The mainstream media is going ballistic. Not even their best efforts could stop Donald Trump.
And now CNN HQ is completely shuttered after Trump destroyed them in epic fashion.
CNN’s embattled leadership unveiled sweeping changes on Thursday, signaling yet another attempt to stabilize the faltering network. Under CEO Mark Thompson’s new vision, the Warner Bros. Discovery-owned outlet will cut 200 jobs — roughly 6% of its workforce — and shift its focus to a more digital-centric strategy.
The job cuts primarily target producers, editors, and behind-the-scenes staff vital to CNN’s traditional TV operation, reflecting the network’s struggle to stay relevant in an era of declining cable viewership.
Thompson, formerly of The New York Times, laid out his plans for the transformation in an internal memo, which emphasized adapting to audience preferences.
“Our objective is a simple one: to shift CNN’s gravity towards the platforms and products where the audience themselves are shifting,” Thompson wrote, highlighting the network’s attempt to align with changing viewer habits.
As part of the shakeup, CNN is revamping its on-air lineup. Veteran anchor Wolf Blitzer will leave his long-held afternoon slot to co-host a new 10 a.m. morning show with Pamela Brown.
This move displaces frequent Trump critic Jim Acosta, who has reportedly been relegated to a midnight shift — a demotion that has left him fuming and allegedly threatening to quit.
The restructuring goes beyond staffing. CNN plans to streamline its cable programming while launching new digital subscription services, including a streaming platform modeled after its TV product.
The network also aims to introduce a lifestyle-focused offering later this year, signaling its intent to diversify content.
While some of the changes open up 100 new positions, Thompson acknowledged the difficult realities of the layoffs. “Some of today’s announcements mean significant new job opportunities at CNN, but others will lead to the loss of some valued colleagues,” he wrote in the memo.
CNN’s pivot to digital began last October with the introduction of a $3.99 monthly paywall. Backed by a $70 million investment from Warner Bros. Discovery, the network is trying to offset the sharp decline in TV viewership.
“This is a moment where the digital story feels like an existential question,” Thompson admitted to The New York Times.
Warner Bros. Discovery itself is undergoing a broader restructuring. The company recently announced plans to separate its cable TV networks, including CNN, TNT, and Animal Planet, from its streaming and studio operations.
The cable division will be consolidated into a new unit called Global Linear Networks, a move Thompson insists will help CNN remain “an indispensable way in which many, many millions of people get their news.”
Despite these efforts, CNN continues to lag far behind cable rivals Fox News and MSNBC. Viewership has nosedived since Donald Trump’s re-election, exposing just how dependent CNN was on anti-Trump rhetoric to drive ratings.
In December, the network hit a two-year low in web traffic, with 90.5 million unique visits — nearly half its March 2020 pandemic-era peak of 175.5 million, according to Comscore.
CNN’s struggles mirror broader challenges in the liberal media landscape. NBC News is reportedly planning its own layoffs this week, though the cuts will be fewer than 50 jobs.
The Washington Post, owned by Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, announced earlier this month it would lay off about 4% of its workforce. Even the Associated Press recently revealed it would cut 8% of its staff as part of its modernization efforts.
While other outlets grapple with similar issues, CNN’s decline remains stark. Once a titan of cable news, the network is now scrambling to reinvent itself in a rapidly shifting media environment — one where its dependence on Trump-era controversy has left it floundering in his absence.
Stay tuned to the DC Daily Journal.
