Thursday, December 1, 2022

We've only made it through the first day of December, but it's already looking like it will be a dark media winter. Scroll down for the latest on cuts at Gannett, the Recount, and others. Plus, a look inside ABC News amid the "GMA3" romance, Kanye West goes on an anti-semitic Infowars rant praising Adolf Hitler, Ana Cabrera informs CNN she'll exit, and Al Roker is back in the hospital. But first, the A1.

THE A1

Inside the CNN Cuts

CNN Photo Illustration/Ron Harris/AP

CNN is grieving.

Staffers at the news network said goodbye on Thursday to hundreds of their colleagues, some of whom have worked at the organization for large swaths of their careers. CNN boss Chris Licht had said the process would be an effective "gut punch" to the network — and it was. Tears were shed. Heartfelt farewells were delivered. It was a grueling affair.

In conversations with dozens of staffers and others close to the network, one thing was clear: The mood was grim. "It's like the rapture," one on-air correspondent candidly commented to me.

The cuts impacted divisions across CNN, from on-air talent to management to operations. That said, it is difficult to understand the gravity of the cuts because the layoffs (for obvious reasons) were carried out in private. And CNN has not disclosed the number of employees who were cut.

But, in a memo after the layoffs were carried out, Licht outlined in broad strokes how it had impacted the organization. Here are some of the key points he shared, in addition to some reporting of my own:

► HLN is news no more: Licht said that CNN will stop producing live programming for the channel, CNN's longtime sister network, on December 6. HLN will instead simulcast "CNN This Morning" and, Licht said, HLN's crime programming will move under the purview of Kathleen Finch, a programming executive at Warner Bros. Discovery, CNN's parent. Licht thanked Robin Meade, anchor of "Morning Express," HLN's morning show, describing her as an "exceptionally popular anchor" and saying, "I know the HLN audience will miss her and the other HLN talent."

► Some on-air talent is out: I've confirmed that Chris Cillizza, Alison Kosik, Martin Savidge, Alexandra Field, and Sonia Moghe were among those cut. Cillizza described his time at CNN in a tweet as "an absolute blast." Kosik told me "it's time for a new adventure." And Savidge told me, "The ride may be ending but the adventure is not."

► A new approach to contributors: Licht said that the network is "shifting" its "approach to paid contributors," explaining that the network will "in some areas" rely "more on CNN journalists." Licht said he also wants to "expand and diversify the viewpoints" the network brings to its audience. That shift has resulted in CNN's stable of contributors getting some cuts. I'm told that, among the cuts, Susan Glasser and Preet Bharara were impacted.

► Newsgathering restructured: Licht said that the newsgathering division will be restructured "across some of our beats" and that the company is "realigning resources to staff up in some units and in more areas around the country." Mary Anne Fox, VP of northeast newsgathering, and some of her deputies are departing the company as an apparent result. Fox was for all intents and purposes CNN's New York bureau chief. Licht said of the changes to the division, "Many of the staff reductions in Newsgathering will be offset by the addition of new roles to best serve our audience across platforms."

► Changes to CNN International: Licht said that other changes included CNN International "reorganizing some of its teams and bureaus." And he said, effective immediately, CNN International's 5 pm ET show "will be replaced by a simulcast of CNN US for that half hour."

► CNN en Español to relaunch: Licht said the company will move to diversify its Spanish-speaking audience beyond news. Licht said CNN will still produce news for the channel, but will "look to develop a far more robust digital platform for CNNE with the aim of launching it in 2024."

► Creative marketing overhaul: Licht said that the creative marketing team had been restructured. Rick Lewchuk, SVP of creative marketing and brand standards, is departing.

Licht, who has been conducting a review of CNN's business since he took over as network chief in May, said in his Thursday memo that the entire process was designed to "better align our people, processes and resources with our future priorities, strengthen our ability to deliver on CNN's core journalistic mission and enable us to innovate in the years ahead." Licht said CNN's three priorities moving forward are programming, newsgathering and digital.

Licht added that the changes he made were "necessary" and that they will make the company "stronger and better positioned to place big bets going forward without fear of failure."

