Concerns about the defamation lawsuit involving CNN and the potential for large damages for plaintiffs have become a major concern for network management, but rank-and-file officials are already worried about low ratings and pending cuts. Insiders say they are working on it.
CNN is already struggling with bottoming out in viewer ratings and has reported future layoffs in preparation for coverage of President Trump's inauguration.
There is also currently a public defamation trial going on for the 2021 portion, in which plaintiff Zach Young is accused of defamation by implying that he illegally profited from helping Afghans flee Afghanistan on the “black market.” claims to have done so. Biden administration's military withdrawal from the country.
“This is a big concern at the top,” the CNN official said. fox news digital. “All the damning content, text messages, etc., have already been published. So I don't think there's any concern in terms of exposure. But I think there's definitely concern about the consequences. The potential for CNN to expose… I think it's very expensive.'' There will be a huge reward at the end of this. ”
CNN host Jake Tapper and correspondent Alex Marquardt were featured in a 2021 segment as central figures in a defamation lawsuit against the network. (CNN/Screenshot)
Navy veteran warns CNN reporter that he will seek legal damages if “inaccurate'' articles are published
In a segment that first aired on CNN's “The Read with Jake Tapper” on November 11, 2021, Young said CNN branded him a profiteer who exploited “desperate Afghans.” , claimed it had “ruined his reputation and business.”
The discovery process uncovered some embarrassing facts, including internal communications between CNN employees showing that editors were concerned about the first segment but aired it anyway. Other communications revealed that CNN employees used profanity and derogatory language when privately discussing Young. Young also showed a message to CNN correspondent Alex Marquardt, who reported on the segment, warning him that he would seek legal damages if he pursued the matter.
However, since this is all about the 2021 segment, the CNN insider added that this is not a regular topic of discussion for the network's public.
Another CNN official said the lawsuit was a “huge risk” but that the network's lawyers were satisfied with the outcome. But they added that with the possibility of impending layoffs and continued ratings declines, there are plenty of other things to worry about.
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U.S. Navy veteran Zachary Young says CNN exploited “desperate Afghans” in a segment that first aired on CNN's “The Lead with Jake Tapper” on November 11, 2021. It labeled him a profiteer and believed it had “destroyed his reputation and business.”
“We don't know if it will work or not, but for some reason it hasn't penetrated the organization at all,” they said. “And that's probably because organizations are exposed to toxic shock every day and feel threatened by their situation, so they have bigger morale fish to fry.”
“Evaluations, layoffs, strategic disruption, all of this,” they said. “This is not unique to CNN, but it is serious at CNN.”
CNN CEO Mark Thompson, who took over in 2023 after the ouster of CEO Chris Licht, did not deny to City Hall officials this week that layoffs were imminent. . According to reports.
pack news reported in november “Hundreds” of CNN employees are expected to be affected by layoffs in the coming months as Thompson looks to implement digital prioritization, the company said. Thompson, who is credited with reviving the New York Times' business model, has already teamed up with CNN and rolled out a subscription plan for the news site last year.
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CNN and progressive broadcaster MSNBC saw their ratings plummet after President-elect Donald Trump's victory. CNN hit another low in December, ending the year with the network's lowest daily viewership of 91,000 in the 25-54 demo and 481,000 total viewers.
CNN chief Mark Thompson took over the network in 2023. (Sanjit Das/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Initial CNN officials praised Thompson's leadership but said people remain concerned about industry-wide headwinds with layoffs. Other major media companies Over the past year, he has been featured in The Washington Post, Huffington Post TIME, Los Angeles Times, and more.
“I think people still feel like this is a very uncertain time for the industry as a whole. So I think there's still a sense of, 'What's going to happen to CNN?' and people don't really think about it. We don’t understand,” they said. Said.
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Fox News Digital has reached out to a CNN spokesperson for comment.
Fox News' Joseph A. Wulfsohn and Brian Flood contributed to this report.
