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☆ CNN taps media veteran Thompson as CEO to spearhead turnaround
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( Aditya Soni | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

With Thompson, Warner Bros Discovery is turning to an executive with ample experience at the top level, unlike Licht - a former TV producer who had worked on "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert" and MSNBC's "Morning Joe". During his 8-year tenure as the CEO of the Times, Thompson helped transform the Gray Lady into a beacon for newspapers in the internet age by focusing on digital subscriptions. "Mark is a true innovator who has transformed for the digital age two of the world's most respected news organizations," Warner Bros Discovery CEO David Zaslav said. CNN Max is looking to capitalize on the immediacy of breaking news and analysis, differentiating it from CNN+, which featured lifestyle programs. Those estimates are for the CNN networks that operate in the United States, including CNN en Español and CNN International.

Persons: Mark Thompson, Neil Hall, Thompson, Chris Licht, Donald Trump, Stephen Colbert, David Zaslav, Joe Biden, Ron Desantis, CNN Max, Paolo Pescatore, Licht, Jeff Zucker, Aditya Soni, Chavi Mehta, Shinjini Organizations: BBC, REUTERS, Warner Bros Discovery, CNN, New York Times, Republican U.S, Times, Trump, Democratic, Warner Bros, Atlantic, P Global Market Intelligence, Español, CNN International, Fox News, MSNBC, Nielsen, Thomson Locations: London, Florida, Trump, United States, Bengaluru

☆ A former CNN reporter is suing the network for racial discrimination, alleging she was told she didn't have 'the look' for presenting
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A former CNN reporter is suing the company for discrimination and improper dismissal. A former CNN reporter is suing the network for racial discrimination and improper dismissal. Saima Mohsin, a former international correspondent for CNN, broke her foot in 2014 while on assignment covering the Israel-Palestine conflict. "I worked hard to become an international correspondent and loved my job with CNN," Mohsin says in the claim, according to The Guardian. "My management believes they did the right thing as service to the American people," Christiane Amanpour, CNN's chief international correspondent, said in a Columbia Journalism School commencement speech.

Persons: Saima Mohsin, Mohsin, we'll, Don Lemon, Lemon, Chris Licht, Christiane Amanpour, Donald Trump Organizations: CNN, Guardian, Twitter, Trump Town Hall, Columbia Journalism School, The New York Post Locations: Israel, Palestine, London

☆ CNN management focused on 'listening' and 'getting back to work' as the network moves on from Chris Licht
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Trisha Gopal | Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

A trio of longtime executives have taken charge at CNN following the exit of Chris Licht. There's a moment in Tim Alberta's brutal profile of CNN's now-former CEO Chris Licht where Licht awkwardly takes a jab at his predecessor Jeff Zucker. The following Monday, as Licht attempted to quell growing calls for his ouster, Licht told CNN staff: "As I read that article, I found myself thinking, CNN is not about me. Jeff Zucker and Chris Licht at an event in 2019, back when Zucker still ran CNN and Licht was the showrunner on The Late Show on CBS. If Licht was seen as mismanaging CNN's top talent, Entelis, in particular, is known to be the queen of talent.

Persons: Chris Licht, David Leavy, Amy Entelis, Tim Alberta's, CNN's, Licht, Jeff Zucker, Zucker, Donald Trump, Christiane Amanpour . Licht, Anderson Cooper, Jake Tapper, Kara Swisher, Mike Coppola, — Licht, Virginia Moseley, Eric Sherling, Wolf, David Zaslav, Zaslav, WBD, Leavy, We're, — Leavy, I'm, Kaitlan Collins, Don Lemon's, Poppy Harlow, Licht's, PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA, Jonathan Miller, Entelis, Peter Jennings, Ted Koppel, Anthony Bourdain, Eric Ripert, Masa Takayama, Turner, Lisa Ling's, Bell, Tapper —, CNN —, She's, — Organizations: CNN, Morning, Vox Media, CBS, ABC, Warner Bros, Warner Bros Discovery, HBO, Getty, BBC News Board, Integrated Media, CNN Worldwide, Masa Locations: Trump, Japan, America

His tenure, which effectively started when he eliminated the network's expensive CNN+ streaming service , was riddled with programming missteps and rock-bottom ratings. "We have great confidence in this group and will fully support them until a new CEO is named," Warner Bros. In the meantime, executives Amy Entelis, Virginia Moseley, Eric Sherling and David Leavy will lead CNN, the company said. Chris Licht is out at CNN after leading the news network for a little more than a year, parent company Warner Bros Discovery announced Wednesday morning. Read Zaslav's memo to staff:All,This morning we are announcing that Chris Licht will be leaving CNN and we will be conducting a wide search, internally and externally, for a new leader.

