Rosalind Evans
CNN has removed Chris Licht from his position as CEO, concluding a volatile year at the helm of the beleaguered news network. This decision followed an unflattering magazine profile and increasing concerns that Licht had lost the trust of the network’s journalists.
The announcement was made during CNN’s editorial meeting on Wednesday morning, just two days after Licht vowed to “fight like hell” to regain the trust of his colleagues.
David Zaslav, the CEO of CNN’s parent company Warner Bros. Discovery, put forth a four-person interim leadership team and committed to conducting an extensive search for Licht’s successor during the editorial meeting.
Licht’s main task was to make CNN more appealing to both ends of the political spectrum, particularly as the network faced growing suspicion from Republicans, thanks to repeated assaults by former President Donald Trump.
However, some within the network viewed Licht’s mission as a rejection of their previous efforts. Furthermore, a live town hall interview with Trump last month received extensive criticism.
Earlier this year, Licht attempted to revamp the network’s morning show. However, this initiative proved unsuccessful and culminated in the termination of longtime personality Don Lemon. Progress in creating a new prime-time lineup could have been faster, with Kaitlan Collins recently appointed to the 9 p.m. slot vacant since Chris Cuomo’s dismissal in December 2021.
Following Zaslav’s decision to close the CNN+ streaming service just weeks after its launch, Licht presided over several layoffs last year.
Before joining CNN, Licht had produced MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” CBS’ morning news show and Stephen Colbert’s late-night show. Licht was selected by Zaslav just over a year ago to replace his famous predecessor, Jeff Zucker, who was dismissed for not disclosing a consensual relationship with a fellow CNN executive.
In a memo to CNN staff, Zaslav acknowledged that the role was “never going to be easy, especially during a time of great disruption and transformation.”
He said, “Chris put his heart and soul into this role. His deep passion for journalism and this industry was clear throughout his tenure. Regrettably, things didn’t go as we had hoped — and the blame for that falls on me.”
Licht has yet to respond to a request for comment.
An in-depth Atlantic magazine profile of Licht, released last Friday and titled “Inside the Meltdown at CNN,” proved damaging and likely determined his outcome. Several journalists expressed anger due to Licht’s critique of some of CNN’s COVID coverage before his arrival.
According to a Wall Street Journal published Tuesday evening, CNN’s key anchors — Jake Tapper, Anderson Cooper, and Erin Burnett — had voiced their doubts about Licht’s leadership privately.
Simultaneously, CNN’s viewership was dwindling. The network’s prime-time viewership 494,000 in May represented a 16% decline from April and was less than half of its closest news competitor, MSNBC.
Zaslav entrusted four existing CNN executives — Amy Entelis, Virginia Moseley, Eric Sherling, and David Leavy — with running the network while searching for a suitable replacement.
“In the hands of these capable individuals, we can take the necessary time to conduct a thoughtful and thorough search for a new leader,” Zaslav stated in the memo.
This shakeup at CNN marks another challenging chapter in the network’s ongoing struggle to stabilize its leadership and reclaim lost viewership. The appointed interim team, backed by the parent company, now faces the daunting task of charting a new course for the network. Whether the next leader can successfully steer CNN through the existing political divides and viewership concerns remains to be seen. Zaslav’s final words in his memo to the staff acknowledge the situation’s complexities and a commitment to finding the right leader to restore the network’s credibility and ratings.
