CNN’s chief, Mark Thompson, is reportedly preparing to announce a significant round of layoffs this week. This development follows Thompson’s recent advice to high-profile on-air figures, including Jake Tapper and Anderson Cooper, to avoid making premature judgments about President Donald Trump. The cable news network, which has been grappling with low ratings, is anticipated to dismiss hundreds of employees as it pivots towards a global digital audience.
The layoffs are a component of CNN’s strategy to restructure its traditional TV lineup and broaden its digital subscription offerings, according to insiders. This strategic shift is projected to aid CNN in reducing production expenses and consolidating teams. Some shows currently produced in New York or Washington may be moved to Atlanta, where production costs are less.
In addition to CNN, NBC News, a Comcast-owned company, is also rumored to be planning job cuts later this week. The exact number is not yet known, but it is expected to be fewer than 50. Neither Comcast nor Warner Bros Discovery, CNN’s parent company, have issued any comments in response to these reports.
Earlier this month, The Washington Post, owned by Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, announced it would lay off about 4% of its workforce, or fewer than 100 employees, in a cost-cutting effort. The Associated Press also revealed in November that it would reduce its workforce by approximately 8% as it seeks to modernize its operations and products.
Thompson, who previously held executive positions at the BBC and The New York Times, recently convened a virtual editorial meeting with Tapper, Cooper, and other senior news figures to discuss CNN’s coverage of the inaugural ceremonies. During this meeting, Thompson stressed that he did not want the coverage to rehash past issues, a nod to CNN’s historically fraught relationship with Trump.
Thompson also urged his team to steer clear of editorializing and to shift coverage away from focusing on Trump’s legal troubles. Instead, he advocated for CNN staff to focus on Trump’s second term and to approach the upcoming four years with an open mind. This approach signifies a departure from the network’s previous coverage of Trump under former CNN head Jeff Zucker.
CNN has struggled to compete with MSNBC and Fox News in terms of viewership, a reality reflected in the ratings for the inauguration. Fox News led television viewership during Trump’s inauguration, attracting 10.3 million viewers and outperforming all other networks. ABC, NBC, and CBS trailed with 4.7 million, 4.4 million, and 4.1 million viewers, respectively.