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CNN, NBC News planning mass layoffs: report

CNN President Mark Thompson is reportedly planning to announce mass layoffs on Thursday, days after announcing that he will be hiring Donald Trump for top broadcast talent such as Jake Tapper and Anderson Cooper. He warned against “pre-judging” President Trump.

The ratings-challenging cable news pioneer plans to lay off hundreds of employees as it refocuses its business on its global digital audience. CNBC reported This was disclosed on Wednesday, citing a person familiar with the matter.

CNBC said the layoffs come as CNN, a Warner Bros. Discovery unit, is reorganizing its terrestrial television lineup and considering building a digital subscription product. , added that it helps unify the team.

Some shows produced in New York and Washington could be moved to Atlanta, where they can be produced more cheaply, the report said.

CNN plans to cut hundreds of jobs Thursday, according to reports. Bloomberg via Getty Images

Comcast-owned NBC News also plans to cut jobs later this week, according to reports. There are no exact numbers, but the number of layoffs is likely well below 50.

Comcast and Warner Bros. Discovery did not respond to requests for comment.

The Washington Post, owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, announced earlier this month that it would be cutting back on costs by cutting about 4% of its workforce, or fewer than 100 people, as the storied newspaper faces mounting losses. announced that it would reduce its workforce.

The Associated Press announced in November that it would cut about 8% of its workforce in an effort to modernize its operations and products.

CNN's news of the cuts came after Thompson reportedly warned staffers “not to express their anger” during the inauguration.

CNN's news of the cuts comes after Mark Thompson reportedly warned staffers “not to express their anger” during the inauguration. Getty Images for Warner Bros. Discovery

Mr. Thompson, a former BBC and New York Times executive, on Sunday convened a virtual editorial meeting that included Mr. Tapper, Mr. Cooper and a number of other senior news personalities to discuss CNN's coverage of the inaugural ceremony, which took place the next day in Washington, D.C. It was reported. Status Newsletter.

During the meeting, Thompson “made clear he didn't want to do reporting that would rehash the past,” according to Status reporter Oliver Darcy, an allusion to the historically hostile relationship between CNN and Trump.

The report said Thompson not only tried to avoid editorials but also to avoid focusing on Trump's legal issues, including his conviction for falsifying business documents related to Stormy Daniels' alleged hush-money payments. It is said that the purpose was to distract from the news.

Instead, he urged CNN staff to focus on President Trump's second term and “keep an open mind” about the next four years, according to Status.

A CNN spokesperson declined to comment.

After the call ended, Thompson opened the floor for staff to ask questions, but no one spoke, the report said.

“What Thompson and the other executives communicated was clear, and it appears that no one in the meeting wanted to question the leadership,” Darcy wrote.

On Tuesday, Thompson called another virtual editorial meeting to reiterate his message.
Thompson told CNN staff they should be “tough-minded” but also “fair-minded” in interviews, Status reported.

During the conference call, CNN Editor-in-Chief Virginia Moseley joked that CNN has been “ineffective” at dealing with the relentless news cycle created by President Trump, a challenge that will continue to emerge in the coming years. It will intensify rapidly.

Comcast-owned NBC News also plans to cut jobs later this week, according to reports. There are no exact numbers, but the number of layoffs is likely well below 50. Reuters

Thompson's strategy marks a shift in the network's Trump coverage under former CNN chief Jeff Zucker.

CNN has struggled to catch up with MSNBC and Fox News in the ratings race, and that's reflected in the inauguration numbers.

FOX News, which shares co-ownership with the Post, dominated television viewership during President Trump's inauguration, drawing 10.3 million viewers between 11:30 a.m. ET and 1 p.m. ET. Outperformed all networks.

ABC (4.7 million viewers), NBC (4.4 million) and CBS (4.1 million) followed.

with post wire

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