Chelsea Clinton's NBC Debut Draws Mixed Reviews
The former first daughter's first foray into television journalism is deemed "boring" but "sincere."
| Posted Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2011, at 10:25 AM
Photograph by Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images.
UPDATE: Chelsea Clinton made her debut as an NBC News reporter Monday night to somewhat mixed reviews. Reviewers found her "sincere" and "well-prepared" but more than a little "boring," which we suppose places her safely within the pack of the legions of reporters on the network and cable news channels.
Her first "Making a Difference" segment for the newsmagazine Rock Center With Brian Williams was about an Arkansas woman trying to help underprivileged kids. You can watch the full thing here.
Here are some of the early reviews from around the Web:
The Daily Beast's Howard Kurtz: "She seemed sincere, and her careful cadence, empathetic gaze, and beaming smile were instantly reminiscent of Hillary."
The Washington Post's Hank Stuever: "[W]hat was surprising to see on Monday night’s show is how someone can be on TV in such a prominent way and, in her big moment, display so very little charisma—none at all. Either we’re spoiled by TV’s unlimited population of giant personalities or this woman is one of the most boring people of her era."
Politico's Caitlin McDevitt: "The former first daughter appeared poised and well-prepared, though a bit nervous, delivering her report on a woman at the helm of non-profit in Pine Bluff, Ark."
The AtlanticWire's Dashiell Bennett: "She obviously got a lot of help from the experienced NBC News people surrounding, but for someone with zero relevant job experience, you'd have to admit it was pretty good."
Monday, Nov. 14: NBC News has hired former first daughter Chelsea Clinton as a full-time special correspondent.
The New York Times reports that Clinton, who officially joined the news network Monday, will predominantly work on stories through the network’s Making a Difference series, which focuses on people who volunteer to improve the lives of others in their community. The series has proven popular on the network’s evening newscast, and may be added to NBC’s new prime-time newsmagazine, Rock Center With Brian Williams.
NBC News president Steve Capus told the Times that Clinton was inspired by stories of personal contributions that she heard at a number of town hall events that she spoke at in connection with her mother’s 2008 presidential campaign. Capus stressed that Clinton’s participation will be more than just lending her name to the series, saying that she “made it very clear that this is not going to be a surface-deep relationship,” and that “she wants to be in the field for the shoot and in the edit room for the edit.”
With the new gig Clinton also becomes the third daughter of a recent presidential candidate to work for NBC News, following Jenna Bush Hager (daughter of President George W. Bush) and Meghan McCain (daughter of Sen. John McCain). Capus said McCain’s and Bush’s work for the network didn’t factor into his conversations with Clinton.
