CNN is making significant changes as it prepares for a future beyond cable TV.
On Wednesday morning, CEO Mark Thompson announced in a memo to staff that the company would be laying off “around a hundred” employees, which is less than 3 percent of CNN’s workforce of more than 3,500 people, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. This decision comes as part of CNN’s ongoing efforts to enhance its digital offerings and reduce reliance on its traditional cable news channel.
The memo detailed Thompson’s plans to merge CNN’s TV news and digital news teams into a single “Global News organization.” This merger aims to minimize duplicated efforts and facilitate collaboration between domestic and international news desks, especially during major breaking news events.
This restructuring is a strategic response to the changing media landscape, where social media and other digital sources have significantly impacted cable news viewership.
How is CNN Restructuring its News Operations?
Since taking over as CEO last October, Thompson has been focused on improving CNN’s digital news offerings. He highlighted an increased emphasis on video content, with plans to launch two additional ad-supported streaming channels later this year.
Additionally, a new TV Futures Lab will be created to develop streaming programming for CNN Max and explore new ways to distribute CNN’s news across various digital platforms.
Another significant development is the upcoming launch of CNN.com’s first direct-to-consumer subscription product, expected before the end of the year. While specific details about this new subscription service were not disclosed, it is part of a broader strategy to offer a collection of paid content, including news, analysis, and lifestyle features.
The memo also addressed CNN’s approach to artificial intelligence. Thompson mentioned that the company would strategically integrate AI to enhance its digital offerings, aiming to serve audiences better and achieve journalistic objectives more effectively and responsively.
The layoffs follow a previous round of job cuts in 2022, which included positions lost when CNN’s streaming service, CNN Plus, was shut down less than a month after its launch.
Featured Image courtesy of Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Warner Bros. Discovery
Follow us for the latest business and tech news.