CNN is expected to announce significant layoffs on Thursday, as part of a strategy by CEO Mark Thompson to shift the network’s focus towards digital content. Reports suggest that these cuts will primarily affect off-camera staff, with production jobs moving from New York and Washington, D.C., to CNN’s Atlanta facilities, while most on-air talent will remain safe.
CNN prepares for major layoffs as it shifts focus to digital content
These layoffs come amid CNN’s ongoing struggle with declining viewership. Thompson has communicated a vision supported by an investment of over $70 million from corporate parent Warner Bros. Discovery, aimed at bolstering CNN’s digital operations. CNN plans to explore new properties related to health, wellness, and other engaging topics, as detailed in an internal memo from July.
The impending cuts are expected to help CNN reduce production costs by consolidating teams and potentially relocating some shows to Atlanta, where operational expenses are lower. Currently, CNN employs around 3,500 individuals worldwide.
Diverse changes are also occurring in the broader news media landscape, with NBC News reportedly planning its own layoffs, although those will be limited to fewer than 50 positions. Both CNN and NBC News opted to delay their announcements of job cuts until after the U.S. presidential inauguration.
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Thompson has emphasized the need for CNN to realign its coverage strategy, urging staff to avoid pre-judging public figures like President Donald Trump. In recent meetings with notable anchors, he advised against expressing outrage and encouraged a focus on open-minded coverage of Trump’s forthcoming term.
The network’s recent initiatives include the introduction of a digital paywall, charging frequent visitors to its website $3.99 per month. This move indicates CNN’s commitment to developing digital subscription products in response to shifting consumer behavior away from linear television.
Thompson’s strategic adjustments denote a significant change from the previous leadership approach under Jeff Zucker, as CNN continues to navigate intense competition from other networks, particularly in the wake of viewership numbers from the inauguration event.
Fox News, for instance, pulled in 10.3 million viewers during the inauguration, surpassing CNN and showing the challenges the network faces in capturing a wider audience.
Featured image credit: CNN
