Hundreds of CNN workers were informed of layoffs Thursday as part of CEO Chris Licht’s efforts to change the cable television news network.
CNN had about 4,400 workers. The layoffs impacted numerous staffers, however totaled up to a “single-digit percentage” of personnel, according to an individual knowledgeable about the matter who was not licensed to speak openly about the matter. That would suggest no greater than about 400 staffers were released.
Licht sent out a memo to all staffers Thursday afternoon after the news was provided to workers, that included veteran HLN anchor Robin Meade and press reporter Chris Cillizza Licht composed in the memo he will hold a city center next week to respond to any concerns.
Licht’s cuts become part of a wider effort at WarnerBros Discovery, the moms and dad business of CNN, to cut expenses heading into 2023.
December 1, 2022
To my CNN associates,
As guaranteed in my note the other day, I am following up with an introduction of the modifications we have actually made throughout the business. Our objective throughout the tactical evaluation procedure has actually been to much better align our individuals, procedures and resources with our future top priorities, reinforce our capability to provide on CNN’s core journalistic objective and allow us to innovate in the years ahead. At the greatest level, the objective is to direct our resources to finest serve and grow audiences for our core news programs and items.
To accomplish these objectives, we will be minimizing open task positions, reimagining our workflows and aligning our staffing, financial investments and focus around 3 essential tactical top priorities: programs, newsgathering and digital. All choices are developed to reinforce the core of our service.
While it is not possible to catch every affected function in an e-mail like this, I wish to stroll through the more comprehensive modifications we are making:
HLN
Beginning December 6, CNN will no longer produce live programs for HLN and rather will simulcast CNN ThisMorning HLN Crime programs will move under the WBD Networks led by Kathleen Finch and will be combined with ID. I wish to take a minute to thank Robin Meade– she is not just an extremely popular anchor, however likewise among the longest-running early morning hosts in history. I understand the HLN audience will miss her and the other HLN skill.
CNN International
CNN International is rearranging a few of its groups and bureaus, and efficient instantly, the 5: 00 -5: 30 pm ET program will be changed by a simulcast of CNN United States for that half hour.
CNN en Espa ñol
CNNE’s direct network will look for to broaden its audience by diversifying the network’s programs beyond news. We will continue to produce news for CNNE, and throughout next year, we will want to establish a much more robust digital platform for CNNE with the goal of releasing it in2024 We think that financial investment will much better serve and considerably grow our Spanish- language news audience, and we will have more to share on that in 2023.
U.S. Newsgathering
We are reorganizing throughout a few of our beats, straightening resources to staff up in some systems and in more locations around the nation. This will assist us provide on our objective of covering the United States more broadly. Many of the personnel decreases in Newsgathering will be balanced out by the addition of brand-new functions to finest serve our audience throughout platforms.
Contributors
We are likewise moving our method to paid factors. In some locations, we will rely more on our CNN reporters. Overall, we will engage factors who are subject-matter specialists that broaden and diversify the perspectives we bring our audience.
Programming
Our programs groups will see some decreases in program personnels and, sometimes, the mix of groups for our dayside and weekend lineups.
Creative Marketing
The Creative Marketing group will see a general decrease in size, straightening around internal production and combining innovative and method functions in NewYork Roles will be contributed to both support that work and broaden our digital and development marketing efforts.
Research
Research is rearranging to focus resources on CNN’s core companies and to enhance our just recently incorporated Digital Analytics and Data Science groups.
Operations
The Operations groups are reorganizing to line up with the modifications to other systems throughout the company.
CNN Digital
CNN Digital performed a workout previously this fall to guarantee they were finest structured for the future. They made modifications then and, as an outcome, there are no more effects in this procedure.
The modifications we are making today are needed and will make us more powerful and much better placed to put huge bets moving forward without worry of failure.
To our leaving associates, I wish to reveal my thankfulness for your devoted and steadfast service and for your lots of contributions to CNN. To all workers, I wish to highlight the significance of putting in the time you require to finest have the ability to move on. You can discover resources to support you now here. I will be holding a city center on Tuesday to address your concerns, which can be sent anonymously here.
I take pride in this CNN group, and together we will make sure CNN continues to be the world’s most important source of news and details.
Chris
