NBC drops Ronna McDaniel
_"The Republican National Committee chairwoman, Ronna McDaniel, was dropped by NBC due to a conflict of interest."_
– NBC decided to cut ties with _Ronna McDaniel_.
– This decision was made because of a conflict of interest.
Fox News' Howard Kurtz discusses the controversial hire and ousting of the former RNC chair after uproar at NBC on 'Special Report.'
– _Fox News'_ Howard Kurtz discusses the controversial hire and ousting of the former RNC chair after uproar at NBC on 'Special Report.'
NBC News Controversy
The dust is still settling at NBC News following the debacle last month over its hiring and firing of former _Republican National Committee_ chair Ronna McDaniel, but scrutiny of the Comcast-owned network's leadership remains, particularly top boss Cesar Conde.
– The network faced criticism for its handling of the situation
– Many are questioning the leadership decisions
– The controversy has raised concerns over NBC News' credibility
In response to the backlash, NBC News issued a statement saying, "_We take these accusations seriously and are committed to addressing them in a transparent manner._"
Analysis of Conde's Role at NBCUniversal News Group
– Conde, who apologized to NBC staff over the hiring of McDaniel as an analyst after network talent erupted in anger, has been the subject of multiple reports questioning whether he is best suited to remain the chair of NBCUniversal News Group, a job he has held since 2020 that oversees NBC News, CNBC and MSNBC.
Additional Responsibilities
_Conde_ also sits on the board of directors for Walmart and PepsiCo.
– Walmart
– PepsiCo
NBC Insider Concerns
"I think it's _untoward_, and I think it needs to be addressed," an NBC insider told Fox News Digital. "Clearly Cesar's bosses knew this because everybody knows it. And it didn't occur to anybody to do anything about it. And that's Cesar for you. He's an innocuous guy who, generally speaking, flies under that sort of radar… He's a young, up-and-coming, hotshot guy. Most of us have realized NBC is a stepping stone for him, right? He's not going to be CEO of Comcast, he wants to be the CEO of another one of these types of companies, a show or a politician or whatever the case is. So I guess the point is, what's the accountability here?"
NBC Offers Glowing Coverage of Walmart, Pepsi as News Chief Serves as Board Member for Both Companies
"_NBC News has been accused of unethical journalism practices due to its positive coverage of Walmart and Pepsi. Critics argue that this bias stems from the fact that NBC News Chairman Andy Lack is a board member for both companies._"
– Critics have pointed out that the conflict of interest created by Lack's dual roles compromises the objectivity of NBC's reporting.
– The issue raises important questions about the ethical standards in journalism and the need for transparency in media ownership.
– Some viewers are calling for greater scrutiny and accountability for news organizations to ensure fair and unbiased reporting.
The NBC Insider's Perspective
An _NBC insider_ said Conde could make the case that his financial ties to Walmart and Pepsi are "good conduct" for NBC's bottom line, but the ethical issues for the network still remain.
– Financial ties to Walmart
– Financial ties to Pepsi
Insider Concerns
* _At some point does somebody sit down and say, 'Dude, what's up?'_ the insider said.
* _What should Cesar be doing?_
* _Should he be resigning from these boards?_
* _I mean, the kind of money he gets from this thing is quite something._
The insider continued,
"_Something doesn't smell right with this. The optics of it are wrong, and it does look like a guy whose focus is not on the journalistic integrity of one of the oldest and largest journalistic brands in the country, it's on something else. And knowing what I know about Cesar, he's a businessman. And by the way, his bosses are business people, right? That's part of the thing to understand. The guy who replaced [former NBCUniversal CEO] Jeff Shell is a business guy. The Roberts people [of Comcast] are cable providers … We're not owned by journalists. We're not controlled by journalists. We are a different enterprise._"
– The guy who replaced [former NBCUniversal CEO] Jeff Shell is a business guy
– The Roberts people [of Comcast] are cable providers
– We're not owned by journalists
– We're not controlled by journalists
– We are a different enterprise.
