news programming on MSNBC, as well as leading coverage of breaking news and major events across NBC News and MSNBC.[8] Jones expanded the town-hall concept to a wider audience, including a criminal justice special filmed at Sing Sing correctional facility.[9] While a senior vice president at NBC News and MSNBC, she led a shift from election coverage to a focus on COVID-19.[10]

On February 1, 2021, Jones succeeded Phil Griffin as the president of MSNBC and became the first African-American woman to run a major cable news network.[11]

Honors and awards

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  • Jones is a member of the Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications Hall of Fame.[12]
  • In 2020, she was named in Variety's 2020 New York Women's Impact Report[13]
  • In October, 2022, Jones was the inaugural recipient of the Media Leadership Award from Montclair State University School of Communication and Media.[14]
  • In February, 2023, Jones was awarded the Achievement of Excellence Award from Scripps Howard School of Journalism & Communications at Hampton University and headlined the institution's 20th anniversary celebration.[15]
  • Jones received the Radio Television Digital News Foundation's Leonard Zeidenberg First Amendment Award on March 2, 2023.[16]
  • Jones received an honorary doctorate for "her exceptional contributions to the field of journalism and her steadfast commitment to educating and mentoring future generations" from the University of the District of Columbia on May 11, 2024.[17]

Personal life

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Jones is divorced and has two children, a son and daughter. Her partner is Edward Fisher, the community and government relations executive at American University.[3] She became an honorary member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority in 2023.[18]

References

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  1. ^ Grynbaum, Michael M.; Koblin, John (2020-12-07). "MSNBC Names Rashida Jones as President, Succeeding Phil Griffin". The New York Times. Retrieved 2020-12-08.
  2. ^ "Rashida Jones replaces Phil Griffin as MSNBC president". Las Vegas Sun. 2020-12-08. Retrieved 2020-12-10.
  3. ^ a b Grove, Lloyd (June 7, 2021). "MSNBC's New President Rashida Jones: 'I Was Constantly Underestimated'". The Daily Beast. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  4. ^ "MSNBC President and Hampton University Alumna Rashida Jones to be 150th Commencement Speaker". Diverse Issues in Higher Education. March 18, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Rashida Jones". NBC Universal Media. July 7, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  6. ^ Hammiel, Richelle (March 29, 2022). "HU alumna, MSNBC president Rashida Jones launches scholarship fund". WAVY.
  7. ^ a b Lacy, Lisa (December 9, 2010). "Rashida Jones". Adweek. Vol. 60, no. 32. p. 40. ProQuest 2329680972.
  8. ^ Battaglio, Stephen (2020-12-07). "Rashida Jones will replace Phil Griffin as head of MSNBC". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2020-12-08.
  9. ^ Steinberg, Brian (2020-12-07). "Rashida Jones succeeded longtime MSNBC employee Phil Griffin as President at MSNBC". Variety. Retrieved 2020-12-08.
  10. ^ "How Showbiz Women in New York Have Navigated Pandemic Challenges". Variety. June 9, 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  11. ^ Barr, Jeremy (2020-12-07). "Rashida Jones, replacing Phil Griffin at MSNBC, will be first Black woman to run a cable news network". Washington Post. Retrieved 2020-12-08.
  12. ^ "Scripps Hall of Famer Rashida Jones revitalizing MSNBC, SHSJC". The Wall Street Journal. 2020-05-01.
  13. ^ "Variety's 2020 New York Women's Impact Report". Variety. June 9, 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  14. ^ "MSNBC President Rashida Jones Named Inaugural Recipient of Media Leadership Award". Montclair State University. October 20, 2022. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  15. ^ "MSNBC Pres. Rashida Jones To Headline HU's Journalism School's 20th Anniversary". The New Journal and Guide. 2023-02-10. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
  16. ^ Katz, A.J. (2023-03-03). "MSNBC Chief Rashida Jones Wins First Amendment Award, Discusses Commitment to Social Commentary and Analysis". Adweek. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
  17. ^ "University of the District of Columbia to Award Honorary Doctorate to MSNBC President Rashida Jones" (Press release). University of the District of Columbia. May 1, 2024.
  18. ^ "Celebrating the Newest Honorary Members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc". Houston Style Magazine. March 24, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
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