CNN announced Thursday it is laying off roughly 200 employees and investing $70 million into bolstering its digital operation as the network adjusts to the technological shifts impacting the news industry.
CNN CEO Mark Thompson told staff Thursday that 6 percent of its workforce will be let go but expressed optimism that the network’s digital investments will recuperate job losses and enhance CNN’s product.
“Some of that money’s going in product and tech, but a lot is also going into new high-quality journalism and storytelling. It’s what we stand for. It’s also the heart of every successful digital news strategy,” Thompson said, according to a copy of the memo obtained by NR.
“At the same time, I know that whatever the total number of job losses, the impact on the individuals involved can be immense. The process of change is essential if we’re to thrive in the future, but I both acknowledge and regret its very real human consequences.”
Thompson assured employees that every laid off colleague will be contacted about their termination and supported afterwards.
Thompson plans on bolstering CNN’s digital output to account for the shift in news consumption away from broadcast television to various digital formats and devices. CNN is going to be enhancing its newly formed paid subscription product to include digital video, lifestyle content, and other multimedia products while improving its advertising experience, Thompson said.
CNN is furthering efforts to streamline its news operation by integrating its various newsrooms and adding roles to its news organization. On that note, the network is creating a video news editorial organization and investing more resources into its features team.
CNN will also be expanding its streaming offering to audiences on any device they choose, with more to come in the coming months. Moreover, CNN is shuffling around its cable lineup with six revamped shows and tweaking its production capabilities to lower costs. Longtime CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer’s The Situation Room is being moved to the mornings and Pamela Brown will anchor the show alongside him.
CNN anchor Jim Acosta’s daily morning program is not listed on Thompson’s slate of shows, as rumors swirl about Acosta’s future at the network. Acosta is known for his hyper-partisan coverage of the first Trump administration and reports suggest he could be leaving CNN in the near future.
“2025 has only just begun and yet we’ve already seen more than enough news at home and abroad to be reminded just how important it is that this great news organization succeeds. Given our brand and reputation, given the incredible talent at our disposal, given that spirit of innovation and commitment that has always been a hallmark of CNN, I truly believe that we can do just that,” Thompson concluded.
The job cuts and changes to CNN’s product come at the beginning of President Donald Trump’s second term and a tumultuous time for the media industry. News organizations are adjusting to an increasingly digital and social-media driven digital landscape combined with widespread distrust for left-of-center mainstream news outlets.
More consumers are opting for niche, subscription-based news sources and independent creators rather than the traditional networks. Meanwhile, cable news ratings continue to suffer as demand for non-stop anti-Trump coverage wanes following the president’s resounding electoral victory this past November.