NBC News chief _Cesar Conde_ sits on the board of directors for Walmart and PepsiCo. (Getty Images)
—
Conde's Financial Ties
Conde's financial ties to Walmart and PepsiCo have been public knowledge for years. According to a recent report from the Associated Press, which cites Salary.com, Conde "_earned $275,018 from Walmart in 2022 and $320,000 from PepsiCo, in a combination of cash and stock._"
– Walmart
– PepsiCo
NBCUniversal Spokesperson Statement
An NBCUniversal spokesperson told The _Wall Street Journal_ in 2021 that Conde would recuse himself from weighing in on stories involving the two companies.
– This is a significant step in ensuring impartiality in news reporting.
– It demonstrates a commitment to ethical journalism practices.
The Problem with News Executives Serving on Corporate Boards
"_That Conde sits on the boards of these corporations is clearly a problem from a journalism ethics standpoint. And it would be true for any news executive who serves for corporations that are subjects in the news agenda_," DePauw University journalism professor Jeffrey McCall says. "_The optics look terrible for a major news executive who is being compensated for corporate board participation. News outlets just have to be totally insulated from the business side of the media world, and this is a blending of journalism and business corporatism that shouldn't be allowed to continue._"
– Conde sits on the boards of corporations
– Problem from a journalism ethics standpoint
– News executives should be insulated from business side of media world
Analysis of NBC's Conflict of Interest
_"Even if Conde plays no role in direct news coverage of these two companies, it still looks bad on its face,"_ McCall told Fox News Digital, insisting NBC staffers reporting on Walmart and PepsiCo must keep their boss's additional roles in mind.
– McCall's concern is that this potential conflict of interest could influence news coverage and create bias.
– The situation highlights the importance of transparency and ethical journalism practices.
– Journalists at NBC should be aware of potential conflicts of interest and strive to maintain objectivity in their reporting.
NBC NEWS LEADERSHIP UNDER FIRE OVER _RONNA MCDANIEL_ DEBACLE
Several sources close to the situation told CNN Business that chairman _Andy Lack_ and NBC News President _Noah Oppenheim_ both privately expressed frustration that the GOP did not express its concerns to NBC before publicly airing its grievances.
– Critics point to the incident as part of a broader pattern of tone-deaf editorial decisions.
– In an email Sunday, _Noah Oppenheim_ said simply, "Andy and I obviously don't discuss confidential conversations with guests."
– A source familiar with the situation confirmed that _Lack_ has not conversations with GOP officials or anyone at the White House since the eyebrow-raising email touched off a storm of controversy.
– In response to the scandal, Lack and Oppenheim said they would be working closely with counterparts in Washington as they seek to find some resolution.
Background of John Conde
NBCUniversal first hired _Conde_ in 2013 and as he climbed the ranks at Rockefeller, he joined PepsiCo's board of directors in 2016 and Walmart's board of directors in 2019. The following year, he was tapped to lead NBC's entire news operation.
– Conde was hired by NBCUniversal in 2013.
– He joined PepsiCo's board of directors in 2016.
– He joined Walmart's board of directors in 2019.
– In 2020, he was selected to lead NBC's entire news operation.
NBC News Chief's Influence on Reporting
– _Under his tenure as NBC's news chief, NBC has aired several bubbly reports about Walmart and Pepsi, according to a review by Fox News Digital._
Criticism of _NBCUniversal News Group_ Chairman Cesar Conde
_"NBCUniversal News Group" chairman Cesar Conde_, who oversees NBC News, CNBC, and MSNBC, has been criticized in recent days.
– Some critics have questioned his leadership decisions.
– Others have raised concerns about the company's editorial standards.
– The controversy has sparked a debate about media ethics and corporate influence.
NBC News Reports on Walmart
In July 2020, NBC News reported Walmart's decision to close on Thanksgiving Day and to give bonuses to employees. In September 2020, NBC News aired a lengthy report about Walmart's partnership with TikTok and how the retail giant would be featured on the app. In August 2022, NBC boasted about how Walmart was expanding its abortion coverage for employees. In July 2023, "_NBC Nightly News_" aired a report on how Walmart was benefiting from AI.
