CNN boss Mark Thompson addresses his future in – Business News
CNN boss Mark Thompson reportedly informed employees he intends to stay in his position as soon as Paramount Skydance completes its buy of the community’s guardian company Warner Bros. Discovery.
The promise got here Wednesday as CNN journos have been fretting about their destiny underneath new possession, in line with the Status e-newsletter.
They pressed the CNN president during a assembly on the community’s London bureau.
CNN chief Mark Thompson was pressed by staffers in London over editorial independence as layoffs loom and merger uncertainty grows. Getty Images for Warner Bros. Discovery
On-air expertise and staffers reportedly grilled Thompson over whether or not the community would keep editorial independence underneath Paramount CEO David Ellison, who’s overseen controversial modifications at CBS News since shopping for its guardian company final 12 months.
In a separate Zoom call with CNN’s Middle East-based staffers, he was requested about his own future on the community.
“As I’ve said, I’m really committed to CNN,” Thompson reportedly informed staffers during the Zoom assembly.
“I’m in the middle of something exciting and interesting with all of you, and I’d like to continue it,” he added with out elaborating.
A CNN spokesperson declined to remark to The Post.
Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison is poised to take control of CNN underneath Paramount’s $110 billion deal for Warner Bros. Discovery. Getty Images
The conferences had been routine city hall-style periods that Thompson often holds throughout the community’s international workplaces, together with a normal check-in with London- and Middle East-based employees that additionally addressed security issues in gentle of the continuing struggle with Iran.
Thompson’s feedback got here simply days after Status reported that CNN is making ready to implement one other spherical of job cuts as half of a digital overhaul of the community.
The cuts are anticipated to impression a few dozen staff and goal roles not tied to growth areas, because the community shifts sources towards digital merchandise and viewers development.
The transfer follows earlier cuts underneath Thompson, who eradicated about 6% of CNN’s workforce final 12 months as he pushed to reposition the community for a digital future.
More reductions may comply with if Paramount completes its takeover of guardian company Warner Bros. Discovery, with executives anticipated to search for value financial savings throughout the mixed information operations.
Still, Ellison has sought to reassure journalists, calling CNN “an incredible brand with an incredible team” and insisting he helps sustaining editorial independence.
He has additionally signaled plans to invest in each CNN and CBS News whereas pushing the shops more aggressively into streaming.
But these assurances have executed little to ease issues inside CNN, the place staffers are intently watching his strikes at CBS News — together with layoffs, management modifications and editorial controversies — in addition to his close ties to President Trump, a frequent critic of the community.
CBS News boss Bari Weiss has overseen sweeping layoffs as half of a restructuring underneath Paramount Skydance. Getty Images for The Free Press
A Paramount spokesperson declined to remark.
Paramount final month agreed to amass Warner Bros. Discovery in a deal valued at about $31 per share, or round $110 billion, keeping off a rival bid from Netflix, which had beforehand struck — after which deserted — an settlement to buy the company’s studios and streaming belongings.
