CNN is bracing for impact as Paramount emerges as the likely new owner, sparking widespread unease within the newsroom! You've probably seen the headlines, and the whispers are growing louder. After Netflix bowed out of the race, Paramount is poised to take the reins of Warner Bros. Discovery, and for CNN, this could mean a seismic shift.
CNN's CEO, Mark Thompson, attempted to quell the rising tide of anxiety with a memo to staff, urging them to "don't jump to conclusions about the future until we know more." A reasonable plea, perhaps, but for those who work in the trenches of news, where layoffs and corporate maneuvering are all too familiar, skepticism is a well-honed survival skill. The atmosphere at CNN on Friday, according to sources, was "beyond bleak."
But here's where it gets controversial: Paramount hasn't exactly laid out a clear roadmap for CNN's future. The speculation has been rampant since Warner Bros. Discovery put itself on the market, and the prospect of a David Ellison-led company at the helm has many on edge. This anxiety only intensified when the Wall Street Journal reported in December that Ellison had reportedly assured President Donald Trump that he would implement "major changes" at the network, a long-standing target of the former president's ire. Ellison's presence at Trump's State of the Union address, as a guest of Senator Lindsey Graham, likely did little to soothe these fears about the network's editorial direction.
Frank Sesno, a professor at the George Washington School of Media and Public Affairs and a former CNN Washington bureau chief, voiced his concerns, stating, "There should be a lot of concern and consternation." He recalled his own experiences with mergers, having navigated the acquisitions of CNN by Time Warner and then AOL. Each time, the crucial questions were whether corporate interests aligned with journalistic values. He believes this time is different.
"Does CNN’s unique global presence matter?" Sesno pondered. "Given all the politics, and the sturm and drang around the Ellisons, and what we know and what was said, there is reason to be concerned."
During the bidding process, many in Washington anticipated Paramount's victory, which would have placed two major news organizations, CBS News and CNN, under the same umbrella. However, some veterans speculated that this consolidation might be more challenging for CBS News, given CNN's heavily unionized workforce and Paramount's anticipated need to drastically cut costs.
Sesno identified three primary areas of concern: the editorial direction, cost-saving measures through resource consolidation, and the organizational structure. He highlighted political pressures as particularly worrying, noting that "the Ellisons have made no pretense of being chums with Donald Trump and Donald Trump made no pretense of who he wanted to see victorious in this merger."
Yet Another Period Of Uncertainty
CNN finds itself in yet another period of upheaval, having seen its parent company sold twice in the past decade. During his first term, the Justice Department attempted to block AT&T's acquisition of CNN's parent company, Time Warner, with the companies arguing that the move was retaliatory due to Trump's animosity towards the news network. The DOJ denied this, and a judge dismissed the argument. Despite AT&T's eventual success, suspicions of Trump's influence persisted.
What distinguishes the current climate, often referred to as "Trump 2.0," is the far more overt nature of efforts to lobby the president for favorable treatment. Trump himself had indicated he would play a role in regulatory approval, a departure from the traditional presidential practice of maintaining a distance. While he later stated he would defer to the DOJ, earlier this week he publicly demanded that Netflix fire Susan Rice, one of its board members.
The current anxieties are also amplified by the way Skydance's acquisition of Paramount Global unfolded last year. To secure regulatory approval, the previous Paramount owners settled Trump's lawsuit against CBS for $16 million, despite many legal experts viewing the litigation, stemming from a "60 Minutes" interview with Kamala Harris, as unfounded.
As Skydance sought FCC approval, it committed to establishing an ombudsman to handle newsroom complaints. Subsequently, the new Paramount entity appointed Bari Weiss, the founder of the center-right opinion site The Free Press, as editor in chief of the news division. Her strategic changes have largely focused on adapting to shifting viewer habits towards streaming and social media, a challenge faced by many established news organizations. However, Weiss has also placed a significant emphasis on rebuilding trust, a sentiment that resonates strongly in public opinion polls.
The Problem Of Trust
Sesno agrees that trust is a significant hurdle for news organizations, affecting those perceived as leaning left and right alike. However, he cautions against the notion that "in order to build trust, you need to avert your gaze from holding everyone’s feet to the fire."
"We have a false equivalency here that creates confusion in the public’s mind and oversimplifies the problem and the challenge that confronts people seeking to do journalism in the way that it is meant to be done," he explained.
Actions taken to address trust issues can often lead to considerable consternation within news divisions. The prevailing assumption is frequently a shift towards the right, which in turn attracts heightened scrutiny from audiences on the left, who may be among the more loyal viewers. As CBS News has implemented layoffs and buyouts, some departing employees have voiced strong criticisms of the new strategy. According to The Guardian, producer Mary Walsh, after 46 years with the network, wrote to her colleagues, "maybe it’s for the best. We’ve been told to aim our reporting at a particular part of the political spectrum. Honestly, I don’t know how to do that."
In its announcement of the merger, Paramount highlighted its ability to "offer complementary portfolio of cable networks spanning entertainment, sports and news will significantly improve cash flow, unlock efficiencies, and strengthen our ability to manage linear market pressures." Notably, there were no specific commitments made regarding CNN.
"I’m very worried about the people there," commented Jim Acosta, a former CNN anchor and chief White House correspondent who departed last year to establish his own media company. "From everything I hear many of the staffers at CNN work with perpetual job fear. And now this…"
And this is the part most people miss: Is the pursuit of "trust" inherently at odds with the core mission of investigative journalism? When news organizations feel pressured to appease certain political factions to regain viewer confidence, does it compromise their ability to hold power accountable? What are your thoughts on this delicate balance? Let us know in the comments below!
