Teh ⁢”Curse of Competency”

At ⁣the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival’s C-Suite Soirée on⁣ august 7, Joy Reid delivered a candid ⁢address about the ⁢realities of working in cable news. She ‍revealed a deeply personal truth: for the entirety of her time at MSNBC, she was paid just one-tenth the salary of some of her male ⁣colleagues, despite comparable-and sometimes superior-performance.

Reid articulated⁤ what she termed the “curse of competency,” explaining that those who ⁢excel often do so because they’ve‍ invested more effort in readiness and research. This‍ dedication, she ‍noted, frequently translates to longer hours and increased workload⁤ without‍ proportional financial reward. “You⁤ know more ⁤than everyone else as you’ve had to ‍do more work and more ‍research to get where ‍you are,” she said, adding that this frequently enough means “you actually work the hardest, do‍ the most hours, work the most overtime, and don’t get paid commensurate to the amount of work you do.”

Her experience wasn’t simply ⁢about being undervalued; it⁣ was about a systemic imbalance.”I worked in ‍a business where I was paid a tenth of the salary ⁣of people who did literally my same ‍job,the whole time I worked there,” ⁢Reid⁣ confessed. She further explained that a male counterpart performing the same⁤ role would ⁣likely⁣ earn more and possess greater negotiating power, even with lower ⁤viewership numbers.

Reid described ‍a pattern where some colleagues were afforded “the presumption of brilliance,” enjoying shorter work hours, larger raises, ‍increased ⁢opportunities, and a greater degree of professional leniency. “They work fewer hours and make more.‍ They get bigger raises, more opportunities and more grace. This ⁢is the world we⁤ live in,” she stated.

Behind the Numbers: A Shifting Landscape at MSNBC

Reid’s revelations‍ come amidst a period of significant change at MSNBC, which has recently rebranded as MS NOW. Prior to the cancellation of her ‍show, The ReidOut, in February 2025 due to a⁢ network reorganization, Reid reportedly earned an annual salary of $3 million. Though, in late 2024, she, along with other prominent anchors, accepted a pay ⁣cut as part of⁢ broader cost-saving measures within the network. Her salary was reduced to $1.5 million, a figure that ‍reflects the network’s financial adjustments.

MSNBC declined to comment directly on Reid’s claims⁤ regarding salary disparities. However, a staff memo from then-network president‍ Rebecca‍ Kutler⁢ acknowledged Reid’s contributions, specifically highlighting her receipt⁤ of the 2025 ⁣NAACP Image Award.

The cancellation of The ReidOut drew widespread support, notably⁢ from colleague rachel Maddow, who described the decision as “a bad mistake” and affirmed her deep respect and affection for Reid.

A New Chapter:‍ The Joy Reid Show

Despite the ‍challenges‍ at ⁣MSNBC, Reid has successfully transitioned to an independent platform, ‍launching The Joy Reid Show on YouTube. This move allows her to continue covering politics,news,and culture with the freedom and autonomy she sought. While The⁣ ReidOut struggled with‍ viewership in its final months-averaging fewer than 50,000⁤ viewers and‍ recovering‍ less than 10% ⁢of advertising costs-Reid’s YouTube channel offers a direct connection with her audience and a new avenue for‍ impactful⁤ journalism.