CNN To Cut Hundreds Of Jobs As Viewers Abandon Legacy Media
CNN is preparing for a wave of layoffs impacting hundreds of employees after continued ratings struggles. The network’s decline comes amid a larger crisis for left-leaning media following President-elect Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 election.
The layoffs are part of a restructuring effort under CEO Mark Thompson, who took over last year. Thompson is reportedly shifting CNN’s focus toward digital media, leaving many traditional television roles on the chopping block. According to Puck News, even top anchors like Anderson Cooper and Erin Burnett are not immune to pay cuts or potential departures.
Chris Wallace, a high-profile addition to CNN in 2021, has already announced his exit after years of poor ratings. Wallace plans to transition to podcasting, mirroring Trump’s campaign strategy of bypassing traditional media with direct communication platforms.
Viewership data paints a grim picture for CNN. Election night ratings showed a 40% drop compared to the previous year, with the network lagging behind both Fox News and MSNBC. The decline underscores a broader rejection of mainstream media narratives, particularly from outlets perceived as partisan or misleading.
Critics have long accused CNN of eroding its credibility through biased reporting. The network played a central role in amplifying the discredited Russia collusion narrative and has faced backlash for what many see as an overtly partisan agenda.
The layoffs signal a reckoning for CNN, which now faces the dual challenge of rebuilding trust and adapting to a rapidly changing media landscape. Whether the network can recover remains to be seen, but its current struggles are emblematic of a broader crisis in corporate media.
