CNN CEO Chris Licht shocked the news media world by canceling “Reliable Sources” and ousting its host Brian Stelter. However, he isn’t done molding the network’s programming.
The Daily Beast’s newsletter the “Confider,” which Barrett News Media obtained, reports that Licht is shifting his attention to the morning show, “New Day,” as the next show that could get axed.
“Licht will next turn his attention to “blowing up” CNN’s ratings-challenged morning show New Day, having brought on his old buddy Ryan Kadro from CBS to help rework it,” the newsletter said.
“Nevertheless, staffers fear further cutbacks and more layoffs as Licht, who has told friends he speaks to David Zaslav on a daily basis, seemingly carries out the Warner Bros. Discovery CEO and his board’s wishes to make CNN less controversial and, in the words of several current and former CNN staffers, “more vanilla.”
NPR’s Eric Deggans shared concerns about CNN’s more apolitical direction on the final episode of “Reliable Sources” following the cancellation of the Sunday show.
“I hope that what we’re not going to see CNN do is institute some sort of false equivalence, where the extremism of one party is balanced with the regular dysfunction of another party,” Deggans said.
“We need to be free to call out when someone breaks the law, when someone breaks norms, when someone introduces prejudice and stereotypes into the public debate.”
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.
