Alison Stewart, Jon Meacham To Anchor WNET Public Affairs Program

'Need To Know' will debut on PBS stations May 7

By Marisa Guthrie -- Broadcasting & Cable, 3/17/2010 11:04:45 PM

WNET.org has named Alison Stewart and Jon Meacham co-hosts of its new public affairs program Need to Know, the public broadcaster announced March 17. Need To Know, which is being billed as a TV/web hybrid where stories developed on the show's website will culminate on the weekly broadcast, launches May 7 at 8:30 p.m. on the majority of PBS' 356 member stations.

Stewart, a veteran of NPR who was also a contributor to MSNBC, where her husband Bill Wolff is the executive producer of The Rachel Maddow Show, will be exclusive to Need to Know. Meacham will remain in his current capacity as editor of Newsweek.

WNET.org president Neal Shapiro did not rule out the possibility of future synergies between Newsweek and Need to Know.

"We haven't talked about anything specific," he said. "But I think all kinds of natural synergies may happen."

Shapiro said he is not concerned that Stewart and Meacham, who has been a frequent guest on Charlie Rose as well as MSNBC's Morning Joe, will bring ideological baggage to the program.

"They are both are incredibly smart. And I think, given their intellect, neither are people you can pigeon-hole left or right. I think they have a history of asking probing questions on all sides."