Seasoned Journalist Sudeep Reddy Named MSNBC’s First Washington Bureau Chief
- Most recently Reddy served as senior managing editor at Politico, where he oversaw a staff of 150 journalists.
MSNBC has appointed Sudeep Reddy, a veteran journalist from Politico and The Wall Street Journal, as its first-ever Washington bureau chief as the network prepares to break away from its NBCUniversal corporate parent later this year, according to multiple reports.
The appointment comes as MSNBC embarks on a significant expansion of its independent news operation, with plans to hire more than 100 journalists to build out its own newsroom. This move follows Comcast’s decision to spin off MSNBC along with other cable networks into a separate company, severing its long-standing relationship with NBC News, The New York Times reports.
Rebecca Kutler, MSNBC’s president, announced Reddy’s appointment on Thursday, signaling a commitment to serious journalism rather than partisan programming.
“The MSNBC audience is cerebral and appreciates analytical, contextual reporting,” Kutler told The New York Times. “He is going to build and run a significant Washington reporting team, that to me matches with the moment — a serious moment — where real reporting will matter.”
Reddy, 45, brings extensive journalism experience to the role. Most recently he served as senior managing editor at Politico, where he oversaw a staff of 150 journalists. He spent a decade in The Wall Street Journal’s Washington bureau as an economics editor directing U.S. and international economic news coverage. Previously he worked as a Washington correspondent for The Dallas Morning News.
According to Politico, during his tenure there since 2017, Reddy led teams covering the White House, Playbook, digital operations, live events, and audio. He also oversaw newsroom operations, including talent, training, standards, and diversity strategy.
Reddy’s journalism has earned numerous accolades, including recognition from the Society of American Business Editors and Writers for economy coverage, awards from the Associated Press Managing Editors of Texas for business reporting and deadline writing, the National Press Foundation’s Thomas L. Stokes Award for Best Energy Writing, and the national print media award from the National Association of Consumer Advocates.
Reddy graduated from Brown University with a degree in bioethics and history, where he served as executive editor of The Brown Daily Herald. He has taught as an adjunct faculty member at Georgetown University and serves on the boards of the National Press Foundation and the International Center for Journalists. According to Politico, he is also a former national secretary of the South Asian Journalists Association and former treasurer of the Asian American Journalists Association of Texas.
According to a memo from Scott Matthews, MSNBC’s senior VP of newsgathering, Reddy “will lead our Washington team to focus not just on the happenings inside Washington but also on how decisions in the capital will impact people across the nation and around the world.”
The new Washington bureau will be located at the Hall of States building, the same complex where NBC News is currently housed, but will operate separately, Deadline reports. Reddy will report to Matthews and work with Erin Zimmerman, vice president of newsgathering. He is expected to start his new role on June 16.
This expansion represents a significant investment in journalism at a time when many news organizations are contracting, and comes as MSNBC works to rebuild its audience following a ratings decline after the recent presidential election.