Persons: Chris, Zaslav, –, David Zaslav, Amy Entelis, Virginia Moseley, Eric Sherling, David Leavy, Chris Licht, Licht, Donald Trump, Leavy, Joe, Stephen Colbert, Read, You've, David Organizations: CNN, Warner Bros, Discovery, Warner Bros Discovery, CBS, Development, MSNBC, CNBC

☆ Chris Licht's tumultuous 13-month run as CEO of CNN: Layoffs, anchor drama, and that really bad Atlantic profile
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Madeline Berg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Discovery CEO David Zaslav emailed staff, letting them know Licht was stepping down. On the programming side, Licht launched "CNN This Morning," with anchors Don Lemon, Poppy Harlow, and Kaitlan Collins. "It's another shit show" on top of Licht's multiplying challenges at CNN, one former employee told Insider at the time. "Having people applaud those sexual abuse comments definitely made me question my allegiance to this network," one network executive told Insider. CNN's own media reporter Oliver Darcy said Licht had "lost the room," adding that dozens of CNN staffers no longer had confidence in their leader.

Persons: Chris Licht, David Zaslav, Licht, Zaslav, He'd, Jeff Zucker, Stephen Colbert's, Joe, Licht's, WBD, —, Brian Stelter, John Harwood, Don Lemon, Poppy Harlow, Kaitlan Collins, Chris Cuomo, Nikki Haley, isn't, Lemon, Gayle King, Charles Barkley, Dana Bash —, Donald Trump, Trump, CNN's Collins, Zucker, Insider's Nich Carlson, Zaslav's, Puck's Dylan Byers, he'd, CNN's, Oliver Darcy, Anderson Cooper, Jake Tapper, Max Tani Organizations: CNN, Warner Bros, Discovery, Licht, CBS, Trump, House, Republican Party, — CNN, AP, Variety, cnn Locations: Trump

☆ 'That's on me': Warner Bros Discovery CEO sends email to CNN employees taking responsibility for Chris Licht disaster
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Aaron Mcdade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Chris Licht is leaving his position as CEO of CNN after a tumultuous year in charge. CNN's parent company, Warner Bros. Warner CEO David Zaslav told employees in an email and a morning newsroom call he was taking responsibility for Licht's mistakes. CNN is once again searching for a new top executive just over a year after departing CEO Chris Licht took the job — and David Zaslav, CEO of CNN's parent company Warner Bros. Read the full memo Zaslav sent to CNN staff that was reported by Tani here:Spokespeople for CNN and Warner Bros.

Persons: Chris Licht, David Zaslav, Licht's, Puck's Dylan Byers, Zaslav, Semafor's Max Tani, Don Lemon, Brian Stelter, Donald Trump, Licht, Jeff Zucker, Oliver Darcy, Jake Tapper, Anderson Cooper, Tani Organizations: CNN, Warner Bros, Discovery, Warner, Wall Street Journal Locations: Trump

☆ Media insiders react as CNN's embattled CEO steps down: 'The only person who hates bad press more than Chris Licht is ... David Zaslav.'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Ashley Rodriguez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

CNN CEO Chris Licht stepped down on Wednesday following a damning profile in The Atlantic. "The only person who hates bad press more than Chris Licht is ... David Zaslav," said one ex-CNN staffer. CNN CEO Chris Licht has stepped down after a damning profile in The Atlantic signaled the end to a tumultuous 14 months on the job. Licht stepped into the role in April 2022 after the merger that formed Warner Bros. David Zaslav, the head of the parent company, and John Malone, a big investor, have very specific *editorial ideas for how news should work.

