Let’s just say the past several months haven’t been the smoothest for CNN. Let’s say that, because it’s the truth.
While we watched from here with amusement, an internal fight was brewing between CNN “talent” and CEO Chris Licht. And it looks like Licht just lost:
BREAKING: Embattled CNN chief Chris Licht will be leaving the company, sources tell @DylanByers, and long-time top executive Amy Entelis will step in to steady the ship until Warner Bros. Discovery C.E.O. David Zaslav picks a new leader. https://t.co/qE5tUuy5OQ
— Puck (@PuckNews) June 7, 2023
Now, after a year of leadership missteps, programming misfires, a disastrous Trump town hall and the near-total decimation of staff morale in the wake of a chilling all-access Atlantic story, Licht will be vacating the C.E.O. position. In the next 48 hours, I’m told, Warner Bros. Discovery will announce that Licht will be stepping down as chairman and C.E.O. of CNN, ostensibly bringing an end to one of the most turbulent periods in the network’s 43-year history.
Welp.
Yesterday. https://t.co/hTiFd9iU0P
— Jon Nicosia (@NewsPolitics) June 7, 2023
Good call, Jon.
How many Scaramuccis is that?
— Fat Apollo (Parity) (@realfatapollo) June 7, 2023
Not many.
He wanted to do news too badly https://t.co/CIfoPVg4L6
— Ellen Carmichael (@ellencarmichael) June 7, 2023
Heh. Maybe that was it.
According to Dylan Beyers, Amy Entelis was “a loyal deputy for years to Licht’s predecessor, Jeff Zucker.” So, at least for the time being, does that mean we can expect a return to CNN’s salad days from the Jeff Zucker era? Because CNN sucked plenty under Jeff Zucker, too.
I feel a disturbance in the Force, as though dozens of people sitting in airport boarding areas were mildly perturbed. https://t.co/vxIZFS0VB1
— John Hayward (@Doc_0) June 7, 2023
Sounds about right.
Chris Licht out at CNN, per Dylan Byers. The internal and external coup is complete. https://t.co/al5FvDEjyX
— Joe Concha (@JoeConchaTV) June 7, 2023
Stay tuned. (But not really, because this is CNN, after all.)
“CNN is in turmoil!”
They’ve been in turmoil for years. Licht just failed to fix the issues. The Zucker-era hosts sniping at him *are* the problem.
— Bonchie (@bonchieredstate) June 7, 2023
Editor’s note: This post has been updated with an additional tweet.
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Update:
CNN’s Kate Bolduan briefly — very briefly — discussed Licht’s ouster on air:
CNN announces Chris Licht's departure on air pic.twitter.com/Attt6UAlsN
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 7, 2023
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Related:
CNN CEO Chris Licht’s Trump town hall take ‘explains everything that is wrong with’ journalism today
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