Chris Licht’s Departure from CNN Sparks Speculation of Network Turmoil
Chris Licht’s time at CNN was anticipated to be short-lived from the moment he joined, according to media contributor Colby Hall of NewsNation.
Licht, who served as CEO, oversaw a brief one-year tenure at CNN before his recent departure, which comes on the heels of an Atlantic article that shed light on internal dissatisfaction and layoffs within the network.
With low morale and poor ratings, CNN has been facing a turbulent period, exacerbated by the controversy surrounding a town hall event featuring former President Donald Trump.
Hall suggests that Licht’s firing may be connected to the fallout from the Trump town hall, but he believes that the issues at CNN extend beyond this incident.
Hall asserts that trouble had been brewing since Licht’s first day, with his relationship with CNN and its staff being troubled from the start.
Even before Licht began, CNN had to lay off nearly 500 employees and undergo a restructuring process, which didn’t bode well for his tenure.
Despite the challenges, Licht aimed to steer CNN towards becoming a non-partisan and focused news outlet, striving to improve ratings.
However, his approach was met with resistance from the staff who often disagreed with his decisions.
The release of the Atlantic article, which portrayed Licht and his staff in a negative light, likely played a significant role in his departure.
It became increasingly difficult for him to maintain the support of the staff after the article’s release.
The decision to let Licht go was made yesterday and communicated to him today.
The situation raises questions about the audience CNN is targeting.
While polls suggest that people want unbiased news without opinion, Licht’s efforts to deliver such news didn’t reflect in the ratings.
Hall believes there is a space for proper journalism presented from a transparent perspective, citing examples like Dan Abrams of NewsNation, who offers a straightforward approach and calls it as he sees it.
In today’s media landscape, where opinion-driven journalism dominates, Hall acknowledges the need for a news outlet that provides a balanced and objective perspective.
As CNN navigates Licht’s departure, the network faces a critical period of evaluation and potential repositioning.
