MSNBC News’ chief foreign affairs correspondent, Andrea Mitchell, has announced her departure from her full-time anchor position on MSNBC’s “Andrea Mitchell Reports.” Her exit, effective from Friday, February 7, 2025, comes amidst a challenging period for the network, which is grappling with declining viewership and significant structural changes.
Last autumn, Mitchell, 78, publicized her decision to step down from her daily anchoring role, a position she held for more than 16 years. Speaking with her audience on October 29, Mitchell stated, “After 16 years of being in the anchor chair every day, I want time to do more of what I love the most: connecting, listening, and reporting in the field.”
As MSNBC faces the industry-wide trend of cord-cutting, the network has been forced to implement substantial cost-reduction strategies. Traditional media outlets like MSNBC and CNN are confronted with increasing financial instability as audiences shift towards streaming platforms.
The network’s budget constraints have not spared its top staff. High-profile anchors such as Joy Reid and Stephanie Ruhle were informed about necessary salary reductions to maintain their roles. Rachel Maddow, a star anchor, allegedly faced a $5 million cut from her annual $30 million salary, a claim MSNBC contests. Jonathan Lemire, recently promoted to co-host “Morning Joe,” was reportedly presented with a new contract featuring reduced pay.
Mitchell’s exit is not the only significant departure from NBC’s news division. Chuck Todd, former “Meet the Press” moderator, also left the network after nearly 20 years. In his exit memo, Todd wrote, “There’s never a perfect time to leave a place that’s been a professional home for so long, but I’m pretty excited about a few new projects that are on the cusp of going from ‘pie in the sky’ to ‘near reality.’”
MSNBC president Rashida Jones, the first black woman to helm a major television network, stepped down after a four-year tenure. This coincided with Comcast’s decision to separate MSNBC and CNBC from NBC News, creating an independent company under the leadership of executive Mark Lazarus.
Mitchell started her NBC News career in 1978 and has covered seven presidential administrations and every presidential campaign since 1980. She has been a constant presence at every national political convention since 1972, marking her as a leading figure in political journalism.
In an internal memo, NBC executives commended Mitchell as one of the most credible voices in foreign policy and domestic politics, with an impressive ability to secure high-profile interviews that generate headlines.
When she made her decision public in October 2024, Mitchell emphasized the value of on-the-ground reporting, noting that the winner of the forthcoming election would have to deal with two ongoing wars overseas and significant political divisions domestically.
While Mitchell is stepping back from her daily anchor duties, she will retain her roles as NBC News’ chief foreign affairs correspondent and chief Washington correspondent, positions she has held since 1994. Mitchell will continue to contribute to NBC News and MSNBC across all platforms, providing coverage of breaking news and major political events. No replacement has yet been announced for “Andrea Mitchell Reports,” the network’s longest-running daytime program initiated in 2008.