“Mark’s legacy is that he didn’t tolerate any B.S. from anyone,” said Burnett, who recently left CNBC and will launch a show soon on CNN. “He wanted to tell the story — and that’s why so many viewers trusted him. He would always ask the question that nobody else would ask. He was fearless.”
A mainstay at CNBC for two decades, Haines was a longtime anchor — and often a dominant presence — on “Squawk Box,” the cable network’s morning show that played a central role in connecting the masses to the stock craze of the 1990s.
Haines could be a gruff but endearing presence on the air. He often had a sly, skeptical smile as he discussed the news of the day. It was his way of telling the viewers watching at home that he was on their side.
No, he didn’t quite trust CEOs’ platitudes, and he could get his subjects to squirm a bit when he pressed them.
Haines hailed from the New York metropolitan area. His career began as an attorney. Later he was an on-air presence at TV stations in New York, Philadelphia and Providence, R.I., before he gravitated to CNBC.
On Wednesday morning, his CNBC colleagues remembered him fondly. Still obviously in shock, one after another, they told moving, heartfelt stories about a teammate they respected.
My favorite moment was when reporter Becky Quick told of the day that she had won over Haines, who at first seemed intimidating to her.
“I can’t tell you how excited and how happy I was — Mark Haines just acknowledged I exist,” Quick said. And you knew she meant it, too.
Burnett told me she wanted CNBC CMCSA +0.16% viewers to understand what Haines was really about. Yes, he could play the part of the world-weary journalist on the air. But away from the cameras and the microphones, he was a kind, caring family man who could surprise people.
“He liked to watch ‘Jersey Shore,’ ” Burnett said, referring to the hit show that boasts a big audience of teenagers. “He got a kick out of it.”
Burnett stressed that he was, first and foremost, dedicated to his family. “He loved to do things for his kids,” she noted. “He was always on the Web looking for things his kids might like.”
Haines’s daughter liked to be on stage, Burnett recalled, “and Mark went to all of her shows. He worked with her a lot on her DVD.”
Professionally, Haines loved being a journalist who knew his calling was to cut through press releases.
“He really believed it was his job to find out the truth,” Burnett said. “Mark has stories going back to his investigative days. He was really proud of being an old-school reporter.”
But the truest measure of Haines was as a great teammate to his friends at CNBC.
“On our first show together,” Burnett recalled, “he had an incredibly generous moment. He made it clear he accepted me from the get-go. He treated me as an equal. He made me feel important.”
Like some viewers, I admit that I was sometimes put off by Haines’s gruffness on the air. But I respected him as a dedicated newsman — and there is no higher compliment you can pay a journalist.
A mainstay at CNBC for two decades, Haines was a longtime anchor — and often a dominant presence — on “Squawk Box,” the cable network’s morning show that played a central role in connecting the masses to the stock craze of the 1990s.
Haines could be a gruff but endearing presence on the air. He often had a sly, skeptical smile as he discussed the news of the day. It was his way of telling the viewers watching at home that he was on their side.
No, he didn’t quite trust CEOs’ platitudes, and he could get his subjects to squirm a bit when he pressed them.
Haines hailed from the New York metropolitan area. His career began as an attorney. Later he was an on-air presence at TV stations in New York, Philadelphia and Providence, R.I., before he gravitated to CNBC.
On Wednesday morning, his CNBC colleagues remembered him fondly. Still obviously in shock, one after another, they told moving, heartfelt stories about a teammate they respected.
My favorite moment was when reporter Becky Quick told of the day that she had won over Haines, who at first seemed intimidating to her.
“I can’t tell you how excited and how happy I was — Mark Haines just acknowledged I exist,” Quick said. And you knew she meant it, too.
Burnett told me she wanted CNBC CMCSA +0.16% viewers to understand what Haines was really about. Yes, he could play the part of the world-weary journalist on the air. But away from the cameras and the microphones, he was a kind, caring family man who could surprise people.
“He liked to watch ‘Jersey Shore,’ ” Burnett said, referring to the hit show that boasts a big audience of teenagers. “He got a kick out of it.”
Burnett stressed that he was, first and foremost, dedicated to his family. “He loved to do things for his kids,” she noted. “He was always on the Web looking for things his kids might like.”
Professionally, Haines loved being a journalist who knew his calling was to cut through press releases.
“He really believed it was his job to find out the truth,” Burnett said. “Mark has stories going back to his investigative days. He was really proud of being an old-school reporter.”
But the truest measure of Haines was as a great teammate to his friends at CNBC.
“On our first show together,” Burnett recalled, “he had an incredibly generous moment. He made it clear he accepted me from the get-go. He treated me as an equal. He made me feel important.”
Like some viewers, I admit that I was sometimes put off by Haines’s gruffness on the air. But I respected him as a dedicated newsman — and there is no higher compliment you can pay a journalist.
