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☆ 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

☆ Chris Licht of CNN Faces a Crisis. Here’s Why.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( John Koblin | Benjamin Mullin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

CNN has had a tumultuous first year under Chris Licht, who took over as the network’s chief executive last spring. And then on Friday, a 15,000-word profile of Mr. Licht in The Atlantic cast new doubts about his leadership and future at the company. All the turmoil has led some staff members to speculate privately in recent days about whether Mr. Licht will last as the chief executive — and whether he should. Also fueling speculation was a decision last week to appoint David Leavy — a trusted associate of David Zaslav, the chief executive of CNN’s parent — to a top leadership role at the network, a sign that Mr. Zaslav thinks CNN needs urgent management help. Mr. Licht addressed the tumult on an editorial call Monday, saying he will “fight like hell” to win back the trust of CNN’s staff.

Persons: Chris Licht, Licht, —, David Leavy —, David Zaslav, Zaslav, “, ” Organizations: CNN, Atlantic

☆ Embattled CNN chief apologizes to staff after embarrassing profile, vows to ‘fight like hell’ to win back trust
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Chris Licht started CNN’s daily network editorial meeting on Monday by directly addressing the elephant in the room. “I want to say that I’ve spent the weekend doing a lot of thinking,” Licht told staffers, many of whom had dialed into the meeting specifically to hear from their embattled chief executive. Employees had not heard from Licht since The Atlantic’s Tim Alberta on Friday published a blistering 15,000-word profile on him. He said that he would “fight like hell” to win over the trust of the 3,500-person news organization he leads. In the immediate future, I’m told, Leavy is counseling Licht and CNN leadership’s primary goal is to stabilize the ship.

Persons: Chris Licht, I’ve, ” Licht, Licht, Tim Alberta, Donald Trump, ”, They’ve, David Leavy, David Zaslav, Zaslav, I’m, wouldn’t, WBD, Leavy Organizations: CNN, Employees, Hudson, Warner Bros, “, North Star

☆ Former CNN boss Jeff Zucker's $1 billion venture is reportedly considering a big investment in former Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter's media startup Air Mail
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-04 | by ( Alison Brower | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Zucker's firm, RedBird IMI, is reportedly one of three investors circling a majority stake in Air Mail. Jeff Zucker's media venture, RedBird IMI, is exploring a majority stake in Graydon Carter's startup Air Mail, The New York Times reported. It is one of three investors circling Air Mail, according to the Times. Carter, who spent 25 years leading Condé Nast's Vanity Fair, launched Air Mail — "a lively digital weekly for the world citizen," per its website — in 2019. In May 2021, as he was seeking investors for the series B, Carter told Insider he expected Air Mail to reach profitability in three years.

Persons: Jeff Zucker, Graydon Carter's, Zucker, Jeff Zucker's, Carter, Condé, Axios, RedBird, Zucker's, Chris Licht, David Zaslav, Licht, Donald Trump, Zaslav, Carter cohosted Organizations: CNN, IMI, Air Mail, Morning, RedBird IMI, The New York Times, RedBird Capital Partners, Abu, Media Investments, Air, Times, Standard Investments, TPG Growth, Warner Bros, Discovery, Cannes Film Locations: Abu Dhabi, Zaslav

☆ Could Jeff Zucker Fix CNN? He Seems to Think So.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-04 | by ( Benjamin Mullin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

The complaint wasn’t unusual for Mr. Zucker, 58. He often compares notes on the media business with former colleagues and industry acquaintances, many of whom call him to grouse about the current state of CNN. Mr. Zucker’s criticism may be painful for executives running CNN to hear second- and thirdhand. Last month, CNN hosted a town hall with Mr. Trump in New Hampshire that was criticized for airing false information. Many anchors Mr. Zucker hired or promoted, including Jake Tapper, and Kaitlan Collins, who moderated the town hall, are still in prominent spots in CNN’s lineup.

Persons: Zucker, Chris Licht, Donald J, Trump, Jake Tapper, Kaitlan Collins Organizations: CNN, Nielsen Locations: New Hampshire

☆ Jeff Zucker reportedly compared his firing from CNN to a gunshot wound: 'I gave them a gun, and they shot me with it'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-04 | by ( Alison Brower | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Jeff Zucker compared his firing from CNN to a gunshot wound, according to a New York Times report. Jeff Zucker compared his firing from CNN to a gunshot wound, according to a New York Times report — in part a self-inflicted one. "I gave them a gun, and they shot me with it," Zucker reportedly said. Zucker was an immensely popular leader at CNN, and his firing was a staggering shock to its newsroom and the media industry. Licht and Zucker met a few months after Zucker's firing, over a lunch in the Hamptons arranged by other media stakeholders, the Times reported.

