CNN
—
CNN announced Thursday morning that it will lay off about 6% of its workforce as it implements sweeping new changes to the 45-year-old news network, including a new weekday programming lineup and digital strategy.
CNN CEO Mark Thompson announced that CNN will soon announce a new streaming service, a redesigned digital footprint, new subscriber services and a new programming lineup. CNN’s parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, is investing $70 million in CNN’s digital plans, Thompson said.
The layoffs will mean the loss of about 200 jobs, but Thompson said in a memo to employees that there will be a large number of new openings, so overall headcount will not be significantly reduced by the end of the year. He said he expected no.
“The changes we are announcing today are part of this great news organization’s ongoing response to profound and irreversible changes in the way audiences in America and around the world consume news,” Thompson told staff. stated in a memo addressed to
“Our objective is simple: shift CNN’s focus to the platforms and products that our viewers themselves are shifting to, thereby securing CNN’s future as one of the world’s premier news organizations. Now more than ever, America and the world need quality, fair-minded and trustworthy news sources. This difficult and sometimes painful process of change is the only way we can ensure it. ”
The job cuts have long been expected as the network revamps and restructures its news operations with a focus on digital growth. Nearly all major news networks are facing headwinds as viewers migrate to other platforms and are dealing with declining viewership and revenue.
Last summer, CNN cut 100 people, or about 3% of its workforce, as it reorganized its reporting operations.
CNN then launched a paid subscription service for $3.99 per month. Readers are asked to pay after reading a certain number of free articles, and selected articles are published behind a paywall. On Thursday, Thompson announced that more subscriber products are coming, including CNN’s first lifestyle-oriented digital product.
CNN already offers a streaming service with CNN Max, but Thompson has plans to launch additional streaming products, although he has not yet announced what programming the new streaming service will offer. said. As it stands, Max “is not the complete answer to the future of great linear CNN experiences,” Thompson wrote.
The new weekday lineup will see Wolf Blitzer’s “The Situation Room” move from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., with Pamela Brown joining as co-anchor, replacing Jim Acosta’s hours. Former CNN podcast host Audie Cornish will anchor the new 6 a.m. show, while Casey Hunt will move to the 4 p.m. Rahel Solomon will also anchor the new show starting at 5 a.m.
A CNN spokesperson said: “We are in active discussions with the gym regarding new hours and will share further information in the near future.”
Thompson wrote that the new weekday lineup brings “energy and competitiveness” while also “putting production costs on a sustainable footing in line with the changing economics of linear television platforms.” The new schedule will begin in March.
