MSNBC host Joy Reid is reportedly set to take a salary reduction to remain at the network, reflecting broader economic pressures and declining ratings that have hit cable news outlets hard.

Image Credit: © Courtney Pedroza / The Tennessean , Nashville Tennessean via Imagn Content Services, LLC
Joy-Ann Reid speaks during the MLK Day Convocation organized by the Interdenominational Ministers Fellowship at Tennessee State University Monday, Jan. 20, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn. Cp17592

Reid, who hosts The ReidOut, is a key figure for MSNBC’s progressive audience but joins a growing list of anchors and staff members facing financial cuts across the industry.

Reid, whose current salary is estimated at $3 million annually, is expected to accept a lower pay rate as part of her contract renewal, according to sources.

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The move aligns with similar adjustments affecting other MSNBC personalities, including 11th Hour host Stephanie Ruhle, who is also rumored to be facing a salary cut, as reported by The Ankler.

These measures are part of a larger strategy by MSNBC to manage costs in an era of declining viewership and shifting media consumption habits.

Across the broader cable news landscape, networks such as CNN, ABC, CBS, and NBC are also bracing for layoffs and budget reductions, driven by what executives describe as persistent economic headwinds.

MSNBC and other legacy networks experienced a ratings surge during the Trump administration and the 2020 election, with nonstop political coverage driving viewership.

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However, as the political landscape stabilized and audiences fragmented, ratings for most cable networks have plummeted.

MSNBC’s primetime viewership has dropped by over 60% since the presidential election, averaging 621,000 total viewers—a steep decline from its peak.

Reid’s own show, The ReidOut, has seen a 47% decline in its total audience, now averaging 759,000 viewers compared to 1.4 million previously, according to data from Fox News.

In the key demographic of adults aged 25-54, MSNBC’s viewership has fallen by 61%, with an average of only 57,000 viewers in that category.

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Reid is not the only high-profile MSNBC figure to feel the impact of these changes.

Rachel Maddow, the network’s top-rated host, reportedly accepted a $5 million pay cut to maintain her limited on-air presence, underscoring the financial strain across the network.

The challenges extend beyond ratings. Reid has faced public backlash for controversial statements made on-air.

Following the failure of Amendment 4 in Florida, which sought to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution, Reid described the state as an “extremist right-wing fascist” state.

Her remarks sparked widespread criticism on social media, with some viewers calling for her removal.

Reid’s history of controversies also includes resurfaced blog posts from 2018 that contained homophobic content.

While she initially claimed her blog had been hacked, Reid later apologized, calling the posts “insensitive, tone-deaf and dumb.”

The financial pressures and ratings decline at MSNBC mirror industry-wide trends. Newsroom staff reductions and lower salaries for on-air talent are becoming common across major networks as they grapple with the realities of modern media consumption.

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With audiences increasingly turning to digital platforms and alternative media sources, traditional cable news faces mounting challenges in retaining viewership and advertising revenue.

While MSNBC remains a significant player among left-leaning audiences, the struggles of even its flagship stars like Joy Reid reflect the broader challenges facing cable news in a competitive and evolving landscape.

As networks attempt to adapt, the future of traditional television news remains uncertain.

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