Of course, these cuts don't come in a vacuum. The deteriorating advertising economy is battering media companies. And CNN, in particular, is under cost-cutting pressure from its parent, Warner Bros. Discovery, to slash costs after the merger that birthed the media mammoth laced it with significant debt.

But, regardless of the less-than-ideal backdrop, morale is low and a feeling of apprehension has saturated CNN's newsrooms. Licht will get a chance to rally the troops and elaborate on his vision for the network moving forward on Tuesday when he holds an all-staff town hall.

——— BELOW THE FOLD ———

CNN Photo Illustration/Jacquelyn Martin/AP

More Paper Cuts: CNN wasn't the only news organization on Thursday to undergo layoffs. Newspaper giant Gannett also cut some staffers, targeting approximately 6% of its news division. Throughout the day, impacted journalists tweeted (see here, here, here, etc.) that they'd been hit by the cuts. "While incredibly difficult," a spokesperson said, "we are implementing significant efficiencies across the company and responding decisively to the ongoing macroeconomic volatility to continue propelling Gannett's future."

🔎 Zooming in: The NYT's Benjamin Mullin has the big picture: "Gannett has battled a sagging share price in recent years as revenue from printed newspapers has continued to wane. The company has sought to offset the declining print business with digital subscription revenue and marketing services, but revenue has declined this year amid a difficult ad market."

✂️ CUTS, CUTS, CUTS

The Recount is going to shutter after firing most of its staff, Sara Fischer reports. (Axios)
Andreesen Horowitz's tech outlet Future is also shuttering, Rob Price and Melia Russell report. (Insider)
SiriusXM plans to cut some staff in the near future, Ashley Carman and Lucas Shaw report. (Bloomberg)
WaPo laid off Pulitzer Prize winner Sarah L. Kaufman in its job cuts earlier this week, Sarah Ellison reports. (WaPo)

THE BUSINESS

CNN Photo Illustration/John Nowak/CNN

Cabrera Leaving CNN: Ana Cabrera informed CNN brass and her show staff this week that she will be departing the network after the completion of her contract, people familiar with the matter told me. Her departure is unrelated to the layoffs at the network this week and she was given an offer to renew, but opted against it. Cabrera, I'm told, does not have a firm deal with any other organization and will have to stay on the sidelines for a period of time, due to a non-compete. But, she is eyeing NBCU as a possible home afterward. And MSNBC's 11am slot needs a permanent host. It's unclear precisely when Cabrera's deal is up and spokespeople for CNN and NBC declined to comment Thursday.

First in Reliable | Behind the 'GMA3' Curtain: When the Daily Mail first reached out to ABC News for comment about the workplace romance situation between "GMA3" co-hosts Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes, a surprised spokesperson for the network tried to determine whether it was true. The spokesperson contacted Holmes who was busy filming, I'm told by people with knowledge of the matter. Holmes poured cold water on the Daily Mail's reporting, the people added. That resulted in the ABC News spokesperson trying to push back against the Daily Mail's reporting. The Daily Mail wasn't deterred and published its explosive story. When ABC reps saw the images included in the Daily Mail's story, they were taken aback, the people I spoke to say. ABC News declined to provide a comment on the matter. I should note, however, both Robach and Holmes were back hosting "GMA3" Thursday, but they did not comment on the elephant in the room.

Roker Hospitalized: Al Roker is back in the hospital. The famed "Today" weatherman, who missed last week's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade for the first time in nearly three decades, was initially hospitalized because of a blood clot issue. On Thursday, co-host Hoda Kotb said he was readmitted "due to some complications." Kotb said Roker is "resting" and that his doctors are "keeping a close eye on him." CNN's Lisa Respers France has more.

