Mark Thompson, the head of CNN, is reportedly set to announce significant layoffs this week. This news comes shortly after Thompson advised prominent on-air personalities, such as Jake Tapper and Anderson Cooper, to refrain from prematurely judging President Donald Trump. The cable news network, which has been struggling with ratings, is expected to let go of hundreds of employees as it shifts its focus towards a global digital audience.
The layoffs are part of CNN’s strategy to restructure its linear TV lineup and expand its digital subscription products, according to sources familiar with the matter. This move is expected to help CNN reduce production costs and consolidate teams. Some shows currently produced in New York or Washington may be relocated to Atlanta, where production costs are lower.
In addition to CNN, NBC News, owned by Comcast, is also reportedly planning to cut jobs later this week. While the exact number is not known, it is expected to be less than 50. Neither Comcast nor Warner Bros Discovery, the parent company of CNN, have responded to requests for comment.
Earlier this month, The Washington Post, owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, announced it would lay off about 4% of its workforce, or less than 100 employees, in an effort to reduce costs. The Associated Press also announced in November that it would cut about 8% of its workforce as it seeks to modernize its operations and products.
Thompson, a former executive at the BBC and The New York Times, recently held a virtual editorial meeting with Tapper, Cooper, and other senior news personalities to discuss CNN’s coverage of the inaugural ceremonies. During the meeting, Thompson emphasized that he did not want the coverage to revisit past issues, a reference to CNN’s historically contentious relationship with Trump.
Thompson also advised his team to avoid editorializing and to shift coverage away from focusing on Trump’s legal issues. Instead, he encouraged CNN staff to concentrate on Trump’s second term and to approach the next four years with an open mind. Thompson’s approach marks a departure from the network’s previous coverage of Trump under former CNN boss Jeff Zucker.
CNN has had difficulty competing with MSNBC and Fox News in terms of viewership, a fact reflected in the ratings for the inauguration. Fox News dominated television viewership during Trump’s inauguration, drawing 10.3 million viewers, surpassing all other networks. ABC, NBC, and CBS followed with 4.7 million, 4.4 million, and 4.1 million viewers, respectively.