Mark Thompson Set to Stay at CNN for Now
Mark Thompson appears likely to remain in charge of CNN for the foreseeable future as new owner David Ellison prioritizes stability at the network. However, the potential for Bari Weiss to eventually take on a leadership role is still on the table, according to various sources.
Ellison is reportedly negotiating to keep Thompson, who serves as both chief executive and editor in chief, in his position for “at least the next year,” as mentioned by the New York Times, citing insiders involved in the discussions.
This temporary arrangement follows reports that Weiss had been promised a leadership role at CNN when she stepped into her role at CBS News. However, Ellison later determined that her current responsibilities were perhaps more than she could effectively manage, as per one informed source.
Moreover, it seems that Weiss is still viewed favorably by the Ellisons. A source indicated that Larry Ellison, co-founder of Oracle, “still loves Bari” and wants her to remain with the company. In fact, there’s speculation that Paramount may consider appointing a single executive to oversee both CNN and CBS News.
One individual suggested that while this potential consolidation exists, the higher-ups at Paramount are focused elsewhere, as they “don’t want more headaches and crises.” The source added, “This isn’t their top priority or even their 20th priority.”
For now, Weiss is expected to concentrate on her role at CBS News without any editorial or operational control over CNN when Paramount’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery is finalized, according to sources.
However, this setup might not reflect Ellison’s longer-term aspirations for his news organization. The Times also noted that Weiss retains support from the Ellison family, leaving the door open for a possible future role at CNN.
Despite Ellison’s reservations about granting her a leadership position immediately—especially after the recent upheaval surrounding her management of CBS News and “60 Minutes”—Weiss hasn’t been completely sidelined.
Reports from the Wall Street Journal indicated that Ellison had asked Thompson to remain in his position while Weiss was not anticipated to oversee CNN post-acquisition.
For Thompson, who is 69 years old, even the near future is still up for negotiation. Discussions about extending his contract, which is set to expire in the spring, are in the early stages. The Times noted that there’s still a chance Thompson and Ellison might not come to an agreement.
Preserving his editorial authority is reportedly a key point for Thompson in these negotiations. He met privately with Ellison in California this week to discuss the future.
The news that Ellison wants Thompson to stay brought relief to CNN employees after a period of uncertainty about the network’s leadership under Paramount. Anonymous staff reactions included requests for confirmation about the news and expressions of “palpable” joy following the updates.
This arrangement comes after reports that CNN anchor Anderson Cooper expressed his discontent about the idea of working under Weiss. Weiss has been leading a contentious transformation at CBS News, particularly with “60 Minutes,” which has seen significant firings and editorial disputes that drew criticism from former correspondents.
In summary, while there were initial plans for Weiss to oversee CNN, Ellison’s enthusiasm appears to have waned amidst recent turmoil. The Post has reached out to CNN, CBS News, and Paramount for comments.
