News network’s new CEO and chairman Chris Licht hasn’t planned beyond Brian Stelter and Jeffrey Toobin ousters
Don Lemon and Jim Acosta, two of CNN’s most opinionated and outspoken on-air journalists, are expected to stay at the network despite its new direction to a less overtly left-wing bent, an individual with knowledge of the network’s plan told .
The sudden and inelegant firing this week of Brian Stelter as chief media correspondent, and the cancellation his show have caused a lot of confusion. “Reliable Sources,”CNN’s newsroom has been buzzing with speculation over who will be next, as the message spreads that the network is shifting to the middle of things.
Lemon is the rumor mill’s favorite suspect. In recent years, Lemon has been a regular contributor to the rumor-mill. Not a neutral voice and politically progressive in his anchoring of the primetime news slot — whether discussing the Black Lives Matter movement, misdoings of the Trump administration or the Supreme Court overturning of Roe v. Wade.
Acosta, the chief domestic correspondent, has equally been a topic of the rumor mill, as someone who’s frequently trolled on Fox News for his vigorous reporting style, and challenging Republicans who defend, for example, denying the Integrity of the 2020 Presidential Election.
The individual with knowledge said that despite the speculation, there has been no plan set by CNN’s new CEO and chairman, Chris Licht, beyond the decision of Stelter and the exiting of legal analyst Jeff Toobin last week.
CNN Insiders said that “no decisions are being made”But, he said only that Licht is “weeks away”From announcing major programming modifications.
Warner Bros. insiders have also been informed. Discovery has not been informed of any plans to remove either high-profile journalist.
CNN’s spokeswoman declined to comment about Lemon and Acosta.
Nonetheless, a top CNN insider told this week that Licht is seeking to establish a more neutral voice as a news platform — one that’s less associated with a left-wing lens. “It’s not a good brand position to be the opposite of Fox News,” said a network insider familiar with Licht’s thinking. “He wants to be tough and no bulls—, but not affiliated with a side. It’s fair to say he doesn’t like the CNN vs. Fox thing.”
That is also clearly the position of Licht’s bosses, Warner Bros Discovery CEO David Zaslav and board member and major shareholder John Malone. Malone told CNBC in a late 2021 interview thatCNN should return back to nonpartisan journalism once under Discovery’s control. “I would like to see CNN evolve back to the kind of journalism that it started with, and actually have journalists, which would be unique and refreshing,”Malone stated at the time.
The influential board member hasn’t been shy about making that view known internally since then, according to a top media executive who has heard the chatter. “Everyone knows that Zas [WBD CEO David Zaslav] exists to please him… and Licht exists to please Zas,”The executive stated.
Stelter, perhaps to his regret, called Malone out in February. He accused Malone of criticizing CNN, but not actually watching it, and creating anxiety in the newsroom. “Malone’s comments stoked fears that Discovery might stifle CNN journalists and steer away from calling out indecency and injustice,”Stelter made the following comment in his media newsletter, which was widely circulated at the time.
