As Twitchy reported Thursday, CNN chief Chris Licht announced that Brian Stelter would be leaving the network after his final installment of “Reliable Sources” this Sunday. (Lefty author Stephen King announced that he never missed an episode.) This is just a few months after Stelter lost his daily “Reliable Sources” show on CNN+.
CNN’s new owners, Warner Bros. Discovery, are cleaning house, and there’s been a lot of talk about CNN being turned back into a “journalism first” cable channel. That excludes a large portion of the hosts.
Jon Nicosia, former managing editor of Mediaite, says a source tells him that a lot of big names are on the chopping block, and the CNN shakeup isn’t done yet.
Source: Once the coming shakeup at @CNN is done, don't expect John Berman, Alisyn Camerota, Jim Acosta, Brianna Keilar, Jake Tapper, John King, and Don Lemon to still be at the network OR have their current show assignments."
— Jon Nicosia (@NewsPolitics) August 19, 2022
They go on "The final 'stay or go' has not been finalized and more names will be added"
— Jon Nicosia (@NewsPolitics) August 19, 2022
Source: Stelter was a 'go' because "he was seen as working against current management's goals. Leaking, stirring disatisfaction internally." One CNN source went on to say "He started believing he was the only thing between 'democracy' and anarchy"
— Jon Nicosia (@NewsPolitics) August 19, 2022
That’s a very bright perception.
An example. This "insider" is likely Stelter or his producer: https://t.co/4rcbo4O9gS
— Jon Nicosia (@NewsPolitics) August 19, 2022
Mediaite reports:
“I really appreciate all that Brian has done to build the beat for CNN,” Licht said of Stelter, whose exit comes as Licht vows to retool the network in a bid to make it less ideological. Stelter was a prominent critic of former President Donald Trump and the MAGA movement in recent years and had become a major target of right-wing vitriol.
“He’s a great human being and a good person. I wish him all the best on his new venture,” Licht added of Stelter and went on to address ongoing changes at the network.
“This is a time of change, and I know that it’s unsettling,” Licht said, addressing what the Daily Beast described as “outrage” at the network over Stelter’s ouster. “There will be more changes and you might not understand it or like it all.”
“Give us some time, see how things develop, and then give us feedback,” Licht added, asking his employees to hold their fire for now.
“There will be more changes and you might not understand it or like it all,” huh? Try us.
I will continue to not watch any of those mentioned in earnest.
— M (@Mbrown00l) August 19, 2022
— Larry (@LongBaIILarry) August 20, 2022
No surprise. Chris Licht wants to run a serious organization.
— AC (@andrewc702) August 20, 2022
The potato baked himself … that’ll be so sad to see all go ….
— Tom Martino (@tom_martino1) August 19, 2022
Couldn’t happen to better people. Adios, comrades. 🙌🏻🤡
Amazing what happens when revenues start becoming an issue as well.
If I wanted spin, I’d ask my old crockety neighbor.
— Liberty Belle (@iLibertyBelle) August 19, 2022
Oh to have newscasters rather than editorialists on all cable news programs…the dream
— Kimberly Torma (@kstorma1) August 19, 2022
MSNBC is gonna have to make room
— @Putinsgottago (@putinsgottago) August 20, 2022
That may restore my faith in the media, but we will see what they are replaced with.
— IronHorse (@jbnicas) August 20, 2022
That would be awesome!! Maybe then they can hire some actual journalists.
— DFG (@dfgerlt) August 20, 2022
https://twitter.com/gailfinke/status/1560793649247666177
— Teacloc (@Teacloc) August 19, 2022
Don Lemon has had an unfortunate trajectory since Trump left office. First, his onscreen buddy Chris Cuomo got the boot. Then, he was given a talk show on CNN's streaming channel and promoted the hell out of it, only to be canceled within a week or two. Now this. When it rains… pic.twitter.com/ASELviGu14
— ArtistLike (@Artistlike) August 20, 2022
He's used his position to lecture and preach too much, as well. It got tiresome and I stopped tuning in.
— Lenoir Shepard 💫 (@BlueNightBird) August 20, 2022
The question I’m about to ask is not coming from a place of contention, I have no dog in this fight. Why do people assume Anderson Cooper’s role is not in question?
— Neal Castle (@Neals_Castle) August 20, 2022
Technically @andersoncooper works for the CIA with Jack, so they can't fire him.
— Dont Raid Me Bro (@BadCodeName) August 20, 2022
Love it pic.twitter.com/i5f9kbyupu
— Gooners Never Say Die☠️ (@GoonersDream) August 19, 2022
— Jason Heard (@jmheard15) August 19, 2022
We can only hope. Perhaps CNN might have a shot at becoming the most trusted name in news. At the moment, they are a biased joke of a network.
— Rochelle Wentz (@rochellewentz) August 20, 2022
They should start their own network!😂
— Photogater (@photogater) August 20, 2022
We’re skeptical. We mean, getting rid of Stelter was a no-brainer, but are they really ready to send Jake Tapper packing?
Related:
BREAKING: Brian Stelter and his Reliable Sources are out at CNN https://t.co/pycj1izRIz
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) August 18, 2022
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