MEDIA MOVES

CBS has promoted Eric Kim to head of programming. (Variety)
Nextar has named Michael Strober as EVP and chief revenue officer. (TVNewsCheck)

THE INFO WARS

CNN Photo Illustration/Infowars

Ye's Infowars Meltdown: It's hard to see how Kanye West can sink lower than this — and at this point, that's saying a lot. The former music icon appeared on the conspiratorial Infowars broadcast with far-right host Alex Jones on Thursday and repeatedly professed his love for Adolf Hitler. "I like Hitler," West bluntly said on the program, listing the various reasons he admired the notorious Nazi leader. The shocking display of brazen pro-Nazism resulted in even Jones slightly pushing back, saying he is not a fan of Nazis. As NBC's Ben Collins tweeted, it's hard to explain "how unbelievably antisemitic" the interview was. "This is straight up, old fashioned Naziism," Collins wrote, "being mainstreamed from celebrities who are in the ear of the last U.S. president."

► Flashback: CNN's Chloe Melas reported via sources back in October that West had a "disturbing history" of admiring Hitler.

► Flashforward: During the interview, the House Judiciary GOP finally deleted their infamous "Kanye, Elon, Trump" tweet, The Beast's Justin Baragona noted.

IN THE BATTLEFIELD

Elon Musk apparently had Twitter remove an antisemitic tweet from Ye. Ye posted screen shots of apparent texts he received from Musk, who said he had gone too far. Ye replied, "Who made you the judge?" (Twitter)
In an incredible about-face, Parler said Thursday that Ye is no longer buying the far-right social platform. No explanation was given and the company only said in a statement that it was a "mutually agreed" upon decision made "in the interest of both parties in mid-November." (CNN)
Matt Gertz's latest is a good read: "Tucker Carlson made Ye a right-wing hero. Now he's praising Hitler and Nazis." (MMFA)
Ye is being condemned by some Republicans, including New York Rep. Lee Zeldin, who referred to the rapper as "a deranged antisemite" and said he wants "nothing to do with that lunatic." (POLITICO)

THE VALLEY

CNN Photo Illustration/Getty Images

Twitter's Fire Sale: After losing more than a third of its top 100 advertisers following Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter, the social platform is dangling generous deals to brands, hoping to lure revenue back to the site. In one email to advertising agencies seen by the Financial Times, Twitter said that it was launching its "largest advertiser incentive ever" this month, matching the dollars that brands spend with a "value add" bonus up to 100%.

🔎 Zooming in: The discount comes after Musk alienated advertisers by allowing users to pay for verification, leading to a flood of impersonator accounts, some of which masqueraded as brands. Musk has also attacked advertisers who dropped the platform and most recently berated Apple over its spending decisions. The FT's Hannah Murphy has more here.

TOO MANY TABS

Facebook's moderation tools approved 15 out of 20 test ads threatening election workers ahead of last month's US midterms. (Engadget)
Coinbase says Apple has forced it to remove NFT transfers from its iOS wallet because it skirted the iPhone maker's 30% tax. (The Verge)
The first shots have been fired in a Supreme Court showdown over two pivotal cases that could decide the future of internet speech. (The Verge)
Meta's new artificial intelligence is "skilled at a ruthless, power-seeking game," Pranshu Verma writes. (WaPo)

CURTAIN CALL

CNN Photo Illustration/Netflix

Netflix's Certain Hit: The teaser trailer for the much-anticipated Netflix docuseries, "Harry & Meghan," dropped on Thursday. The roughly 50-second trailer opens with a voice asking the couple, "Why did you want to make this documentary?" After a flash of various images of the two together, Prince Harry says, "No one sees what's happening behind closed doors." That is followed by another shot of Meghan Markle, who adds, "When the stakes are this high, doesn't it make more sense to hear our story from us?" Watch the full trailer here.

OFF STAGE

Netflix EMEA boss Larry Tanz says the streamer told its creative partners not to change their storytelling with the new ad-tier in mind. (Variety)
Steven Spielberg's "The Fabelmans" will be given the Vanguard Award at the Palm Springs International Film Awards. (THR)
"Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" has recast its villain for season two and also added seven new actors. (Variety)
Yes, they're apparently still making "Transformers" movies. The trailer for the newest film, "The Rise of the Beasts," is here. (YouTube)
"The Jennifer Hudson Show" is now the exclusively available via AVOD on the Roku Channel. (Deadline)

Thank you for reading! This newsletter was edited by Jon Passantino. Have feedback? Send us an email here. We will be back in your inbox next week.