CNN boss Chris Licht announced that he has been given the task of cutting costs and laying off employees. This comes as the network’s struggling liberal network is in the midst of a six-month-long crisis. Discovery plans to cut 1,000 jobs from its 40,000-workforce.
CNBC revealed that Licht will continue to push CNN towards reality, in objectively positive news. Licht called it “the quick sugar high ratings and outrage”.
Licht stated Wednesday in a memo that he had conducted “formal business review with senior staff to identify areas we should make changes and investments and reduces” and that he will “reduce/eliminate areas that aren’t core to our mission.”
Then came the key lines as Licht said “that work will accelerate” in “the next several weeks” and, to accomplish that and “factor” in the state of the global economy, there will be “noticeable change to this organization…affect[ing] people, budgets, and projects.” All told, Licht said he hopes “these decisions” are “made by the end of the year.”
CNBC.com’s Alex Sherman has more in a piece published just before the memo: “CNN chief Chris Light has big ideas, employees are nervous, more job cuts are coming.”
Sherman claimed that Licht was told by Warner Bros. Sherman said that Discovery CEO David Zaslav told him to transform CNN and “rethink their unit and find ways to reduce costs.” Licht also stated to Sherman that he and Zaslav had agreed on what CNN should look.
Licht is not surprising to find it difficult to win the trust of his employees. Many still worship Jeff Zucker, the network puppetmaster.
Licht has “avoid[ed]]” micromanaging producers or shows and believes that talent and producers are hired to make their own decisions. He’s been giving “strategic” feedback (click “expand”)
Licht is the new leader at CNN.
Jeff Zucker was more than the CEO of CNN. He was the driving force behind the network and was involved in every major decision on a daily basis. He was responsible for running editorial calls, working closely with producers and anchors of every show, and providing daily feedback. Many employees loved him for his attention to detail, and concern for their careers. He was referred to by CNN media reporters Oliver Darcy and Brian Stelter as “a singular figure” in American media the day after his resignation. His closest analogy in terms of control over a cable network may have been Roger Ailes, Fox News.
Licht is deliberately leading CNN in a different way than Zucker. According to people who know him, Licht is avoiding speaking out about his views on individual show choices. Licht stated in private meetings that his goal is to empower show producers and executive producers to make their own decisions. He wants his employees to hear the orders of their direct managers, not him. This is a big change for show leaders, who have been trained to wait for Zucker’s approval before they act.
Licht stated, “I love the control area, and I love the feeling that I can send a message and see it appear on screen 10 minutes later. But there’s so many happening that we’ll all be paralyzed, if everyone is waiting for me to respond.” “That’s not how I operate.”
Some employees aren’t sure what to think of Licht’s nonchalant style. They fear that he is evaluating them. Licht’s inability to give feedback is strategic. He may be able to convince his employees to trust him if he gives them time.
There is also a hangover effect due to the sudden collapse CNN+, which Zucker relentlessly promoted as the future of the company. Hundreds of employees were fired or made redundant by the company. The streaming service was a beacon of hope for the future. It was abruptly gone, leaving employees confused about CNN’s future.
Sherman continued the theme by saying that Licht wants CNN to cover stories “more like a newspaper than like Politico”, and thus “stories that a family would discuss around a dinner table” and “less obsessive attention on politics.”
Sherman said that that would mean “more business technology and even sports” and that it was in line with “one of Licht’s major complaints with CNN over the past year,” which was that they “hover in outrage” while pressuring “conversations at the extreme.”
This means that a legitimate news outlet covers a variety of stories with honest, sober reporting, and smart analysis. It will be believed when it is seen.
Sherman asked Licht how they would cover “disinformation.” Licht explained to Sherman that the “analogy” she loves to use was some people like rain and some people don’t like rain. That should be allowed. We won’t have anyone who says it’s raining.
Sherman reiterated Licht’s decision to stop causing outrage during a merger with Discovery. Budget cuts have caused uneasiness at CNN, with employees wondering anonymously about the future.
CNBC’s Sherman said that Brian Stelter was fired because Licht believed media reporting should be on CNN.com and not in a one hour show.
Licht said that he wouldn’t deny that CNN suffered a loss in recent years. “The brand is the best-known brand in journalism, right up there alongside the BBC…I think what happened in the past was that it was easy to take the sugar high of ratings or outrage. So, I’m trying not to do any harm to a great company.”
