In his farewell programme, fired CNN writer Brian Stelter urged the network to “stay strong” while making one parting jab at Chris Licht, the new network president.
Despite his record-low ratings forcing CNN to terminate his “Reliable Sources” show last Thursday and forcing him to leave, Stelter lauded his “media hall monitor” job as “patriotic.”
Stelter concluded his last Sunday show with the words, “I know it’s not political to stand up for decency, democracy, and discourse.”
Standing up to demagogues is not political. It is necessary. It’s nationalistic. We must watch out not to give people who are lying right in front of us a platform.
However, we must also be certain that we are expressing the whole range of viewpoints and what is happening in our nation and the rest of the globe.
Stelter continued by urging viewers to hold CNN and other news organisations responsible.
That is why CNN must be powerful. CNN will likely be successful because of this. You at home viewers are responsible. CNN must not falter.
I am certain that the 4,500 employees will all contribute to making it even stronger. But it will be up to you, not just CNN, to hold them responsible.
You must hold your neighbourhood paper responsible. You must hold your neighbourhood digital retailer responsible. We are accountable. We are all media professionals working to improve it.
Stelter, CNN’s main media reporter and the show’s anchor for the last nine years, is the network’s second casualty since Licht became the network’s new CEO and chairman earlier this year.
The legal expert for CNN, Jeffrey Toobin, said last week that he will not be coming back to the network following his vacation.
Online rumours said that Jim Acosta and Don Lemon, two conservative lightning rods, may be the next anchors to be fired.
Nevertheless, despite the network’s recent resolve to abandon opinion programming and revert to its “more centrist” journalistic origins, Lemon and Acosta are anticipated to remain there — at least for the time being.
According to the source, Licht has not established any plans.
A CNN source said that “no decisions are being taken” at this time, only noting that Licht is “weeks away” from making significant programming changes.
Other anchors, including the right-wing lightning rod Don Lemon, were cited in internet rumours that other anchors would be the next.
As he takes on Republicans who justify undermining the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential election, Acosta, the top domestic reporter, has also been tipped to be the next to go.
TheWrap was informed by insiders at Warner Bros. Discovery that neither journalist will be fired.
Licht wants journalists that are independent of both sides, a source told TheWrap.
Being the antithesis of Fox News is not a smart marketing stance, the source added. He wants to project a sense of toughness and objectivity while remaining neutral. It’s safe to assume that he dislikes the CNN vs. Fox debate.
The restructuring follows John Malone’s comments on CNN’s return to unbiased reporting in a 2021 interview with CNBC, who is a key stakeholder and board member of Warner Bros. Discovery.
Malone said at the time, “I would want to see CNN return to the sort of journalism that it began with, and really have journalists, which would be unusual and refreshing.”
Malone was criticised by Stelter in February for allegedly criticising CNN without actually viewing it.
Stelter wrote at the time in his newsletter that Malone’s remarks’stoked suspicions that Discovery may constrain CNN journalists and veer away from calling out obscenity and unfairness.
Stelter’s resignation comes after Toobin’s announcement that he will not be joining the network the previous week, and Licht has made it apparent that more substantial changes are forthcoming.
According to a story by The Hollywood Reporter, Licht said to his team, “There will be more changes, and you may not understand it or like it. I want to admit that this is a period of substantial change, and I know that many of you are uneasy.”
Some employees voiced worry that Stelter’s departure from the organisation is a sign that other anchors may follow suit.
Someone with knowledge of the matter told Hollywood Reporter, “I believe people are very unhappy that Brian is departing.”
He was a significant presence at the network, but we recognise that Chris needs to give the network his own unique imprint.
Stelter announced his resignation from the programme, which marked its 30th anniversary in March, in a message to NPR.
His team’s investigation of “the media, truth, and the tales that form our world” was something for which he and his colleagues were appreciative, he said.
It was a rare honour to host a weekly programme on the press at a time when it was more important than ever.
Licht praised Stelter’s achievements to CNN in his call, which was an extension of his warning to his crew, but criticised outside media for making predictions about the future of the programme.
In a letter from June, Licht said, “You heard me say in my first town hall that I am going to make judgments slowly than some would want.”
“I am taking this process methodically and thoughtfully as we look at all aspects of the business since I am aware that this company has undergone significant transformation over the last four months.
“Where it makes sense to best serve our employees and the company, we will continue to realign,” the statement said.
On Sunday morning, Stelter’s farewell programme was on the air.
Additionally, he recorded the show’s final podcast, which debuted online on Friday morning.
All of the recent information about the changes at CNN coincides with a sharp decline in its ratings, which this year averaged just 787,000, or less than half of those of its rival Fox News.
However, Stelter’s programme struggled in its ratings battle with Fox News.
This year, MediaBuzz, a Fox competitor programme, has averaged 1.5 million viewers while Reliable Sources has 787,000.
Since 2015, Reliable Sources’ ratings have been at their lowest point, and its overall audience has decreased by 26% from the previous year.
Between the ages of 25 and 54, it has decreased by 34%, and between 18 and 49, it has decreased by 31%.