– Closing on Thanksgiving: Walmart's decision to give bonuses to employees.
– Partnership with TikTok: Details about Walmart's partnership with the social media platform.
– Abortion Coverage Expansion: How Walmart extended abortion coverage for employees.
– Benefiting from AI: NBC's report on Walmart's AI benefits.
November 2023
In _November 2023_, flagship morning show "Today" offered free airtime to a Walmart Black Friday ad that reunited the cast of "Mean Girls," showing viewers the commercial almost in its entirety. That month "Today" also aired an _"exclusive"_ behind-the-scenes look at a Walmart warehouse.
– "Today" offered free airtime to a Walmart Black Friday ad that featured the cast of "Mean Girls"
– Showed viewers the commercial almost in its entirety
– Aired an "exclusive" behind-the-scenes look at a Walmart warehouse
NBC Exclusive Interviews with Walmart CEO John Furner
NBC landed multiple "exclusive" interviews with Walmart CEO _John Furner_, one in February 2021 promoting Walmart's COVID vaccination efforts for customers and employees, and another in November 2021 with him arguing Walmart is the more affordable option during rising inflation.Â
– Interview in February 2021: Promoting Walmart's COVID vaccination efforts for customers and employees
– Interview in November 2021: Arguing Walmart is the more affordable option during rising inflation
NBC News Exclusive Interviews with Walmart CEO John Furner
NBC News recently secured _multiple_ "exclusive" interviews with Walmart CEO John Furner. This included discussions on the company's latest initiatives and future plans.
– The interviews provided insights into Walmart's upcoming strategies.
– Furner's leadership approach was highlighted during the conversations.
– Viewers gained a deeper understanding of Walmart's vision and direction.
—
NBC's Favorable Treatment of Walmart
NBC even went to great lengths in giving Walmart favorable treatment compared to its direct competitors. In September 2020, it reported how Walmart was "_stepping up its Ecommerce game_" with its delivery service subscription rivaling Amazon. In November 2022, "_Today_" gave Walmart's pre-Black Friday deals top billing ahead of Target, Amazon and Best Buy. Last month, NBC suggested Walmart had the superior subscription service over Target and Amazon since it had "_a few bells and whistles_".
– NBC's favorable treatment of Walmart
– Walmart's Ecommerce game
– Pre-Black Friday deals
– Superior subscription service
And just last week, "Today" aired a positive segment about Walmart _upskilling_ its employees in the AI era, though also mentioning Amazon making similar efforts.
– And just last week
– "Today" aired a positive segment about Walmart _upskilling_ its employees in the AI era
– Mentioning Amazon making similar efforts.
Curtis Houck on NBC's Coverage
NewsBusters managing editor Curtis Houck swiped "_hobnobbing-obsessing_" Conde, telling Fox News Digital it's "no surprise" that NBC offered such glowing coverage.
– It's a shame that biased reporting continues to be prevalent in today's media landscape.
– NBC's favorable coverage highlights the need for fair and balanced journalism.
– Let's hope for a future where all news outlets strive to deliver unbiased news to their audiences.
Reminder of Corporate News
_"This entire exercise is a reminder of what corporate news looks like in action with big corporations serving as public relations officials for other big corporations,"_ Houck says. _"It goes well beyond the old adage of 'I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine.'"_
– Big corporations serving as public relations officials for other big corporations.
NBC'S OUSTING OF RONNA MCDANIEL REINFORCES STATUS AS _ANTI-TRUMP_, PRO-BIDEN NETWORK
>"NBC News has faced criticism in recent years for its allegedly biased coverage against President Trump. The removal of Ronna McDaniel from the network further solidifies its reputation as a pro-Biden network."
– The network's decision has sparked controversy among viewers.
– Many believe that NBC is attempting to silence conservative voices.
– This move could have implications for future political coverage.
