Pros
Really, it was an awful experience. MSNBC News was one of the worst employment expeirences of my life. The best reason that I can come up with for working there is you'll be working in the building where tourists pay about 50 bucks a pop to take a tour. The prestige of that is about the only thing.
Cons
Everything else. You are treated as if you are just a rat on the wheel. No respect is shown to you by senior managment. You are there for them to yell at, to release frustration and blame when their lack of communication and leadership skills fails them. You work your butt off and get not even an ounce of recognition or even acknowledgement for it. Pretty much, 95% of the people working there hate it, but realize that there is no where else to go due to the job market right now. The environment is high stress and extremely toxic in that there is nothing but negative energy from the producers. In about 3 months, you find yourself being drawn into the constant bickering, yelling and negativity going on all around you. As if that weren't enough, there is absolutely NO growth opportunity there. You rotate between PA positions, learning how to do the jobs of the other PA's and are lied to by management that this is "for your own good in your next job". Do no be fooled by this. They are simply trying to train you so that you could cover the 4am shift if someone calls out. The skills you learn in the other PA jobs will never again be useful if you do move up to being a producer. Lies, disrespect and a downright nasty working environment is what you can expect.