Mad at the mainstream media? NBC News launches ‘Common Ground’ initiative to bridge partisan divide

by

“I turned off news all together.”

“Just talk to each other more.”

“Report things from both sides.”

These are a few of the things people told NBC News when they were doing research for a new ad campaign with the message: “Facts. Clarity. Calm.”

You know, all the feedback really got NBC to think, and they’ve now launched something called “Finding Common Ground.” It’s a cool idea – they’re pairing people with very different political views to talk about issues where they can actually agree. As a movie and media fan, I’m always up for seeing if people can find some shared understanding, and this seems like a good way to try and encourage that.

NBC News will share these reports on its shows “Today,” “NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas,” and “Meet the Press,” as well as on its streaming service, NBC News Now. They’re also planning live events, including a discussion next week at the Washington National Cathedral moderated by “Today” co-host Savannah Guthrie with Utah Governor Spencer Cox (Republican) and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (Democrat).

According to NBC News President Rebecca Blumenstein, people are tired of extreme political division and want to see more respectful, problem-solving conversations. She stated that this will be a major priority for the network in the next year.

It’s not a new idea to bring politicians from different parties together for discussions. In fact, the Fox News program “Special Report With Bret Baier” has been doing something similar with its “Common Ground” interviews and podcasts since 2022.

TV news channels are increasingly emphasizing their commitment to presenting diverse perspectives, likely in response to a politically charged climate that many viewers find discouraging. News consumption has also declined recently – a Pew Research study showed that 36% of adults now follow the news regularly, compared to 51% in 2016.

Hollywood Inc.

Shifts in who delivers the news are shaking up one of the few remaining consistent habits of watching traditional TV. Two out of the three major network evening news programs are getting significant changes.

C-SPAN, the public affairs network supported by cable and satellite companies, recently started a new show called “Ceasefire.” The program brings together Republicans and Democrats for calm and respectful conversations. The idea originated with C-SPAN’s CEO, Sam Feist, who previously created the well-known – and sometimes criticized – CNN debate show “Crossfire.”

Following Skydance Media’s purchase of Paramount, the new CEO, David Ellison, appointed Bari Weiss – a co-founder of the Free Press – as the editor-in-chief of CBS News. Her role includes expanding the diversity of perspectives featured on the network.

Tom Bettag, who teaches at the University of Maryland’s journalism school, thinks this trend is odd. He argues that broadcast networks are already used to appealing to diverse audiences because they work with local stations in both politically conservative and liberal areas.

Bettag doubts that simply mentioning ‘common ground’ will suddenly become a popular idea everyone embraces. However, he doesn’t see anything inherently wrong with the concept itself.

Guthrie explained in an interview that, with so many new and different news sources appearing, it might be necessary to remind audiences about NBC’s commitment to strong journalistic principles.

We’re not making a huge shift in what we do,” Guthrie explained. “We’re simply highlighting what we already do well. Traditional news organizations need to remind people of their value and clearly define what sets them apart.”

Bettag explained he understands why NBC made its decision, noting that mainstream news organizations have consistently faced criticism and accusations of bias from conservative commentators and former President Trump.

Kristen Welker, host of “Meet the Press,” introduced a new discussion style called “Finding Common Ground” on her show last year. The first conversation in this format featured Senators Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and James Lankford (R-OK). Because both are also ministers, they discussed their shared faith and how they work together across party lines.

Welker recently talked with Representatives Hillary Scholten (Democrat, Michigan) and Troy Downing (Republican, Montana) about ways to educate small business owners on artificial intelligence.

Viewer feedback has been positive according to Welker, who will handle the bulk of the interviews.

According to Welker, people appreciate the relatable and natural way these discussions unfold. They see a parallel to conversations happening in their own families, and she believes this connection will be valuable for both the public and viewers.

Read More

2025-12-05 00:31