CNN has made several hires both on and off camera leading up to the launch of their streaming service, CNN+, which debuts next week. Furthermore, the network finds itself on the receiving end of a $125 million lawsuit by former anchor Chris Cuomo.
Also, the transition in leadership from former CNN President Jeff Zucker to incoming Chris Licht is causing the cable news channel’s parent company, WarnerMedia, to step back on its future.
The Daily Beast’s Source Material newsletter, which Barret News Media obtained, reports that WarnerMedia bosses have installed a hiring freeze throughout the company, including at CNN, until the Discovery/Warner deal is finalized.
However, the company will greenlight hirings that are “deemed critical to the network’s business operations” are going to proceed without any interruption. Furthermore, the report states that Licht was having dinner with Wendy McMahon, the current president and co-head of CBS News in Manhattan.
As a result, the newsletter speculates what type of hirings Licht has in mind when the “freeze” is lifted, considering the incoming president is likely to begin molding CNN into his vision.
Eduardo Razo is the Assistant Content Editor for BNM, which includes writing daily news stories on the news media industry. He can be found on Twitter @eddierazo_ or you can reach him by email at eddie1991razo@gmail.com.
