The Donlon Report
Presented byJoe Donlon
Production
Production locationsWGN-TV Studios, Chicago
Running time60 minutes
Production companyNexstar Media Group
Release
Original networkNewsNation
Original releaseMarch 1, 2021 (2021-03-01) –
present
External links
Website

The Donlon Report is a nightly American television news program on NewsNation, which premiered on March 1, 2021. The one-hour-long program is hosted by Joe Donlon at 6 p.m. ET.[1]

The cable network WGN America was rebranded to NewsNation by its corporate parent Nexstar Media Group on the same day and expand to five hours of live news programming.[2]

The expansion in programming is a move to compete against other U.S. Cable News programs.[3] The Donlon Report will go against largely opinion-based programs in that timeslot: Erin Burnett OutFront on CNN, The ReidOut on MSNBC and Fox News Primetime on Fox News.[4] The show will also be NewsNation's first time going against its largest competitor in the "unbiased" cable news landscape The News with Shepard Smith on CNBC.[5]

The show replaced reruns of Last Man Standing.

Format

NewsNation has stated the show will take “in-depth look at the news events of the day” mixed with interviews from experts “who can add insight and perspective.”[6] Unlike Donlon's anchoring of the previous three hour news block now titled NewsNation Prime, Donlon can comment on the news,[7] and uses the first portion of every program as a brief monologue on the top story covered.[8] Unlike the other NewsNation newscasts, Donlon will not necessarily seek to provide balance on each night but will strive to incorporate different viewpoints over a longer period.[9] NewsNation has been using its 5,500 local journalists at Nexstar Media Group stations across the country to provide content since the primetime broadcast premiered in September 2020.

Host

Joe Donlon moved from the show's primetime broadcast to his own show. Before NewsNation, Donlon was the main anchor at Chicago's WGN-TV for three years.[10] He spent 21 years at KGW in Portland, Oregon before moving to Chicago.[11] Donlon has been criticized for his soft interviewing and alleged insufficient challenges to false claims.[7]

References

  1. ^ "WGN America will change its name to NewsNation, moving to compete with CNN, Fox, MSNBC". Los Angeles Times. January 25, 2021. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  2. ^ Keveney, Bill. "Upstart CNN competitor expands: WGN America rebrands as NewsNation, beefs up primetime news block". USA TODAY. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  3. ^ Littleton, Cynthia (January 25, 2021). "Nexstar's WGN America to Rebrand as NewsNation, Expand Nightly Newscasts". Variety. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  4. ^ "Facing ratings pressure, Fox News replaces news with opinion at 7 p.m." Los Angeles Times. January 11, 2021. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  5. ^ Berr, Jonathan. "Can Nexstar's 'Fact-Based' And 'Unbiased' News Channel Attract Viewers?". Forbes. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  6. ^ "Nexstar Media's Cable Network, WGN America, to Rebrand as NewsNation and Expand News Programming to Five Hours on Weeknights Beginning March 1". Nexstar Media Group, Inc. January 25, 2021. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  7. ^ a b Robertson, Katie (March 7, 2021). "Journalists Rebel at NewsNation, a Newcomer in Cable News". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  8. ^ "https://twitter.com/thedonlonreport/status/1367257102390079490". Twitter. Retrieved March 9, 2021. External link in |title= (help)
  9. ^ "What's coming up on 'The Donlon Report'". myfox8.com. March 4, 2021. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  10. ^ "Rebranded 'NewsNation' moving Joe Donlon to solo news hour at 6 p.m. - Robert Feder". www.robertfeder.com. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  11. ^ "Joe Donlon". NewsNation Now. June 2, 2020. Retrieved January 26, 2021.

External links


Evening television news in the United States
NewsNation original programming
Nexstar Media Group
Categories