Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav expressed the need for CNN to rebrand itself as a network that presents balanced perspectives on every issue.
According to Mediate, speaking at the MoffettNathanson Technology, Media and Telecom Conference in New York, Zaslav stated that CNN should show both sides of every issue, moving away from its perception as a predominantly left-leaning network. He highlighted the network’s talented journalists and emphasized the importance of providing the best version of the truth through journalism.
Zaslav commended CNN CEO Chris Licht for his efforts to shift the network towards the center and proudly announced that Republicans were again appearing on the network. According to Variety, Zaslav provided some numbers to support his claim, stating that CNN hosted 75 House GOP members during the intense four-day voting period for House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, with 41 of them appearing on CNN before going on Fox News.
These remarks from Zaslav came after veteran international anchor Christiane Amanpour openly discussed Licht and CNN’s recent Trump town hall during her commencement address at Columbia Journalism School.
The town hall had caused turmoil and frustration within CNN, leading talent to express their concerns publicly, albeit often anonymously. Amanpour acknowledged the impact of the town hall and expressed her desire to do what is right and gain the trust of CNN’s audience. She respectfully disagreed with the decision to allow Donald Trump to participate in that particular format and revealed that she had engaged in a robust exchange of views with Licht.
Amanpour also addressed the issue of presenting both sides of a story. She argued against the notion of “both-sidesism” as a measure of objectivity, emphasizing the importance of being truthful rather than neutral. Amanpour provided an example to support her argument, pointing out that journalists often report Ukraine as the victim of Russian imperialist aggression without giving equal weight to the Russian perspective on the war.