Persons: Chris Licht, David Zaslav, Jeff Zucker, Licht, Oliver Darcy, Brian Stelter, Jamie Stelter, Brian, Kara Swisher, " Swisher, CNN's, Zucker, Glenn Greenwald, Edmund Lee, weren't Licht's, Greenwald, Lee, John Malone Organizations: CNN, Morning, Warner Bros, Wall Street Journal, NY1, Tech, New York Times Locations: Trump

☆ CNN's media reporter delivered a brutal assessment of its CEO after embarrassing profile: 'Licht has lost the room'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Nathan Mcalone | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

CNN CEO Chris Licht has been hit with a torrent of criticism since a profile of him dropped Friday. CNN media reporter Oliver Darcy wrote that Licht had "lost the room." This time, it's coming from inside the house, as CNN media reporter delivered a brutal assessment of Licht in Monday night's Reliable Sources newsletter. "In the wake of The Atlantic's explosive story, I've spoken with dozens of staffers across the company," Darcy wrote. In fairness to Licht, Darcy also reported that the "somber" remarks the CEO delivered on Monday had "struck the right tone."

Persons: Chris Licht, Oliver Darcy, Licht, Darcy, Puck's Dylan Byers, Byers, Darcy wasn't, David Zaslav, Zaslav's, Zaslav, David Leavy Organizations: CNN, Morning, The Atlantic, Warner Bros Locations: Trump, America, Zaslav

☆ CNN CEO Chris Licht apologizes to staff during internal Monday morning call
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Alex Sherman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Chris Licht, Chairman and CEO, CNN Worldwide speaks onstage during the Warner Bros. Embattled CNN Chief Executive Chris Licht apologized to the news organization's staff Monday morning during the cable news network's 9 a.m. Warner Bros. WATCH: Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav discusses company's performance on 'Squawk Box'

Persons: Chris Licht, Licht, didn't, Donald Trump, David Zaslav wasn't, Tim Alberta, Licht's, David Leavy, Leavy, Joe, Stephen Colbert, David Zaslav Organizations: CNN, Warner Bros, Madison, Garden, Discovery, CBS Locations: New York City

☆ Takeaways From Nikki Haley’s Mild CNN Town Hall
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Trip Gabriel | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Compared with CNN’s explosive, much-criticized town-hall-style event with Mr. Trump last month, this one was a throwback to earlier, less combative times. Jake Tapper, the anchor who moderated, never found the need to correct Ms. Haley. The two big red elephants in the room, Mr. Trump and Gov. Both Mr. Trump and Mr. DeSantis, who once supported similar changes, now say they won’t touch the programs. But she displayed less of the punitive rhetoric on the issues that Mr. Trump and Mr. DeSantis have made crucial to their messages.

Persons: Trump, Jake Tapper, Haley, Ron DeSantis, DeSantis, Ms, “ Pick, ”, “, ” Haley, Biden Organizations: Gov, Republican, Social Security, Medicare, Disney, United Nations Locations: Trump, Florida, Paris

☆ Inside CNN's epic PR fail that made a mockery of CEO Chris Licht
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-04 | by ( Nicholas Carlson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

The Atlantic published a really tough article about CNN CEO Chris Licht. The disaster I'm referring to is Tim Alberta's devastating profile of CNN chair and CEO Chris Licht published Friday. And maybe, the story suggests, that's because that big idea is not really Licht's plan at all but one foisted on him by his boss, Warner Bros. Through the summer, Alberta and Licht and CNN comms people talked about what the story might look like. A handful of sources tell me Kelly was skeptical of whether this was a good idea, Dornic was happy to do whatever, and Licht really, really wanted to do it.

Persons: Chris Licht, CNN's goof, Tim Alberta's, Licht, Licht hasn't, Warner, David Zaslav, Zucker, Jeff Zucker, I've, I'm, Kris Coratti Kelly, Kelly, Matt Dornic, Dornic, Hugo, Evan Agostini, isn't, Michael Eisner, James B, Stewart, Eisner, Stewart's, Tim Alberta, Nikki Haley, Don Lemon, he'd, it's, that's, It's, wasn't, Zaslav Organizations: CNN, Trump Town Hall, Warner Bros, Discovery, Journalism, Licht, Global Communications, American Museum of, Disney, Alberta, Trump, Atlantic Locations: Alberta, Manhattan

☆ 'It's like watching a snuff film': Media elites shocked by The Atlantic's surgical dismantling of CNN boss Chris Licht
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-03 | by ( Nicholas Carlson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

("I'm a fucking machine," Licht told me one day, when I asked why he was skipping a meal.) A clear-the-air town hall where he gets irritated with the CNN journalist interviewing him. Licht told Alberta. The big blunder Alberta returns to over and over in the story is the May 10 Trump town hall. Another media big wig, but one not at the conference, told me he thinks Licht is "done" at CNN.