Persons: Jeff Zucker, Zucker, Chris Licht, Allison Gollust, Tim Alberta, Gollust, Andrew Cuomo, Risa Heller, Heller, Zucker's, David Zaslav, Laurene Powell Jobs, Emerson, WBD, Licht, Don Lemon, Donald Trump, Zaslav, David Leavy Organizations: CNN, New York Times, Yale University, Times, Atlantic, WarnerMedia, Warner Bros, Discovery, Hamptons Locations: WarnerMedia, New York

☆ 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'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 ,

☆ 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.

☆ Kaitlan Collins, Moderator of Trump Forum, Is Named CNN’s 9 P.M. Anchor
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Michael M. Grynbaum | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

CNN has selected Kaitlan Collins to host a new weeknight show at 9 p.m., elevating her to one of the most coveted time slots in cable news a week after she moderated a contentious town hall with former President Donald J. Trump. The new role for Ms. Collins was announced by CNN’s chairman, Chris Licht, on Wednesday, just ahead of a presentation to advertisers in Midtown Manhattan hosted by Warner Bros. Discovery, CNN’s parent company. Her show, which does not yet have a title, is set to begin in June. “She is a smart and gifted journalist who we’ve all seen hold lawmakers and newsmakers accountable,” Mr. Licht wrote in a newsroom memo.

☆ 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.

☆ CNN town hall shows the network still doesn't know how to handle Donald Trump
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-11 | by ( Alex Sherman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Wednesday's 70-minute town hall with Trump, moderated by anchor Kaitlan Collins, was CNN's first big opportunity since the change of ownership to showcase itself as a network of facts. Trump has a history of peddling election fraud lies — an example of saying it's raining when it's not. At one point, bothered by Collins' consistent attempt to tether Trump to the truth, Trump called Collins "a nasty person." "If I see election fraud, I think I have an obligation to say it," Trump said. In other words, Trump said he'd suspend talk about the 2020 election fraud and then, seconds later, spoke about 2020 election fraud.

☆ CNN's Trump town hall drew 3.3 million viewers — about what Tucker Carlson's top-rated Fox News show pulled before he was canned
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-11 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

CNN hosted a town hall with former President Donald Trump on Wednesday night. But CNN drew 3.3 million viewers, about what Tucker Carlson was drawing to his Fox News show. CNN's decision to host a town hall with former President Donald Trump was heavily criticized — both before and after the chaotic event took place Wednesday night — but still drew in 3.3 million viewers, according to Nielsen ratings. The town hall ratings were also good news for CNN boss Christ Licht, who has worked to attract Republicans to the network since taking over as CEO in 2022. CNN's ratings Wednesday night were significantly lower than several Trump town halls put on by Fox News in 2020, including one held by host Sean Hannity in June 2020 that drew 5.1 million viewers.

Follow for live updates on the Trump CNN town hall meeting. Those objections intensified on Tuesday after Mr. Trump was found liable for the sexual abuse and defamation of the writer E. Jean Carroll. And foes of Mr. Trump will cringe at seeing him on air at all. He is backed by David Zaslav, the Warner chief executive, who has batted away objections to Wednesday’s Trump town hall. There is the awkward fact that Mr. Trump still has a pending $475 million defamation lawsuit against the network.

☆ CNN CEO Chris Licht marks one year on the job with a network rebrand, upcoming ad campaign, and a Trump town hall
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Claire Atkinson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The network is hoping its May 10 Trump town hall, to be anchored by Kaitlan Collins, delivers ratings. One year into his new role, CNN CEO Chris Licht is quietly working on a major brand refresh of the Warner Bros. Discovery-owned global news network. CNN is planning a new ad campaign, according to this person and a separate person familiar with conversations, once the changes are finalized and approved by Warners CEO David Zaslav. The town hall will mark the first time Trump has appeared on CNN in years. At least on the business side," they added, referencing the audiences and ad dollars a Trump campaign would bring.

☆ CNN insiders say CEO Chris Licht is standing behind star anchor Don Lemon after reported allegations of misogyny
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( Claire Atkinson | Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

CNN is responding to a Variety article accusing Don Lemon of misogyny and other problematic behavior. "CNN This Morning," which Lemon hosts with Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins, was launched in November, part of a bet by CNN parent Warner Bros. "CNN This Morning" averaged 359,000 viewers in the first quarter, or when the HLN simulcast is included, 438,000 viewers. Collins, meanwhile is getting a new primetime slot on CNN, the network confirmed to the New York Post. Lemon had suggested on "CNN This Morning" that Nikki Haley was not a viable presidential candidate because she "isn't in her prime."

