David Gregory: "...I get that people are gunning for us"
Since his debut in December as Tim Russert's replacement on Meet the Press, David Gregory has seemed to understand the enormity of the job he inherited -- even if some of his critics didn't.
Not only does he have replace a beloved journalist and serve as steward for a cherished journalistic institution, he has to do so at a time when the industry is faced with such monumental shifts in technology and audience behavior that standing pat is not an option -- even for the number one ranked show on Sunday morning television.
And, oh yeah, all of a sudden, there is more competition from John King on CNN, and veteran hosts like ABC's George Stephanopoulos and Bob Schieffer on CBS are making a charge.
"Look, this is a competitive environment, and I get that people are gunning for us. But I think that's always been the case and I think it's going to make us better," Gregory said in a sit-down interview Tuesday. "Make no mistake, we expect it of ourselves, and it is expected of us to stay on top. And that's what we're going to do."
Just shy of five months into job, Gregory says he has no illusions that the transition has already been successfully made. But he feels good about where he and the show are, and he has some ideas on how to bring his generation of younger viewers into the Meet the Press tent on Sunday mornings. Part of that strategy includes a heightened anchoring presence on sister channel MSNBC and lots of new media.
"I'm incredibly energized about what I'm doing. But the thing I realize, and I knew this from the start, you know, people say you've got big shoes to fill, and I say, yeah, they're still big and they're still there," Gregory says.
"But just as Tim had to do, I have to earn my way. This is an incredible program, an incredible platform. I think it's a treasured institution for the country, and as Tim used to say, I'm just the custodian of it. And I feel that way. But I have to earn my way own way, and I think I'm finding my voice, I'm up against guys who are first rate journalists who are well established. And my voice in this role is still evolving. I think the audience is still taking my measure. And so, I think that's wher we are."
Gregory says one of his goals so far has been to stay "focused on the right things." He defines one of those things as "not just to hold up this program, but to build on it further."
He seems most energized when talking about how that building will be done.
"Tim died at 58, I'm 38. It's a big generational shift in terms of who's at the helm of this program," Gregory says. "I not only want to keep this large audience, but I also want to grow this audience. I need to think about where does Meet the Press go over the next 20 years."
Concerned about the fact that many people his age and younger are not watching any Sunday-morning public affairs TV, Gregory says he's on a mission to win some of that audience.
"One of the things we know about younger viewers is that they're not necessarily viewers, okay? So, I'm not saying to people my age you must come to me. I'm saying I'm going to come to you. I'm going to find you where you are and I'm going to tell you about the things that we're doing on the program."
How does he plan to accomplish that?
"Well, I'm making sure I'm on the Today show," he says. "I'm on Nightly News. You're going to see more of me on MSNBC in terms of my anchoring role. I'm online. Not only am I on Twitter and Facebook, but I'm doing Web-exclusive content, videos and things on the site, on my own blog, trying to reach people. So, there are all kinds of different ways for me to connect with the audience and say to them, 'Look this is a place you want to be.'"
When asked for specifics on the heightened MSNBC presence, Gregory said, "What I'm going to try to do is appear where I'll be anchoring an hour once a week at this stage, because I want to be a presence on all of our platforms. And our cable operation MSNBC is terrific....We haven't worked out the details, but the thinking is we'll try to do it Wednesdays at 11 a.m."
As good as it might be for his goals, Gregory's presence on MSNBC is also very good for the cable channel in the solid boost of credibility and journalistic presence he provides.
"Overall, I'm feeling good about where we are," he says. "Look, I'm loving what we're doing.... I know there's going to be scrutiny. And I take serious criticism seriously. We're always trying to improve and refine what we're doing, and that's how we'll always approach things at Meet the Press."
Comments
I guess I'm very hard to please, but to me David Gregory (whom I like as a TV presence) is trying a little too hard to be the hard-hitting, hard-driving, "gotcha" guy who has to trip up his guests in one way or another. He comes across to me as really edgy; I'd prefer a little less edge so that I could pay more attention to what the interviewee is saying.
Posted by: Mary | May 6, 2009 4:06 PM
Why is it the sole memory of Gregory I have is him trying to mimic Karl Rove doing a rap dance at a recent correspondents dinner?
Would Russert do that?
The guy's a lightweight with no gravitas.