Persons: moly, Chris Licht, Tim Alberta, Matt Dornic, Licht, Joe Maysonet, chirping, Zucker, Jeff Zucker, Here's Licht, Whatsapp, —, isn't, it's, Nikki Haley, Lago Organizations: CNN, Facebook, Alberta, Trump, Capitol, cnn, Cnn, Mar Locations: Alberta, Hudson, COVID, Puck, Trump, American

☆ CNN apparently removed the words 'sexual abuse' from a chyron ahead of Trump town hall, The Atlantic reports in bombshell profile of network head Chris Licht
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Sarah Gray | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

CNN producers removed the words "sexual abuse" from a chyron ahead of Trump's town hall, per The Atlantic. The day prior to Trump's CNN town hall, he was found liable for defamation and sexual abuse. Nearly a month after the town hall, The Atlantic published an eye-opening profile of Licht and his tenure. On May 9, a jury found Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming longtime Elle columnist E. Jean Carroll awarding her $5 million. The jury did not find Trump liable for rape; the former president has denied the allegations.

Persons: Tim Alberta's, Chris Licht, Chris Licht's, Donald Trump, Licht, Atlantic's Tim Alberta, Trump, E, Jean Carroll, Kaitlan Collins, Collins, Carroll, Oliver Darcy, Christiane Amanpour Organizations: CNN, CNN Worldwide, GOP Locations: Trump's, Alberta

☆ CNN's CEO reportedly looked like 'a man who had just survived a car wreck' after Trump town hall last month
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Nathan Mcalone | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

CNN CEO Chris Licht reportedly looked like he'd "just survived a car wreck" after last month's Trump town hall. Still, he has largely stood by his decisions around the town hall. CNN CEO Chris Licht wore the "expression of a man who had just survived a car wreck" after the network's Trump town hall last month, according to an expansive new profile in The Atlantic. Alberta described the morale inside CNN following the town hall as abysmal. "I had never witnessed a lower tide of confidence inside any company than in the week following the town hall at CNN," he wrote.

Persons: Chris Licht, Licht, Tim Alberta, MAGA, —, Kaitlan Collins, Oliver Darcy, Christiane Amanpour, Donald Trump, David Leavy Organizations: CNN, —, Republican, Trump, Columbia Journalism School Locations: Trump, Alberta, America

☆ CNN's new COO hire underscores bond between CEO Chris Licht and WBD boss David Zaslav
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Alex Sherman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

CNN CEO Chris Licht is about to get some help running his news network from a longtime close confidant of Warner Bros. Discovery chief executive officer David Zaslav. Licht has hired David Leavy as CNN's new chief operating officer, the company announced Thursday. Reporters and staffers openly criticized Licht's decision to air a Donald Trump town hall with legions of screaming fans last month. Licht has since acknowledged production issues with the production while standing behind the decision to broadcast a live Trump town hall.

Persons: Chris Licht, Warner, David Zaslav . Licht, David Leavy, Leavy, Licht, Licht's, Donald Trump, Zaslav Organizations: CNN, Warner Bros . Discovery, Warner Bros, Washington , D.C Locations: Trump, Washington ,

☆ Warner Bros. Discovery CEO Zaslav backs CNN chief Licht amid anger over Trump town hall
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Alex Sherman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Discovery CEO David Zaslav supported CNN CEO Chris Licht during an investor conference Thursday as tension at the network rises over the decision to air a live Donald Trump town hall packed with his supporters. Zaslav continues to be supportive of CNN's decision to host the Trump town hall, according to a person familiar with his thinking. "He's the frontrunner — he has to be on our network," Zaslav said on CNBC's "Squawk Box." Amanpour said she met with Licht this week to convey her disappointment with airing a Trump town hall in the format in which it happened. Amanpour is the first significant CNN journalist to publicly criticize Licht and Zaslav's decision to air the town hall.

☆ Christiane Amanpour voices dissent over Trump town hall, says she had ‘very robust exchange’ with CNN chief
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —It has been one week since CNN’s town hall with Donald Trump — and the fierce fallout stemming from the event is still reverberating. She said that Licht “welcomed that exchange of views,” but stood by his decision to hold the town hall. After hearing out Licht, Amanpour told the Columbia Journalism School graduates that she had not been moved. In private, the town hall has been widely criticized by employees at all levels across the organization. A CNN spokesperson said Licht was aware she planned to address the town hall in her speech.

