CNN chief apologizes to employees for distracting from work

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Apologies Issued by CNN CEO for Distractions and Promises to Regain Trust

Chris Licht, the embattled CEO of CNN, expressed his apologies to the network’s employees on Monday, acknowledging that his actions had been a distraction from their work. He pledged to “fight like hell” in order to earn their trust once again, responding to criticisms that arose during his tenure.

Last week, Licht faced a significant setback with the release of a damaging profile about him in the Atlantic magazine. Additionally, a new executive from the parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, was appointed to assist in the management of CNN. These events further intensified the challenges faced by Licht.

During an editorial conference call, Licht conveyed his remorse for overshadowing the work of CNN’s journalists, as evident in a transcript of the call. He described this experience as humbling and made a commitment to regain their trust. Licht expressed his determination to be a leader who actively fights to ensure that CNN remains the most trusted name in news.

He emphasized that CNN should not revolve around his personal involvement and declared, “I should not be in the news.”

On Monday, a CNN spokesperson declined to provide further comments.

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Licht assumed his role as CEO following the departure of the popular leader, Jeff Zucker, with a mission to regain viewers who had become disenchanted with CNN due to former President Donald Trump’s attacks. However, this objective has caused internal resentment, and Trump’s town hall meeting last month was seen as a misstep by many.

Licht’s efforts to revamp CNN’s morning show fell short, resulting in the dismissal of long-standing personality Don Lemon. The restructuring of the network’s prime-time lineup has been progressing slowly. A new show hosted by Kaitlan Collins is set to launch later this month, and CNN has signed Charles Barkley and Gayle King to host a weekly program.

In a profile by writer Tim Alberta in the Atlantic, Licht was described as having “swaggered” into his new position, stating that the network’s hostility toward Trump had alienated viewers who viewed CNN as a safe center. This placed Licht in the challenging position of trying to win over Republicans while also addressing concerns from CNN journalists who felt scapegoated by his attempts to please Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav, his superior.

“One year into the job, Licht was losing both battles,” Alberta wrote.

According to Nielsen, CNN’s prime-time viewership averaged 494,000 in May, less than half of MSNBC’s viewership and down 16% from April. The trend of cord-cutting, where viewers abandon cable subscriptions, has also contributed to cable networks struggling to retain viewers.

While CNN’s Trump town hall reached 3.3 million viewers on May 10, prime-time viewership plummeted to 335,000 two nights later, as reported by Nielsen.

As part of the executive changes, David Leavy, one of Zaslav’s key aides at Warner Bros. Discovery, was appointed as the Chief Operating Officer of CNN Worldwide, reporting directly to Licht. Leavy will oversee commercial, operational, and promotional activities at CNN, as stated by the network.

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