Posted by: Pat | May 6, 2009 6:06 PM
David Gregory is such a shill for the Republican party that I can't bring myself to watch him like I did Russert.
Posted by: Dusty | May 7, 2009 10:44 AM
As a hard news print reporter with about 40 years on a big city broadsheet, I just can't get over ghe image of Gregory boogying with Rove at the correspondents' dinner. At the time, I thought he was putting a permanent blemish on any future accomplishments he might achieve. Timmy never, never would have done that.
Posted by: John Painter Jr. | May 7, 2009 2:51 PM
Pat and Mary make all the sense in the world. Do we need to see David Gregory dancing with Karl Rove? Here's another one that will give NBC cause for concern and I hope they address it soon. Is David Gregory over-exposed? Meaning should he be hosting the Today Show or should he be focused on being a true, competent, reliable and trusting newsperson for the network? He loses all of his credibility when he hosts the Today Show. I'm sure that's an ego thing but could you imagine Russert doing any of that fluff? If David Gregory wants to regain some standing in the news business he has to stop being so available number one. We don't need to see him all the time. When you saw Russert on Today or Nightly News you knew there was a MAJOR reason for having him on. To have Gregory do a cooking segment on Today puts him in the category of Al Roker. We know what we get with Al and we love it. We don't know what to think of David Gregory because he has no foundation. That's what NBC has to build for him and if they don't, the footsteps of all the other news shows will keep coming. Some people mistakenly think the more the see someone the better. Wrong. With Gregory he must decide to put his ego aside, take off the makeup and limit his role with NBC. We should look forward to his thoughts on politics and be surprised to see him. Not see him all the time.
Posted by: Rick | May 8, 2009 3:39 PM
I am so disappointed with David Gregory as the host. I learned about the issues and my nation's leaders when I was in high school, from watching Meet the Press. David Gregory has no sense of context and history. He comes across as a clumsy, pugnacious pro-Republican- Newt Gingrich, pretending to be an incisive reporter. He has no people skills in getting information from his guests. He is apparently anti-democratic, and I think someone taking over the longest running television show should be more skilled at hiding his biases. Today, he asked the guest if President Obamba was a Socialist. To most Americans, particularly, those in the baby-boomer and older demographics, using that label is inflammatory, because it is nearly synonymous with being a Communist. This country needs a lot of social, legal, financial, medical and educational reforms. We are far behind Europeans with the medical, social, and educational benefits for its citizens. It is inhumane, really, how the politicians worship outdated corporate business structures, and follow its lobbyist's bidding; yet ignore the plight of millions of people, millions of elders, millions of children, who deserve the best medical and social care, and the best education! Then, when we have a president who recognizes these discrepancies and leads the diverse politicians towards implementing changes to these medical, financial, and educational institutions, David Gregory jumps on every opportunity to call it a negative inflammatory word. Providing housing and medical care for its elders isn't viewed as socialism in Europe. Instead, providing these services to its citizens, is expected, humane and deserved. Social and medical services aren't viewed as if it is an abominable evil, as the Republican party and David Gregory do. Our world is in transition. That fact should be apparent. The people who produce Meet the Press, and its host should be reflective thinkers, and be open minded to the various options available to the citizens in these times, and present them to its viewers with their program. Asking insightful, intelligent questions of it guests that lead to possibilities would benefit the viewing public. Listening to Gregory's bumbling, because of his ignorance of history, is frustrating. Worse it is sad. It is a disservice to the viewers, and thus the nation and the world. Hoping Meet the Press and David Gregory will do MUCH better, Sincerely, a Forty Year Fan.
Posted by: Beverly Hoey | May 17, 2009 3:44 PM
Hi David,
I am an active member of the NRA, I do not own but one gun that is modern and sits by my bed side to protect my wife, and that is a pump shotgun, hope the ca-chink will drive them away before I really have to use it. I am an avid muzzle loader,( Davy Crockett, D. Boone. ) I don't care so much for modern firearms, but I do believe they are needed, Just like the first amendment., From what I here from my monthly subscription of Freedom from the NRA, sounds like you could be another one of those gun grabbers on the extreme left, I hope you are not and that I have been misinformed, but I am not holding my breath. I hope that if you think you will win by a gun grab, that you will only seek in dividing this country even more than it is.
Sincerely,
Mike Smith ( Gun Owner and not giving them up lightly)
Posted by: Michael W. Smith | September 19, 2009 7:38 PM