CNN readies for a shift away from TV

Take away from here and add to there. That’s the quick analysis of the big moves made Thursday by CNN.

The network is slashing about 200 jobs from its traditional TV operations. But it will add about that many jobs over time to boost its digital transformation.

In a memo to employees, CNN chairman Mark Thompson said, “The changes we’re announcing today are part of an ongoing response by this great news organization to profound shifts in the way audiences in America consume news.”

Axios’ Sara Fischer reported, “Thompson assured anxious employees that its parent, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), will support CNN's digital transformation plan by investing $70 million in CNN's new efforts.”

Thompson told The New York Times’ Benjamin Mullin, “This is a moment where the digital story feels like an existential question. If we do not follow the audiences to the new platforms with real conviction and scale, our future prospects will not be good.”

Since Thompson took over CNN a little more than a year ago, he has stressed CNN’s need to become a more digital product.

The Washington Post’s Jeremy Barr wrote, “The company also announced plans to create a digital product that will allow customers to stream the channel through multiple online platforms, which follows the launch in October of a digital subscription that costs $3.99 a month. CNN will also be unveiling a lifestyle-oriented digital product this year, though few details were provided.”

In the memo to staff, Thompson wrote, “Our objective is a simple one: to shift CNN’s gravity towards the platforms and products where the audience themselves are shifting and, by doing that, to secure CNN’s future as one of the world’s greatest news organizations. America and the world need high quality, fair-minded, trustworthy sources of news more than ever. This difficult and sometimes painful process of change is the only way to make sure we can still provide it.”

Thompson said CNN hopes to generate $1 billion in digital revenue by 2030.

The headline on Corbin Bolies’ story for The Daily Beast said the cuts were “not quite the bloodbath that was expected.” Bolies wrote, “The news came after reports on Wednesday suggested the network would cut ‘hundreds’ in massive layoffs after months of internal dread. Instead, the company will seek to hire roughly the same amount of people later this year to boost its digital service. The renewed focus is bolstered by a $70 million investment made by Warner Bros. Discovery, its parent company, and new hirings in The Washington Post‘s Phil Rucker as a head of editorial strategy and CBS News’ Andrew Roy as its new London bureau chief. It aimed to hire about 100 of its new jobs within the first half of 2025.”

Of course, the 200 or so who are losing their jobs (about 6% of CNN’s staff) aren’t comforted by the fact their jobs will be replaced elsewhere. But the headline isn’t that CNN is simply cutting jobs.

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Here’s more about CNN …

CNN is looking to transform its business model, but the network isn’t turning its back on linear television. On Thursday, it showed it’s still paying attention to the TV product by tinkering with its weekday lineup.

The most notable moves: Wolf Blitzer is leaving the early evening slot to co-anchor with Pamela Brown from 10 a.m. to noon Eastern. Jake Tapper is shifting to the 5 to 7 p.m. Eastern slot. Kasie Hunt is going from morning to 4 p.m. Eastern.

In addition, Rahel Solomon will have a new show at 5 a.m. Eastern called “5 Things.” Former NPR host Audie Cornish will follow at 6 a.m.

The evening/prime time schedule remains unchanged with Erin Burnett, Anderson Cooper, Kaitlan Collins, Abby Phillip and Laura Coates hosting their own one-hour programs from 7 p.m. Eastern to midnight.

Nothing has been announced when it comes to Jim Acosta. Status newsletter author Oliver Darcy was the first to report that CNN wants Acosta to move from daytime to a two-hour show that would start at midnight Eastern. Acosta, according to reports, would host from Los Angeles, although that would not be a requirement for taking the new job. No word yet on whether or not Acosta will accept the possible new assignment.

One more CNN note, the network has lured Andrew Roy — CBS’s vice president of foreign news and London bureau chief — to take over as its London bureau chief and general manager of Europe, Middle East and Asia coverage. Roy will start his new job in the spring.

More cuts?

Status’ Oliver Darcy reports that CNN isn’t the only news network planning job cuts. He writes that we could see layoffs at both NBC News and ABC News.

Oscar nods

Academy Award nominations were announced Thursday morning. Here’s the full list from The Hollywood Reporter.

“Emilia Pérez” led all movies with 13 nominations. “The Brutalist” and “Wicked” had 10 apiece, followed by “A Complete Unknown” and “Conclave,” which had eight mentions each.

Among the notable acting nominations: Timothée Chalamet for playing Bob Dylan in “A Complete Unknown,” which also picked up two other actor nominations — Edward Norton for Best Supporting Actor for playing Pete Seeger, and Monica Barbaro for Best Supporting Actress for playing Joan Baez.

Demi Moore is up for Best Actress, while “Wicked” picked up two acting nominations: Cynthia Erivo for Best Actress and Ariana Grande for Best Supporting Actress.

And, if you read this newsletter regularly, you know my obsession with the HBO show “Succession.” So I must mention that two of the former show’s stars are up against one another for Best Supporting Actor: Jeremy Strong for his performance in “The Apprentice” and Kieran Culkin for his role in “A Real Pain.”

Among the big stars who were thought to have a good chance at a nomination but did not get one: Denzel Washington, Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Angelina Jolie, Jamie Lee Curtis and Pamela Anderson, who was a sentimental favorite for her performance in “The Last Showgirl.”

Los Angeles Times columnist Glenn Whipp has a good breakdown in “The biggest snubs and surprises of the 2025 Oscar nominations.”

Media news, tidbits and interesting links for your weekend review …

• The New York Times’ Kevin Roose with “When A.I. Passes This Test, Look Out.”
• Good research here from Media Matters’ Alicia Sadowski, Jane Lee, Isabella Corrao and Helena Hind: “After Trump sets January 6 rioters free, Fox News changes its tune on pardons for violent offenders.”
• The Washington Post’s Tatum Hunter and Heather Kelly with “Meta courted Trump. Now comes the backlash from Facebook, Instagram users.”
• Semafor’s Kadia Goba and Morgan Chalfant with “Trump’s TikTok order tests Republicans.”
• Wired’s Alex Cranz with “Broadcast TV Is Dying. Trump Is Threatening It Anyway.”
• The New York Times’ Shawn McCreesh with “Trump Revels in a Presidential Perk: The Omnipresent Press Pool.”
• Deadline’s Ted Johnson tweeted, “Fox News' ‘The Will Cain Show’ debuted in the 4 p.m. slot to 3.5 million viewers, doubling the ratings 2024 average in the time slot, previously filled by Neil Cavuto. The show debut was the network's highest rated daytime launch.”
• Last week, Allen Media Group announced massive cuts that would see all of its local meteorologists eliminated or reassigned at its nearly two dozen stations across the country. However, Allen Media-owned WTVA in Mississippi announced Thursday that its severe weather team will not be leaving after all. It’s not clear just yet if other meteorologists for Allen Media will also keep their positions.
• The Washington Post’s Janay Kingsberry with “Her dad, the 10,000 records he left behind and a viral lesson in grief.”

More resources for journalists

• The application deadline to apply for Peak Producing is today, Friday. Jan. 24. Apply now.
• Learn how to cover critical issues surrounding child protection and the foster care system. Apply by Feb. 14.
• Focus on the critical skills that new managers need to help forge successful paths to leadership at our in-person workshop, in April. Apply by Feb. 14.
• The 2025 Poynter Journalism Prizes contest is open for entries. The early bird deadline is Jan. 31. Submit your entry today.

Have feedback or a tip? Email Poynter senior media writer Tom Jones at [email protected].