Philip T Griffin was born on November 27,1956 and is an American television executive, who from 2008 to 2021 served as president of MSNBC, a United States cable news channel.
22 Facts About Phil Griffin
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The youngest of four children, Griffin grew up in Chappaqua, New York and Toledo, Ohio.
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In 1979, Phil Griffin graduated with a degree in English from Vassar College.
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Phil Griffin was working a camera at CNN when it aired for the first time, on June 1,1980.
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Six months later Phil Griffin convinced The Today Shows executive producer to hire him on staff.
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At NBC, Phil Griffin had several jobs, including as a senior broadcast producer for NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw.
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Phil Griffin led the NBC News coverage of the O J Simpson trial.
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Phil Griffin has been executive producer for shows such as Hardball with Chris Matthews and MSNBC's The Big Show with Keith Olbermann.
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Phil Griffin was the head of prime-time programming for the network.
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Phil Griffin approved the launch of many shows, including The Rachel Maddow Show and Morning Joe.
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Phil Griffin hired Lawrence O'Donnell, Ed Schultz, and Chris Hayes.
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In 2013, Phil Griffin said he wanted MSNBC to be more of a lifestyle brand than a political hub.
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In 2014, Phil Griffin said the network would take steps to widen its demographic to include a more ethnically diverse audience, to increase its coverage outside of the Washington, DC beltway and to appeal to younger viewers, including with online initiatives.
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Phil Griffin has asserted that MSNBC is an independent voice that does not favor Democrats.
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Phil Griffin has rejected claims that partisanship is equivalent at MSNBC and Fox News.
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In 2016, after MSNBC started covering more hard news during the day, Phil Griffin likened its evening shows to an op-ed page in a newspaper.
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Phil Griffin said that he thought the surge in audience was attributable to scoops and new information, rather than partisan leanings.
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In May 2017, Phil Griffin signed a multi-year renewal contract to remain as president of MSNBC in the midst of a ratings surge during and following the 2016 presidential election.
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In October 2019, Ronan Farrow reported that in a staff meeting, Phil Griffin showed a picture of television reporter Maria Menounos having a "wardrobe malfunction" with her bathing suit.
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On December 7,2020, MSNBC announced that at the end of January, Phil Griffin would be replaced with journalist and television executive Rashida Jones.
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In 1997, Phil Griffin married Kory Kim Apton in a civil ceremony in New York.
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Phil Griffin has said his idols are former Fox News CEO Roger Ailes, former NBC News anchor Tom Brokaw, and television news executive Andrew Lack.