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Chris Licht, Chairman and CEO, CNN Worldwide speaks onstage in the course of the Warner Bros. Discovery Upfront 2022 present at The Theater at Madison Sq. Backyard on Could 18, 2022 in New York Metropolis.
Kevin Mazur | Getty Photos
New CNN chief Chris Licht has a message for his workers: not the whole lot must be labeled “Breaking Information.”
In latest weeks, Licht, who formally began as CNN’s CEO on Could 2, has held conferences with workers to solicit suggestions about when and the way the community makes use of its “Breaking Information” banner, in accordance with folks conversant in the matter who requested to not be named as a result of the discussions have been personal.
Licht got here to the conclusion there ought to be parameters round when to make use of the crimson chyron and requested Sam Feist, CNN’s Washington bureau chief and senior vice chairman, to guide a group creating particular tips for its use.
“It is a nice place to begin to attempt to make ‘Breaking Information’ imply one thing BIG is going on,” Licht wrote within the memo, which CNBC has obtained. “We’re truth-tellers, centered on informing, not alarming our viewers. You have already seen far much less of the ‘Breaking Information’ banner throughout our programming. The tenor of our voice holistically has to replicate that.”
Licht’s determination — the primary important programming alteration he is made — is indicative of a broader technique supported by Warner Bros. Discovery Chief Govt David Zaslav and board member John Malone, who each publicly stated CNN ought to emphasize journalism over sensationalism.
“I want to see CNN evolve again to the type of journalism that it began with,” Malone advised CNBC in November.
Zaslav stated in April that CNN’s measured tackle information is important for “a civilized society” and essential for it to keep away from the picture of being an “advocacy” community.
Organizational modifications
Licht additionally advised workers he plans to craft a brand new organizational construction at CNN however will “make selections slower than some would really like” given the modifications the corporate has already undergone over the past 4 months.
Former CNN chief Jeff Zucker abruptly departed in February after disclosing a relationship with Chief Advertising Officer Allison Gollust, who additionally left the corporate. WarnerMedia then merged with Discovery in April, prompting the swift elimination of streaming service CNN+ and its chief, Andrew Morse.
CNN digital editorial chief Meredith Artley introduced her departure final month. She might be changed by Marcus Mabry, who has been senior vice chairman of CNN Digital’s content material technique and international programming, on an interim foundation, Licht wrote within the memo.
“I do know this group has been by means of super change,” stated Licht. “I’m approaching this course of slowly and thoughtfully as we have a look at all components of the operation. We are going to realign the place it is sensible to greatest serve our folks and the enterprise.”
Licht additionally introduced a brand new beat, “Weapons in America,” that CNN will roll out within the close to future.
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