MSNBC Asks Producers Not To Promote Anchor’s Website

Last week we told you about MSNBC anchor Carlos Watson launching a Website called “The Stimulist.” It’s a site that bills itself as “The Optimist’s Daily Brief” and includes Watson’s “original take on the daily news.”

But insiders tell TVNewser, Watson may be trying to promote the site while he’s anchoring, which got us wondering how MSNBC allows him to do both.

Watson was hired as an anchor in late March. “The Stimulist” launched in early March. We hear that NBC News standards would not normally allow an anchor to launch a personal Website, especially one that so closely incorporates its talent. But Watson was “grandfathered” in because he was developing the site before MSNBC hired him.

MSNBC is still allowing Watson to mention the site when he appears as a guest on other shows, including during an appearance on Morning Joe today. But producers have been asked not to mention “The Stimulist” during daytime hours. Which is probably just fine with folks at msnbc.com.

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