Although all-news radio operated for decades earlier, the 24-hour news cycle arrived with the advent of cable television channels dedicated to news and brought about a much faster pace of news production with an increased demand for stories that could be presented as continual news with constant updating. DGA members who work at the cable news network MSNBC revealed how they keep the non-stop coverage running when the Eastern Region Special Projects Committee presented the event, The 24-Hour News Cycle.
Held both online and in the Guild’s New York Boardroom, the event featured Directors TJ Asprea, Marc Greenstein, Geoff Hoffmann, Kara Kennedy, Jason Martinez and Philip Williamson sharing their insights into how it all comes together during a discussion moderated by DGA Sixth Vice-President Lily Olszewski.
During the conversation, Olszewski took the panelists from pre-planned segments to breaking news as they discussed subjects including how Directors collaborate, the unique elements of directing their respective programs, how breaking news is handled, and their most difficult and most rewarding days on the job.
Asprea talked about what it has been like directing the “beast” of the 4-hour long program Morning Joe for 14 years. He described having a good working relationship with hosts, keeping the train on the tracks when having to coordinate several elements at once during a segment. He explained that just last week the show had 102 guests averaging 20 guests a day coming in and out of the Washington DC and New York studios.
Greenstein explained the challenge of having to be on 24/7 and ready to break into three networks – MSNBC, NBC News Now and NBC – and that it is not uncommon to have to call someone at 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning to come in and help, noting that these are often the worst calls to have to make not only because of having to interrupt someone’s personal life but also because it likely means there is something terrible happening.
Hoffmann described how the culture at MSNBC is collaborative and not competitive and that people bounce ideas off each other without judgement. He called the environment “controlled chaos” with changing, ever-moving elements. According to Hoffman, Directors at MSNBC are the bosses of their control room making sure the aesthetic matches the editorial and what goes out to the viewers is the best product it can be.
Kennedy, who has been with the company since 1994, spoke about having worked on nearly every show at NBC and MSNBC. She credits her adaptable personality for being able to jump in wherever she is, adding that she knows how to bring out the best in her team.
Martinez recalled that his most challenging day at work was the day of the Sandy Hook shooting because it took place in the community where his children went to school. Knowing his kids were safe, Martinez was able to put his emotions about the situation aside in order to bring the story to air. He explained that being able to compartmentalize is a necessity of the job with all the horrible stories that need to be told and that having a way to decompress is important.
Williamson spoke about coming from local news where control rooms are automated and happily transitioning back to a manual control room to direct Way Too Early, a program that airs at 5:00 a.m. Despite having to be at work at 3:30 a.m., Williamson described host Ali Vitali sets the tone by keeping an upbeat energy despite the early timeslot.
See video from this event in the gallery below.
ABOUT THE PANELISTS:
 TJ Asprea
Asprea currently the Director of the MSNBC series Morning Joe. After getting his start in local television, he moved on to direct shows at Court TV, then joined the MSNBC directing team in 2001 directing Iraq war coverage, Imus in the Morning and Scarborough Country. In 2007, he helped create and develop Morning Joe. In 2014, he joined CBS, directing the CBS Evening News and CBS News special events. He returned to Morning Joe in 2019. Asprea has been a DGA member since 2014. |
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 Marc Greenstein
Greenstein is the Senior Vice President of Design & Production for NBC News & MSNBC. He is responsible for the conception and execution of creative strategy for all linear and streaming programs, cross-platform breaking news and major events. He is most recently responsible for the launch, design and operation of NBC News NOW – the network’s vast streaming platform. Greenstein previously worked in local media in Miami and San Diego – where he oversaw the launch of their daily newscasts – and served as a freelance Director, covering sporting events for multiple networks. He has been a DGA member since 2007. |
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 Geoff Hoffman
With nearly 30 years of experience in the industry, Hoffman has developed comprehensive expertise across all facets of production. Currently serving as Executive Director at MSNBC and NBC News Now, he helps lead a team of over 20 Directors, overseeing daily network operations and closely collaborating with the art department to create and implement bespoke graphic packages. Hoffmann has been a DGA member since 2016. |
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 Kara Kennedy
Kennedy is an Executive Director for NBC News & MSNBC. She began her career as part of the America’s Talking launch team and, in her three decades with NBC Universal, has become an integral and valued part of the NBC News & MSNBC Directing management team directing programs from the Presidential Debates through Election Night. She also backfills on both MSNBC and NBC News programs including Morning Joe, Meet the Press and Jenna and Friends and served as the NBC Weekend Today Director from 2017- 2022. Kennedy has been a DGA member since 2005. |
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 Jason Martinez
Martinez’s directing experience began in local news, at News 12 Long Island, Westchester and New Jersey. This led him to CNBC, where he continued as an independent Director until he was hired by ESPN. At ESPN, his credits include SportsCenter, NFL Live and Outside the Lines to name a few. In 2011, he joined the directing team for MSNBC where he is currently lead Director for All In With Chris Hayes and The 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle as well as being involved with election coverage and special events. Martinez became a DGA member in 2024. |
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 Philip Williamson
Williamson is a seasoned news Director with nearly two decades of experience. At MSNBC, he oversees and collaborates in live broadcasts and recordings for major programs like Way Too Early, Morning Joe, and Ana Cabrera Reports. Working closely with technical teams and executives, he played a key role in events like MSNBC’s first Live Fan Fest. Williamson has been a DGA member since 2018. |
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 Lily Olszewski (Moderator)
Olszewski is the Emmy-award winning Director of ABC’s Good Morning America. Her directorial credits also include Late Night with Seth Meyers, Watch What Happens Live, Anderson, Today, Donahue, The Jenny McCarthy Show, Latin Billboard Awards Red Carpet, Premios Fox, Time and Again with Jane Pauley, Quite Frankly with Steven A. Smith, MTV’s The Seven Countdown with Keith Olbermann and the recent Presidential Debate and ABC’s Election Night Coverage. A DGA member since 2015, Olszewski currently serves as the Sixth Vice President of the Guild, is a member of the Eastern Directors Council. |
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About The Special Projects Committee
Special Projects is the educational and cultural arm of the Directors Guild of America, providing its members opportunities for creative exchange to advance their craft and celebrate the achievements of directors and their teams.