A number of CNN figures have been laid off this week, including Chris Cillizza, an analyst whose “reports” often read like Democrat Party press releases.
On Thursday, CNN CEO Chris Licht sent a memo to staffers announcing that the network would “be reducing open job positions, reimagining our workflows and aligning our staffing, investments and focus around three key strategic priorities: programming, newsgathering and digital,” as reported by Variety magazine.
“All decisions are designed to strengthen the core of our business,” he added.
Meaning all terminations as well, including the terminations of Cillizza, in addition to network correspondents Alison Kosik, Martin Savidge, Alex Field, and Mary Ann Fox.
My time at CNN was an absolute blast.
I got to work with smart and dedicated journalists every day.
I’m sad it’s at an end but also excited about what the future holds for me.
Stay turned!
— Chris Cillizza (@ChrisCillizza) December 1, 2022
Critics were for their part quick to celebrate some of the terminations, particularly that of Cillizza, who was considered by CNN to be a “reporter” despite his “reports” sounding like they were written by Democrat House leader Nancy Pelosi.
Look:
I say good start
— auntemma2 (@auntieemma2) December 2, 2022
Maybe they can learn to code!
— John Moore (@JohnM00re) December 2, 2022
Could not happen to a better group of people
— Roger Mack Agerton (@AgertonMack) December 2, 2022
It’s Christmas season
— misanthropologist (@vaguearchetype) December 2, 2022
I wish I could say I feel bad…but I just can’t make it there…
— AJIMPERATO (@AJIMPERATO2) December 2, 2022
There’s not much love lost because of CNN’s history of being so partisan. If anything, a few critics were unhappy still because they’d like to have seen the network’s most biased “reporters” — which Cillizza amazingly was not — ousted first.
Chris Cillizza was like, the least offensive person at CNN. Stupid and cringe on a hyper level, for sure. But not an outright deceitful, sinister a**hole like Jake Tapper. Until he’s gone, none of it matters.
— Eddie Scarry (@eScarry) December 1, 2022
The biggest changes announced Thursday involved HLN, a sister network owned and run by CNN.
“HLN, the cable network once known as CNN Headline News, is home to a bevy of true-crime series, endless showings of ‘Forensic Files,’ and ‘Morning Express with Robin Meade,’ which features a host who has been at the network since 2001,” Variety magazine reported Wednesday.
“CNN will cease to produce original shows for the network, ousting the team that has produced ‘Morning Express With Robin Meade,’ an A.M. program that has been around in several editions for more than two decades. In addition, a number of popular correspondents and journalists were terminated from the Warner Bros. Discovery backed outlet Thursday,” according to Variety.
Critics were not so pleased about this part of the layoff, as Meade was apparently a non-partisan contributor whose voice folks on both sides of the aisle appreciated:
With all the liars, losers and flunkies at CNN, they fire, Robin Meade?
— driggt neanderthal (@DrooSaunders) December 1, 2022
We live in a world where @RobinMeade got fired and @donlemon is still gainfully employed how does that happen @CNN @HLNTV
— Scot Bell (@sbell1973) December 1, 2022
Sorry to read the news about the cancellation, @RobinMeade. Been a fan for years, you made mornings better. #thankyou
— Bob Loblaw (@okiesmo) December 2, 2022
What the hell @CNN? You fire @RobinMeade while keeping a bunch of other losers? She was the best. Seeing her smile and positive attitude was always a great start to my day.
— Cyndi Sue (@CyndiSue01) December 1, 2022
I feel angered over how they’re just killing off HLN like this and especially how the one woman who sacrificed a lot over the last 15+ years as CNN decided to make HLN a toy to play with is being just jettisoned off like this.
Robin Meade really deserves so much damn better, man.— Kevin D. Grüssing (Pronounced Grew-sing) (@KevDGrussing) December 1, 2022
“Meade ha[d] anchored HLN’s morning programming since 2005, and it was routinely the most popular programming on the channel,” The Hollywood Reporter noted.
“While generally drawing a much smaller audience than morning shows on MSNBC, Fox News and the broadcast networks (as well as sister channel CNN), its fast pace and Meade’s steady presence kept a small set of viewers tuning in,” according to the Reporter.
Contrast that with network host Don Lemon’s “CNN This Morning,” whose ratings have been abysmal.
“The launch of ‘CNN This Morning’ attracted only 387,000 total viewers on Tuesday, when the ensemble morning program featuring Lemon, Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins officially replaced ‘New Day.’ By comparison, MSNBC’s ‘Morning Joe’ managed 793,000 viewers and ‘FOX & Friends’ averaged 1.5 million on the same morning,” Fox News reported last month.
“‘New Day,’ infamous in media circles for its inability to attract large audiences, averaged 413,000 daily viewers in 2022 before it was canceled — a larger audience than ‘CNN This Morning’ was able to muster in its debut,” Fox News added.
Don Lemon’s brand new show ‘CNN This Morning’ had some of the WORST ratings imaginable for its debut.
CNN This Morning: 387,000 viewers
Morning Joe: 793,000 viewers
Fox & Friends: 1.5 million viewers— Brigitte Gabriel (@ACTBrigitte) November 3, 2022
With ratings like this, critics are wondering why Lemon gets to stick around, but Meade doesn’t …
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