Insiders Say New CNN Boss “Hasn’t Won Over Employees” at Still-Unwatchable Network
The ghost of Jeff Zucker CNN’s current chief attempts to win back his staff members who continue to grieve their scandal-plagued captain.
Chris Licht The mission was directed by CNN’s parent company Warner Bros. Discovery. David Zaslav, the CEO of Discovery, has made it public that he wants CNN to be more balanced. He stated this in an interview last January. “America needs a news network where everybody can come and be heard; Republicans, Democrats.”
After Zucker was forced to resign as CNN president a little over a year ago. Some employees still long for the good times, even though Zucker’s tenure was marred by its shortcomings. Leftward lurchMultiple scandals and sagging ratings
“There are people who don’t seem to get that the Jeff-era CNN isn’t even possible,” Fox News Digital was informed by a CNN insider.
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The insider compared it to “Zucker loyalist” The 2022 film “Mindset” “Don’t Worry Darling” Find out where the staff are “refusing to acknowledge their world isn’t real and getting angry at anyone who challenges it.”
“I think most of the anchors have woken up, it’s the rank and file,” According to an insider. “And it’s not even about Jeff. It’s more the era.”
Chris Licht oversaw “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” Before taking on the role as CNN CEO. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images Warner Bros. Discovery)
The anchors are still there. “woken up” They won’t, despite the fact Zucker won’t be back. “believers” According to the source, Licht can be either.
CNN declined comment.
Insiders confirm that Zucker is well-known for his generosity. “micromanaging” As the CNN boss, he was involved in programming decisions. Licht has taken a different approach.
“They feel like they had direction with Zucker. He was a micromanager,” Fox News Digital was also informed by another CNN insider. “He’d look at ratings every five minutes. He was very hands-on with booking guests. Chris Licht is a bit more hands off. For whatever reason, the rank and file at CNN appreciate Jeff Zucker’s approach to leadership.”
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“Life was easier for many of them under Jeff and Warner Media,” The first insider spoke of CNN’s parent company prior to the merger that created Warner Bros. Discovery. “They had someone telling them exactly what to do, and they got paid well to do it. Licht expects people of that caliber to do incredible work without him micromanaging.”
Licht might have encountered his first problem when boarding CNN. He had to confront CNN’s talent about their liberal perception of a large portion of Americans.
“I love all the people at CNN, but journalists, reporters and analysts truly believe they are impartial and they are appalled to think they are viewed as left-leaning,” Fox News Digital spoke with the second CNN insider. “They were aghast at the thought they did anything less than fair and balanced.”
Insiders praised Licht for his “unique” ability to communicate. “done a lot to right the ship,” However, he still has much work ahead of him.
In 2022, Chris Licht, chairman of CNN, and CEO, replaced Jeff Zucker. (Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
Licht didn’t get a honeymoon when he joined CNN. CNN had suffered a severe blow just days before with the implosion streaming service CNN+. It was something that was developed during Zucker’s era and was meant as part of the ex boss’s long-lasting legacy at CNN.
One source claimed that a “big source of contention” After being told by Licht in June that he didn’t anticipate such job cuts, CNN faced layoffs in November. Another insider said that morale was at its lowest point at the network at the time.
Licht’s recent test was to address the crisis plaguing Don Lemon is morning show host. Colleagues were furious at the 56-year-old’s sexist comments earlier this month about women such as Nikki Haley (51) being GOP presidential candidate “past their prime” Due to their age. Lemon offered multiple apologies. Not all were well-received. Licht stated that he had accepted to apologize. “formal training.” CNN isn’t happy with Lemon’s handling, as Lemon returned last week to the airwaves.
“I don’t know why Don got another chance,” The second CNN insider said it.
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It’s ultimately a matter trust. According to insiders, it’s not that staff dislike Licht; rather, they trust him. Simply miss ZuckerCNN, which was in office from 2013-2022, saw a sharp turn to the left by CNN and became characterized by its open hostility to Donald Trump.
“Zucker was out in the trenches during elections and debates. They went through the wars with him, and they haven’t gone through that with Licht,” According to an insider.
His tenure has been turbulent to say the very least.
Licht needs to make the network more popular. This is in addition to the enormous task of restoring CNN’s journalistic credibility. Licht was left with a programming problem: CNN’s 9 p.m. slot, which was vacated by Chris Cuomo’s 2021 firing. Licht pulled Lemon out of his solo morning show for a new morning program with Poppy Harlow, Kaitlan Collins and this was widely considered a demotion.
Chris Licht gave Don Lemon, an embattled CNN host, another chance following his sexist remarks on the morning program he cohosts with Kaitlan Collins (Poppy Harlow) (Mike Coppola/Getty Images to CNN
High expectations were set for the first CNN project Licht has taken on, as his resume includes the launch MSNBC’s. “Morning Joe” Revitalizing “CBS This Morning” as the show’s executive producer. The show, “CNN This Morning,” In November, the launch was a failure with low viewership and even less than Zucker’s brainchild. “New Day.”
Lemon and his cohosts have been rumored to be in tension since the beginning of the third month. “CNN This Morning” Licht isn’t yet able to find the magic formula. Fox News Digital previously reported that Licht was well aware that the show is in dire need of improvement.
Licht’s greatest challenge, however, is filling in the primetime gaps left behind by Lemon and Cuomo.
CNN’s 8 pm. Anderson Cooper, ET anchor, often does double duty by running back-to-back hours. Licht however still requires a permanent fix. A brief run by Jake Tapper heading into last year’s midterms – which Tapper insists was meant to be temporary and not a “tryout” for a permanent primetime job – was a Ratings fail. CNN’s Alisyn Camelrota and Laura Coates, both from CNN, have been filling Lemon’s spot in the interim, with mixed results.
Recent reports suggested that Licht was looking for big names outside of CNN to help turn around CNN primetime. Charles Barkley, a former CBS basketball commentator, said that he was in discussions to host a show together with Gayle King. Barkley stated to the New York Post however that he will be hosting five shows a week. “never” This will only make Licht’s programming dilemma worse.
Charles Barkley confirmed with CNN that he is in talks with Gayle King, CBS’s host, about hosting a new show together. (Getty Images)
CNN also reported that they were looking for comedians to be considered for primetime after the success of Fox News “Gutfeld!”The most-watched late night show on TV is ‘The View’.
Licht was previously an executive producer at “The Late Show” Stephen Colbert and CBS rose to the top in late-night programming during the Trump era. CNN reportedly floated the names of Jon Stewart, Trevor Noah and Arsenio Hal, among others.
Fox News Digital previously heard from a CNN spokesperson. “Chris is having conversations with dozens of culturally relevant individuals from the worlds of news, sports, entertainment and comedy.”
CNN had announced earlier this month that Maher’s would be aired on its network. “Overtime” segments Friday night broadcasts were made available on YouTube on Friday evenings immediately after the HBO broadcast. “Real Time,” Warner Bros. Discovery.
CNN didn’t reap the benefits of its exclusive in-house program, as Friday night viewership hasn’t seen an increase despite the viral buzz generated.
Warner Bros. has been in turmoil for the past few months. Discovery boss David Zaslav said that he still believes Licht during Thursday’s fourth-quarter earnings conference. “Chris Licht and the team are focused on building an asset for the long term across cable and digital that is worthy of that great global brand… I believe we are on the right path.”
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