☆ CNN staffers are divided after a bombshell report accuses Don Lemon of misogyny. Insiders say it's 'another shit show' for network chief Chris Licht.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( Claire Atkinson | Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

CNN is responding to a Variety article accusing Don Lemon of misogyny and other problematic behavior. CNN is defending Don Lemon after a bombshell report by Variety about the network's star, while insiders are speculating about his ability to survive the latest blow. "CNN This Morning," which Lemon hosts with Poppy Harlow, and Kaitlan Collins, was launched in November, part of a bet by CNN parent Warner Bros. "CNN This Morning" averaged 359,000 viewers in the first quarter, or when the HLN simulcast is included, 438,000 viewers. Lemon had suggested on "CNN This Morning" that Nikki Haley was not a viable presidential candidate because she "isn't in her prime."

☆ CNN lays off hundreds of staffers after business review − read the memo
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Alex Sherman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Hundreds of CNN employees were notified of layoffs Thursday as part of CEO Chris Licht's efforts to transform the cable news network. Licht sent a memo to all staffers Thursday afternoon after the news was delivered to employees, which included long-time HLN anchor Robin Meade and reporter Chris Cillizza. ProgrammingOur programming teams will see some reductions in show staffs and, in some cases, the combination of teams for our dayside and weekend lineups. CNN DigitalCNN Digital conducted an exercise earlier this fall to ensure they were best structured for the future. I am proud of this CNN team, and together we will ensure CNN continues to be the world's most vital source of news and information.

☆ CNN’s chief outlines changes to network after layoffs, including end of live programming on HLN
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

New York CNN Business —CNN on Thursday executed sweeping layoffs and implemented a series of changes that impacted multiple divisions across the news organization, including ending live programming on HLN, the company’s chief executive, Chris Licht, said in a memo to employees. The layoffs, which started Wednesday and were expected to impact hundreds of employees, largely had been completed by Thursday afternoon. The series of changes, which came after Licht conducted a months-long review of CNN’s business after taking over in May as the network’s head, notably included the ending of live programming on HLN, CNN’s longtime sister channel. Discovery, CNN’s parent company. Some of those changes have already been implemented, as CNN has made smaller cuts to parts of its business in the last several months.

☆ CNN is notifying staff of layoffs as Warner Bros. Discovery seeks further cost reductions. Read CEO Chris Licht's memo to staff about the cuts.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Claire Atkinson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

CNN is executing a huge layoff plan starting today, according to a company memo sent out by CEO Chris Licht. CNN CEO Chris Licht notified employees today that the news organization will begin lay-offs as part of a cost reduction effort implemented by parent company Warner Bros. On Thursday, CNN employees will learn if they are impacted. Read Licht's full memo below:To my CNN colleagues,Our people are the heart and soul of this organization. Tomorrow, we will notify impacted employees, and tomorrow afternoon I will follow up with more details on these changes.

☆ CNN begins layoffs in what CEO says will be a ‘gut punch’ to the network
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN Business —CNN on Wednesday informed employees that layoffs had commenced, a move that is expected to impact hundreds of staffers at the global news network and mark the deepest cuts to the organization in years. CNN declined to say on Wednesday how many employees precisely would be impacted by the layoffs. The layoffs come as media companies are being battered by brutal economic headwinds that have taken a bat to the advertising sector. Social media companies such as Facebook (FB)-parent Meta, which also rely on advertising revenue, have also executed layoffs in recent months. After Licht took over as head of CNN, he conducted a months-long review of the business.

☆ CNN’s Programming Chief Michael Bass Is Set to Exit by Year’s End
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( Alyssa Lukpat | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

CNN’s headquarters in Atlanta. The cable news network will launch a search for a new programming chief, CNN Chairman Chris Licht said. Michael Bass , CNN’s programming chief and a longtime ally of former President Jeff Zucker , is set to leave the network at the end of the year, CNN said. Chris Licht , CNN’s chairman and chief executive, wrote in an email to the company Monday that Mr. Bass decided to leave CNN after steering it through turbulent times. Mr. Licht didn’t say why Mr. Bass made the decision.

☆ CNN’s Programming Chief Michael Bass Is Set to Exit By Year’s End
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( Alyssa Lukpat | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

☆ CNN CEO Chris Licht details layoff plans at all-hands company meeting
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Claire Atkinson | Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

CNN CEO Chris Licht detailed layoff plans to staff amid tough conditions for parent Warner Bros Discovery. CNN Worldwide Chairman and CEO Chris Licht attempted to assert his authority at an all-hands meeting with staff Tuesday morning about the coming layoffs and his plans for the news organization. Licht took some fire at the all-hands over his previous assertions in June that there would be no major layoffs. He told staff there will be a wider reorganization of newgathering staff. Licht also said there would be no layoffs at CNN Digital, although some newsgathering staff are part of CNN Digital.

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