Joy Reid takes over Chris Matthews' MSNBC time slot to host nightly news show
In a historic move, Joy Reid is set to be the new host of MSNBC's early evening time slot, previously held by Chris Matthew's show "Hardball," the network announced Thursday.
Reid, who has been a weekend anchor for her show "AM Joy" since 2016, will now be hosting her Washington-based show, “The ReidOut," premiering on July 20.
As one of only a handful of Black woman to anchor evening news shows, Reid said she was intent on “bringing in diverse, smart and accomplished voices to the table.”
"I’m honored and thankful for this opportunity," Reid said in a statement Thursday. "I’ll always be proud of the work we did on ‘AM Joy’ by pushing the envelope and tackling pragmatic conversations. I’m eager to carry that same energy into the 7 p.m. hour where we can continue to build on bringing in diverse, smart, and accomplished voices to the table on topics that are important to our viewers."
"It’s impossible to reply to all the kind tweets and well wishes today, but needless to say THANK YOU," she tweeted Thursday. "I’m so thankful and excited about this new chapter in building #TheReidOut starting July 20 & misty about leaving my #amjoy home."
Rachel Maddow, who hosts MSNBC's "The Rachel Maddow Show," expressed her excitement on social media, stating she "couldn't be more excited for this."
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"I’m thrilled to have Joy on five nights a week," MSNBC President Phil Griffin said in a statement. "She’s thoughtful and brings so much depth to her reporting. She’s made for this moment."
MSNBC contributor Jonathan Capehart also took to Twitter to praise Reid, congratulating her for "making history."
"You go, gurl! Congratulations, @JoyAnnReid, on making history. Can't wait for the July 20 debut of "The ReidOut"! he wrote on Thursday.
The announcement was made amid the national protests against racism surrounding the death of George Floyd, the 46-year-old black man who died May 25 after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck.
“I am a black mom, a black woman, a black daughter. I am also a journalist who can conceptualize that pain from a unique point of view," Reid told The New York Times Thursday. "Every day I’m in this job, I’m very conscious of that responsibility to make that collective voice heard. It’s unique to do that as a black woman.”
Matthews resigned on-air in March following accusations of making inappropriate comments, including several about women.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Joy Reid to host Chris Matthews' MSNBC show time slot in historic move