As The Laurel first forecast last year, it appears White House press secretary and Stamford, Connecticut native Jen Psaki is getting ready to leave her position and may be heading for the world of cable TV news.
It is easy to see why she would be a natural as the next Nicolle Wallace. Like Wallace, she has political experience, presents well, and has an even, calm and professional demeanor.
Credible reporting from several news outlets now confirms Psaki is being recruited by both CNN and MSNBC and that Psaki has an agent working on her behalf. Two obvious spots that need to be filled are the CNN hour left vacant with the departure of Chris Cuomo and the soon to be vacant MSNBC hour currently held by one Rachel Maddow.
Despite the reporting that is pushing Psaki into a high profile anchor position, The Laurel observes that moving her directly from behind the White House podium to a prime-time cable anchor spot will:
- Upset many long-time journalists working at MSNBC or CNN.
- Lead to ethical questions for both Psaki and any network who takes her on.
- Put tremendous pressure on Psaki to be an instant success and create expectations that may be impossible to meet.
- Raise new questions about the revolving door between politics and the news media.
- At CNN specifically, create a new version of the Chris Cuomo/Andrew Cuomo problem.
A smarter move might be an interim position that slowly moves Psaki into an anchor chair.
There’s always another opening in broadcast news.