☆ CNN getting more Republicans on-air as it seeks political diversity
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Helen Coster | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

We need to show both sides of every issue.”Advertisers “don’t want to be part of an advocacy network” but they do want to be part of a news network, Zaslav said. CNN has taken heat for its broadcast of a May 10 town hall with former Republican President Donald Trump. On Wednesday CNN chief international anchor Christiane Amanpour publicly criticized the town hall in remarks at Columbia Journalism School, the first of the network’s on-air talent to do so. “I still respectfully disagree with allowing Donald Trump to appear in that particular format,” Amanpour said, according to the CNN “Reliable Sources” newsletter Wednesday night. The Trump town hall attracted 3.3 million viewers, making CNN the most-watched cable news network that evening, according to Nielsen data.

☆ CNN Promotes Kaitlan Collins to Prime Time Slot After Hosting Trump Town Hall
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Isabella Simonetti | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/cnn-names-kaitlan-collins-as-host-of-9-p-m-hour-13bbfa59

☆ CNN Promotes Kaitlan Collins to Prime Time Slot Following Trump Town Hall
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Isabella Simonetti | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

☆ CNN's CEO stands by Trump town hall but acknowledges production weaknesses, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Alex Sherman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Nearly a week after CNN's town hall with Donald Trump, CEO Chris Licht has acknowledged internally there are some things he wished the network had done differently. Licht continues to stand by the concept of the town hall, telling people both inside and outside of CNN that history will look kindly on the network's decision to interview Trump in front of cheering supporters in a live town hall format. That way, CNN could draw the audience's focus to the substance of the question rather than the spectacle of Trump. CNN could have also graphically shown each question while Trump spoke, emphasizing his answers didn't always match the topic at hand. NBC isn't likely to do a Trump town hall, given how CNN's went, said the person.

☆ Opinion | Was CNN Right to Air the Trump Town Hall?
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

To the Editor:In the past week several journalists have weighed in defending CNN’s decision to hold a town hall with Donald Trump. These include Maureen Dowd’s May 14 column (“No Playing Ostrich With Trump”), Anderson Cooper’s commentary on CNN and Bill Sammon, a former managing editor at Fox News, in an Opinion guest essay (“We’re Asking the Wrong Questions About the Trump Town Hall,” nytimes.com, May 13). They all make the point that the media has an obligation to cover Mr. Trump given his political prominence. But there is a difference between covering Mr. Trump and giving him his own TV special, which is exactly what it was. It’s been Trump, Trump, Trump for eight years now.

Before we get to the border or the budget, though, let me admit I’m shallow and start with the Trump town hall on CNN. Bret Stephens: Not shallow, Gail. Gail: Trump lost your Republican vote a long time ago, but if you were still on the fence, was there anything on display that evening that would have had an impact? That said, I would guess that if you’re the sort of voter who liked 80-proof Trump, you’re gonna love 120-proof Trump. And that’s what he was in that CNN town hall: more mendacious, more shameless, more unapologetic, more aggressive, nastier.

☆ Opinion: Mitch McConnell’s confidence is being put to the test
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-14 | by ( Richard Galant | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +17 min

We’re looking back at the strongest, smartest opinion takes of the week from CNN and other outlets. Not to worry, said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a veteran of debt limit battles. McConnell’s reassurance that all will work out in the end is validated by history, but that doesn’t mean this time couldn’t be different. “If female voters are key to a Donald Trump victory in 2024, the former president should be in big trouble – but he doesn’t seem to care,” Jill Filipovic observed. “The town hall audience – selected on the basis of their intention to vote in the Republican primary in New Hampshire – appeared to be made up mostly of Trump fans.

☆ Opinion | We’re Asking the Wrong Questions About the Trump Town Hall
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-13 | by ( Bill Sammon | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

As a former executive of Fox News, I never expected to write this: CNN performed a valuable journalistic service this week by hosting a spirited town hall with Donald Trump. Like it or not, Mr. Trump is one of the two people who are most likely to win the presidency next year. We’ve heard a lot of naysayers deriding the recent town hall or even the idea of mainstream media interviews with Mr. Trump as “platforming” a monster. Are we better off as a society if, after shunting Mr. Trump into his own MAGA bubble, we wake up in November 2024 and find that he has been elected president? Is American democracy so fragile that we cannot metabolize the outlandish views of a presidential candidate?

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