PepsiCo's NBC Partnerships
PepsiCo similarly benefited from _NBC's_ on-air coverage. In March 2021, "Today" plugged the soda giant's limited edition Peeps-flavored Pepsi. In December 2021, NBC promoted Pepsi's Super Bowl Halftime Show app. In December 2022, "Today" put a spotlight on the viral "Pilk" trend inspired by a Pepsi ad featuring Lindsay Lohan drinking a glass of milk combined with Pepsi. In February 2023, "Today" offered a "sneak peek" into Pepsi's Super Bowl ad starring Steve Martin. Weeks later, "Today" plugged another Pepsi ad, this one featuring Ben Stiller reprising his "Zoolander" character.
– PepsiCo benefited from NBC's on-air coverage
– In March 2021, "Today" plugged the limited edition Peeps-flavored Pepsi
– In December 2021, NBC promoted Pepsi's Super Bowl Halftime Show app
– In December 2022, "Today" put a spotlight on the viral "Pilk" trend
– In February 2023, "Today" offered a "sneak peek" into Pepsi's Super Bowl ad starring Steve Martin
– Weeks later, "Today" plugged another Pepsi ad featuring Ben Stiller as "Zoolander"
Recent Marketing Trends
_"Today"_ offered heavy promotion of Pepsi just last month alone, showing a viral video of a 15-month-old boy who _"really, really wanted to try a Pepsi"_ and hyping fast food chain Subway's _"head-turning"_ decision to switch to Pepsi from Coca-Cola starting next year.
– Pepsi promotion
– Viral video featuring a 15-month-old boy
– Subway's switch to Pepsi
NBC's "Today" Highlighted the Viral _Pilk_ Trend
NBC's "Today" highlighted the so-called viral "Pilk" trend inspired by a Pepsi ad featuring Lindsay Lohan in December 2022.
Screenshot/NBC
– NBC's "Today"
Pepsi's Relationship with NBCUniversal
Pepsi's ties to NBCUniversal appear to go far beyond friendly reports on _"Today."_ In 2021, Pepsi was a sponsor of NBCUniversal's Upfront, an annual industry event networks hold to promote their programming to advertisers.
– This sponsorship suggests a deeper connection between the two companies.
Conde's Connections with PepsiCo
In 2019, while Conde served as the chairman of NBCUniversal International Group and NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises, PepsiCo provided "Pepsi Sparkling Rosé" for the company's "BravoCon." In 2015, one year before Conde joined its board, Pepsi partnered with Conde-led NBCUniversal International for a "Back to the Future" campaign to promote its brand. There's no evidence to show the two events were related, however.
Also notable is NBCUniversal's Partnership with Walmart
NBCUniversal has announced a direct partnership with _Walmart_ in November, allowing Bravo viewers to shop online while watching the streaming service Peacock for merchandise seen in its programming.
– This partnership aims to enhance the shopping experience for viewers by offering them the convenience of purchasing products they see on Bravo shows directly from Walmart.
GET THE LATEST NEWS ON THE GO
_Stay informed with the latest news updates from Fox News by downloading their mobile app._
– Get breaking news alerts and stay up-to-date on current events.
– Watch live video streams of important news coverage.
– Read articles on a variety of topics from politics to entertainment.
Don't miss out! Download the Fox News app today and never miss a beat.
Analysis of NBC News Issue
_"This is a huge issue for NBC News and a clear conflict of interest on Cesar Conde's part,"_ media columnist and Fox News contributor Joe Concha said.Â
– Conde's actions have raised serious concerns.
– The credibility of NBC News is at stake.
– Immediate action needs to be taken to address this conflict of interest.
Former NBC News executive vice president Bill Wheatley similarly told the AP, "It seemed to me that this was an additional instance of NBC management not understanding the rules by which news leaders are supposed to play."
Neither NBC nor its parent company Comcast responded to requests for comment.
_Neither NBC nor its parent company Comcast_ responded to requests for comment.
—
Contributor
*_Fox News'_ Brian Flood contributed to this report.
About Joseph A. Wulfsohn
Joseph A. Wulfsohn is a _media reporter_ for Fox News Digital**.
– Story tips can be sent to [email protected]
– Find him on Twitter: @JosephWulfsohn.
